Systems and methods for UAV docking

• US 9,056,676 B1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Mingyu
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/301,130
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 244/190
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/93 for use on a land or nautical vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0684 on a moving platform, e.g. aircraft carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said controller comprising:

one or more user input components, wherein the one or more user input components are in or on a vehicle that traverses land or water; and

one or more processors individually or collectively configured to receive a signal from the user input components and generate one or more commands to be transmitted to the UAV to control operation of the UAV, wherein the one or more commands include (1) a take-off command to drive one or more propulsion units of the UAV during take-off from the vehicle, (2) a flight command to control;

(i) a flight path of the UAV relative to the vehicle, the land, or the water, or (ii) a destination of the UAV, and (3) a landing command to automatically land the UAV while the vehicle is traversing the land or the water with aid of an identifier of the vehicle, wherein said identifier is (a) detectable by the UAV, and (b) differentiates the vehicle from other vehicles.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input components are at least part of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is operating on land, underground, on water or underwater.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input components are at least part of a dashboard or display of the vehicle.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input components includes a button, touchscreen, joystick, microphone or camera.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a visual pattern or a wireless signal.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the UAV includes controlling positioning or operation of a sensor of the UAV.

8. A vehicle for controlling operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said vehicle comprising the controller of claim 1;

and one or more propulsion units configured to propel the vehicle.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a display of the vehicle, which shows docking status information of the UAV with the vehicle.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input components are integral to the vehicle.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the operation of the UAV to take off from and/or land on the vehicle automatically follows a predetermined flight sequence in response to the signal.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein when the UAV is landed on or inside the vehicle, the UAV is coupled to the vehicle to prevent detachment when the vehicle is traveling at 30-100 mph.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein when the UAV is landed on or inside the vehicle, charging of an energy storage unit on-board the UAV occurs.

14. The controller of claim 1, wherein when the UAV is landed on or inside the vehicle, exchange of a battery pack of the UAV for another battery pack occurs.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein when the UAV is landed on or inside the vehicle, an update of information to one or more data storage units of the UAV occurs.

16. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user input components are within arm'"'"'s reach of a driver of the vehicle.

17. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user input components are within a line of sight of a driver while the driver is operating the vehicle.

18. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user input components are configured to accept an input from the user while the user is operating the vehicle.

19. A method for controlling operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

receiving, at one or more user input components of a vehicle, UAV control input from a user, wherein the one or more user input components are in or on the vehicle that traverses land or water; and

generating, with aid of one or more processors, one or more commands to be transmitted to the UAV to control operation of the UAV, wherein the one or more commands include (1) a take-off command to drive one or more propulsion units of the UAV during take-off from the vehicle, (2) a flight command to control;

(i) a flight path of the UAV relative to the vehicle, the land, or the water, or (ii) a destination of the UAV, and (3) a landing command to automatically land the UAV while the vehicle is traversing the land or the water with aid of an identifier of the vehicle, wherein said identifier is (a) detectable by the UAV and (b) differentiates the vehicle from other vehicles.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more input components are built into a steering wheel, shift control, dashboard, or display of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user input is provided while the vehicle is in motion or while the user is operating the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the command controls a sensor on-board the UAV.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifier is a visual pattern or a wireless signal.