Skyteboard quadcopter and method

• US 9,004,396 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raj Abhyanker
• Original Assignee: Fatdoor Incorporated
• Inventors: Colin, Youenn, Bertrand, Blaise, Patron, Anthony, Pho, Vinh
• Primary Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Isam
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/261,405
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.23, 244/17.11, 244/17.12
• US Class Current: 244/17.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/40 foldable or retractable

Abstract

A method and device of a Skyteboard™ quadcopter are disclosed. In one aspect, a quadcopter includes a first pair of rotors including a first rotor and a second rotor physically enclosed in a peanut shaped airframe, an undercarriage mechanically coupled on a lower side of the peanut shaped airframe, and a second pair of rotors comprising of a third rotor and a fourth rotor mechanically coupled to the undercarriage. The second pair of rotors folds underneath the first pair of rotors such that the first pair of rotors and the second pair of rotors are substantially parallel to each other in a folded mode of the quadcopter. The first pair of rotors is substantially above the second pair of rotors in the folded mode, such that the first rotor is substantially above the third rotor and the second rotor is substantially above the fourth rotor when in the folded mode.

Claims

1. A quadcopter, comprising:

a peanut shaped airframe;

a first pair of rotors comprising of a first rotor and a second rotor physically enclosed in the peanut shaped airframe;

an undercarriage mechanically coupled on a lower side of the peanut shaped airframe,

a second pair of rotors comprising of a third rotor and a fourth rotor mechanically coupled to the undercarriage,

wherein the second pair of rotors to fold underneath the first pair of rotors such that the first pair of rotors and the second pair of rotors are substantially parallel to each other in a folded mode of the undercarriage of the quadcopter, and

wherein the first pair of rotors are substantially above the second pair of rotors in the folded mode, such that the first rotor is substantially above the third rotor and the second rotor is substantially above the fourth rotor when in the folded mode.

2. The quadcopter of claim 1:

wherein the second pair of rotors fold outward with a pivot of the undercarriage in a manner such that the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors, such that the first rotor is substantially perpendicular the third rotor and the second rotor is substantially perpendicular the fourth rotor when in an extended mode.

3. The quadcopter of claim 2:

wherein the second pair of rotors fold outward with the pivot of the undercarriage in the manner such that the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors, such that the first rotor is substantially perpendicular the fourth rotor and the second rotor is substantially perpendicular the third rotor when in the extended mode.

4. The quadcopter of claim 3:

wherein the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors through a quarter turn of a central axis of the quadcopter coupling the peanut shaped airframe to the undercarriage, wherein the quarter turn to pivot the second set of rotors to the extended mode, and

wherein the quadcopter to enter a flyable condition when in the extended mode.

5. The quadcopter of claim 4:

wherein the quadcopter to automatically enable an electronic circuitry of the quadcopter when in the flyable condition, and

wherein the airframe of the quadcopter to include an upper extender mechanism and a lower extender mechanism in a central portion of the airframe.

6. The quadcopter of claim 5:

wherein the undercarriage wraps around the lower extender mechanism in a manner such that the lower extender mechanism is enclosed by the undercarriage.

7. The quadcopter of claim 6:

wherein any one of the upper extender mechanism and the lower extender mechanism include a connection means that enables users of the quadcopter to design extension assemblies that mechanically couple with the quadcopter using a three-dimensional (3D) printing device,

wherein the connection means to couple any of a set of printable assemblies including a hook assembly, an interlocking building block platform assembly, a DSLR camera assembly, a HD camera assembly, and a container assembly.

8. The quadcopter of claim 7:

wherein the central portion to encompass a cavity in which a securing means to provide for convenient insertion and ejection of a battery powering the quadcopter when a cover of the upper extender mechanism is removed.

9. The quadcopter of claim 8:

wherein the cavity to include a processor and a memory and a communication circuitry comprising at least one of a radio frequency circuitry, a wifi circuitry, and a cellular communication circuitry.

10. The quadcopter of claim 9:

wherein a pair of fan-out extension assemblies span out from opposing faces of the undercarriage to provide structural support during a landing of the quadcopter,

wherein the peanut shaped airframe of the quadcopter to include a built-in camera in an encasing of at least one of the first rotor and the second rotor of the quadcopter, and

wherein the peanut shaped airframe to include a return home button to autonomously direct the quadcopter to a predetermined location.

11. A quadcopter, comprising:

an airframe;

a first pair of rotors comprising of a first rotor and a second rotor physically enclosed in the airframe;

an undercarriage mechanically coupled on a lower side of the airframe,

a second pair of rotors comprising of a third rotor and a fourth rotor mechanically coupled to the undercarriage,

wherein the second pair of rotors to fold underneath the first pair of rotors such that the first pair of rotors and the second pair of rotors are substantially parallel to each other in a folded mode of the undercarriage of the quadcopter,

wherein the first pair of rotors are substantially above the second pair of rotors in the folded mode, such that the first rotor is substantially above the third rotor and the second rotor is substantially above the fourth rotor when in the folded mode, and

wherein the second pair of rotors fold outward with a pivot of the undercarriage in a manner such that the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors, such that the rotors of the first pair of rotors are substantially perpendicular to rotors of the second pair of rotors when in an extended mode.

12. The quadcopter of claim 11:

wherein the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors through a quarter turn of a central axis of the quadcopter coupling the airframe to the undercarriage, wherein the quarter turn to pivot the second set of rotors to the extended mode.

13. The quadcopter of claim 12:

wherein the quadcopter to enter a flyable condition when in the extended mode.

14. The quadcopter of claim 13:

wherein the quadcopter to automatically enable an electronic circuitry of the quadcopter when in the flyable condition.

15. The quadcopter of claim 14:

wherein the airframe of the quadcopter to include an upper extender mechanism and a lower extender mechanism in a central portion of the airframe.

16. The quadcopter of claim 15:

wherein the undercarriage wraps around the lower extender mechanism in a manner such that the lower extender mechanism is enclosed by the undercarriage.

17. The quadcopter of claim 16:

wherein any one of the upper extender mechanism and the lower extender mechanism include a connection means that enables users of the quadcopter to design extension assemblies that mechanically couple with the quadcopter using a three-dimensional (3D) printing device,

wherein the connection means to couple any of a set of printable assemblies including a hook assembly, an interlocking building block platform assembly, a DSLR camera assembly, a HD camera assembly, and a container assembly.

18. The quadcopter of claim 17:

wherein the central portion to encompass a cavity in which a securing means to provide for convenient insertion and ejection of a battery powering the quadcopter when a cover of the upper extender mechanism is removed.

19. The quadcopter of claim 18:

wherein the cavity to include a processor and a memory and a communication circuitry comprising at least one of a radio frequency circuitry, a wifi circuitry, and a cellular communication circuitry.

20. The quadcopter of claim 19:

wherein a pair of fan-out extension assemblies span out from opposing faces of the undercarriage to provide structural support during a landing of the quadcopter,

wherein the airframe of the quadcopter to include a built-in camera in an encasing of at least one of the first rotor and the second rotor of the quadcopter, and

wherein the airframe to include a return home button to autonomously direct the quadcopter to a predetermined location.

21. A method of a quadcopter, comprising:

physically enclosing a first pair of rotors in a peanut-shaped airframe;

electromechanically coupling an undercarriage to a lower side of the peanut-shaped airframe, wherein the undercarriage includes a second pair of rotors;

pivoting the undercarriage outward in a manner such that the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors, such that rotors of the first pair of rotors are substantially perpendicular to rotors of the second pair of rotors when in an extended mode; and

setting the quadcopter in a flyable mode when the quadcopter is in the extended mode.

22. The method of the quadcopter of claim 21, further comprising:

folding the second pair of rotors underneath the first pair of rotors such that the first pair of rotors and the second pair of rotors are substantially parallel to each other in a folded mode of the undercarriage of the quadcopter,

wherein the first pair of rotors are substantially above the second pair of rotors in the folded mode, such that the first rotor is substantially above the third rotor and the second rotor is substantially above the fourth rotor when in the folded mode.

23. The method of the quadcopter of claim 22, further comprising:

folding the second pair of rotors outward with the pivot of the undercarriage in the manner such that the second pair of rotors extend substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors, such that the first rotor is substantially perpendicular the fourth rotor and the second rotor is substantially perpendicular the third rotor when in the extended mode.

24. The method of the quadcopter of claim 23, further comprising:

extending the second pair of rotors substantially perpendicularly to the first pair of rotors through a quarter turn of a central axis of the quadcopter coupling the peanut shaped airframe to the undercarriage, wherein the quarter turn to pivot the second set of rotors to the extended mode; and

entering the quadcopter to a flyable condition when in the extended mode.

25. The method of the quadcopter of claim 24, further comprising:

automatically enabling an electronic circuitry of the quadcopter when in the flyable condition; and

including an upper extender mechanism and a lower extender mechanism in a central portion of the airframe.

26. The method of the quadcopter of claim 25, further comprising:

wrapping the undercarriage around the lower extender mechanism in a manner such that the lower extender mechanism is enclosed by the undercarriage.

27. The method of the quadcopter of claim 26, further comprising:

including a connection means that enables users of the quadcopter to design extension assemblies that mechanically couple with the quadcopter using a three-dimensional (3D) printing device in any one of the upper extender mechanism and the lower extender mechanism,

wherein the connection means to couple any of a set of printable assemblies including a hook assembly, an interlocking building block platform assembly, a DSLR camera assembly, a HD camera assembly, and a container assembly.

28. The method of the quadcopter of claim 27, further comprising:

encompassing a cavity in the central portion in which a securing means to provide for convenient insertion and ejection of a battery powering the quadcopter when a cover of the upper extender mechanism is removed.

29. The method of the quadcopter of claim 28, further comprising:

including in the cavity a processor and a memory and a communication circuitry comprising at least one of a radio frequency circuitry, a wifi circuitry, and a cellular communication circuitry.

30. The method of the quadcopter of claim 29, further comprising:

spanning a pair of fan-out extension assemblies out from opposing faces of the undercarriage to provide structural support during a landing of the quadcopter;

including a built-in camera in an encasing of at least one of the first rotor and the second rotor of the peanut shaped airframe of the quadcopter; and

including a return home button physically associated with the peanut shaped airframe to autonomously direct the quadcopter to a predetermined location.