Charging system for battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles
First Claim
1. A rack system comprising:
- a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles; and
a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement, wherein each tray of the plurality of trays comprises;
a platform configured to carry an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles;
a bumper sized and positioned on the platform to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to a resting position on the platform; and
a first plurality of electrical contacts connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the unmanned aerial vehicle at the resting position on the platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rack system is provided that includes a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered UAVs, and a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement. Each tray of the plurality of trays includes a platform, bumper and first plurality of electrical contacts. The platform may be configured to carry a UAV of the plurality of battery-powered UAVs. The bumper may be sized and positioned on the platform to guide the UAV to a resting position on the platform. And the first plurality of electrical contacts may be connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the UAV at the resting position on the platform. A related battery-charging apparatus including a charge switching system for charging battery-powered UAVs is also provided.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A rack system comprising:
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a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles; and a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement, wherein each tray of the plurality of trays comprises; a platform configured to carry an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles; a bumper sized and positioned on the platform to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to a resting position on the platform; and a first plurality of electrical contacts connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the unmanned aerial vehicle at the resting position on the platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A battery-charging apparatus comprising:
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one or more battery chargers electrically connected to one or more power supplies; and a charge switching system electrically connected to the one or more battery chargers and a first plurality of electrical contacts of each tray of a plurality of trays of a rack system including the plurality of trays supported in a vertical arrangement and configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, each tray of the plurality of trays including; a platform carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles; and a bumper sized and positioned on the platform to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to a resting position on the platform; and the first plurality of electrical contacts configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the unmanned aerial vehicle at the resting position on the platform, wherein the charge switching system is configured to switchably, electrically connect or disconnect the one or more battery chargers and first plurality of electrical contacts of each tray of the plurality of trays, each of the one or more battery chargers in any given instance being electrically connectable to the first plurality of electrical contacts of one or more but fewer than all of the plurality of trays. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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removing a particular unmanned aerial vehicle of a plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles from a rack system at a location, the rack system including a plurality of trays supported in a vertical arrangement and holding respective ones of the plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, each tray of the plurality of trays including; a platform carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle of the plurality of battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles; a bumper sized and positioned on the platform to guide the unmanned aerial vehicle to a resting position on the platform; and a first plurality of electrical contacts connected to a battery-charging apparatus; launching the particular unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a mission at or in a vicinity of the location; and
thereafter,returning the particular unmanned aerial vehicle to a tray of the plurality of trays of the rack system, including the particular unmanned aerial vehicle being guided by the bumper to the resting position on the platform of the tray, and the first plurality of electrical contacts of the tray physically and electrically contacting a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the particular unmanned aerial vehicle at the resting position on the platform. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification