Aerial vehicle with frame assemblies

• US 9,284,052 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• 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, Tao, Zhao, Tao, Du, Hao, Wang, Mingxi
• Primary Examiner(s): McFall, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kreiner, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/944,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 119 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/00 Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/061 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/063 Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions, e.g. foldable tail booms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/12 sideways
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/00 Equipment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• 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 50/13 : using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 : using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 : specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a central body;

at least two frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two frame assemblies having a elongate member with an inboard portion directly coupled to the central body and an outboard portion directly coupled to a cross bar; and

a plurality of propulsion units operable to move the aerial vehicle, wherein each of the at least two frame assemblies supports at least two propulsion units coupled to the cross bar,

wherein the elongate member of each frame assembly is coupled to the cross bar between ends of the cross bar, and is angled upward with relation to the central body to support the cross bar, and

wherein each cross bar is substantially parallel to each other, and wherein each cross bar is located on opposing sides of the central body.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each cross bar forms a substantially straight piece between the at least two propulsion units coupled to the cross bar.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a secondary support coupled to the central body and configured to be connected to the cross bar.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the secondary support is substantially parallel to the elongate member.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein a length of the elongate member is equal to or approximately equal to a length of the secondary support.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the secondary support of each frame assembly is angled upward with relation to the central body to be connected to the cross bar.

7. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each cross bar is formed of a separate piece from one another.

8. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the central body comprises a flight control system configured to provide commands for controlling one or more of the propulsion units.

9. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle further comprising a receiver configured to receive user commands for controlling one or more of the propulsion units.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein the user commands are transmitted from a remote terminal.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle further comprising a receiver configured to receive user commands for controlling relative position of a payload relative to the central body.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the central body supports a payload beneath the central body.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the payload is movable relative to the central body.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the payload is movable relative to the central body about one or more axes of rotation.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the payload is supported with aid of a carrier.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the payload is releasably coupled to the carrier.

17. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the carrier is releasably coupled to the central body.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the carrier comprises a carrier frame assembly and a carrier actuation assembly, wherein the carrier frame assembly provides structural support to the payload, wherein the carrier frame assembly comprises individual carrier frame components, and wherein the carrier actuation assembly comprises one or more actuators that actuate movement of the individual carrier frame components.

19. The aerial vehicle of claim 18, wherein the actuators are configured to permit movement of multiple carrier frame components simultaneously.

20. The aerial vehicle of claim 18, wherein the actuators are configured to permit movement of a single carrier frame component at a time.

21. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a support member configured to support the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is resting on a surface.

22. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is coupled to the cross bar between the at least two propulsion units coupled to the cross bar.

23. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is coupled to the cross bar at a midpoint of the crossbar.

24. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two propulsion units is coupled to the cross bar at one end of the cross bar, and another of the at least two propulsion units is coupled to the cross bar at another end of the cross bar.

25. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of propulsion units comprise rotors that are configured to provide lift to the aerial vehicle.

26. The aerial vehicle of claim 25, wherein the rotors are affixed above the cross bar.

27. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein elongate members of the at least two frame assemblies are at a vertical angle of less than 180 degrees relative to one another.

28. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an interface on the central body configured to releasably couple to a payload.

29. The aerial vehicle of claim 28, wherein the payload comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal.

30. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cross bar is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the elongate member.