Apparatus and methods for tethered aerial platform and system

• US 9,446,858 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drone Afs Corp. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Drone Afs Corp. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Hess, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/858,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20160083115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/022 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 3/02 with means for supplying electricity to aircraft during flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0866 specially adapted to captive aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station

Abstract

A drone system includes a drone that includes a propulsion system, a flight stabilizer system, and an air payload interface unit, and a camera system, wherein the camera system includes a camera stabilizing unit, and a ground support system to which the drone is detachably coupled through a tether unit, and for providing electrical power to the propulsion system. The drone system further includes a ground payload interface unit for receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to the air payload interface unit through the tether unit, and a controlling device for controlling the propulsion system and the camera system through the tether unit.

Claims

1. AN ETAP drone system comprising:

a drone having a propulsion system, a flight stabilizer system, an air payload interface unit, and a camera system, wherein the camera system includes a camera stabilizing unit;

a ground support system to which the drone is detachably coupled through a tether unit, said tether unit providing electrical power to the propulsion system;

a ground payload, power and interface unit for receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to the air payload interface unit through the tether unit; and

a controlling device for controlling the propulsion system and the camera system through the tether unit; and

further comprising;

a winch operatively coupled to the tether unit and a winch control system configured to receive command information to ensure that the tether unit does not become entangled with objects foreign to an operating environment;

in which the winch control system includes a constant slip ring apparatus that enjoins a spinning side and a stationary side together.

2. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a camera output receiving unit for receiving at least one information signal from the camera system.

3. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a camera information transmitting system.

4. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a winch operatively coupled to the tether unit and a winch control system configured to receive command information to ensure that the tether unit does not become entangled with objects foreign to an operating environment.

6. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 1 in which the propulsion system is comprised of at least one propeller and electric motor for providing thrust.

7. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

an event detection system, wherein the event detection system includes at least one event detection sensor unit;

said controlling device further controlling the event detection system and the at least one event detection sensor unit through the tether unit.

8. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 7 in which the event detection system is selected from the following group of events:

visual event, an audio event, a radiation level event, a chemical level event, a heat level event, an electromagnetic signature event, a pressure level event, a reflective signature event, a geo-position coordinate event and/or a homing beacon signal event and the at least one detection sensor unit is capable of detecting the event.

9. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 7 in which the detection sensor unit is selected from the following group of sensors:

visual, audio, infrared, broad spectrum, single frequency, multiple harmonic frequency, heat, chemical level, chemical presence, radiation level, heat level, electromagnetic signature, pressure, reflective signature, geo-position coordinate and/or homing beacon.

5. AN ETAP drone system comprising:

a drone having a propulsion system, a flight stabilizer system, an air payload interface unit, and a camera system, wherein the camera system includes a camera stabilizing unit;

a ground support system to which the drone is detachably coupled through a tether unit, said tether unit providing electrical power to the propulsion system;

a ground payload, power and interface unit for receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to the air payload interface unit through the tether unit; and

a controlling device for controlling the propulsion system and the camera system through the tether unit.

10. AN ETAP drone system comprising:

a drone having a propulsion system, a flight stabilizer system, an air payload interface unit, and a camera system, wherein the camera system includes a camera stabilizing unit;

a ground support system to which the drone is detachably coupled through a tether unit, said tether unit providing electrical power to the propulsion system;

a ground payload, power and interface processor unit for receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to the air payload interface unit through the tether unit; and

a controlling device for controlling the propulsion system and the camera system through the tether unit; and

further comprising a computer server that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the server is configured to;

to cause the generation of a flight mode and/or pattern whereby the drone automatically follows a moving ground control station or equipment associated therewith through the use of a differential GPS and optical alignment system.

11. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the processor uses optical flow methodology to align the drone with a ground target consisting of a pattern that is designed to determine the drone orientation relative to a fixed or variable determined destination point.

12. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the determined point is a fixed or variable moving target, host vehicle, ground target or other determined destination point.

13. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to utilize a 2D printed pattern that imparts a 3D special position measurement and wherein the processor is further configured to combine the 3D position measurement with a GPS to maintain an operator determined position relative to the fixed or variable moving target, host vehicle, ground target or other determined destination point.

14. AN ETAP drone system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the processor is configured, in the event of a GPS denial or outage environment, to deliver instructions via the server such that the memory storing instructions executable by the processor will cause the generation of a flight mode and/or pattern where optical flow methodology will be employed for maintaining the position and orientation of the drone relative to the fixed or variable moving target, host vehicle, ground target or other determined destination point.

15. A method comprising:

(a) receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to an ETAP drone system from a ground payload, power and interface unit through a detachable tether unit;

(b) providing electrical power to a propulsion system for a drone which is a part of the ETAP drone system;

(c) receiving and transmitting a signal from an event detection sensor which is a part of an event detection system; and

(d) controlling the drone flight, stability and position through detachable tether; and

further comprising transmitting command information to a winch control system configured to control a winch operatively coupled to the detachable tether unit to ensure that the tether unit does not become entangled with objects foreign to an operating environment;

in which the winch control system controls a constant slip ring apparatus having a spinning side and a stationary side together.

16. A method comprising:

(a) receiving and transmitting command and telemetry information to an ETAP drone system from a ground payload, power and interface unit through a detachable tether unit;

(b) providing electrical power to a propulsion system for a drone which is a part of the ETAP drone system;

(c) receiving and transmitting a signal from an event detection sensor which is a part of an event detection system; and

(d) controlling the drone flight, stability and position through detachable tether; and

further comprising generating of a flight mode and/or pattern whereby the drone automatically follows a moving ground control station or equipment associated therewith through the use of a differential GPS and optical alignment system and providing instructions to the drone through a computer server that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the server is configured to generate the flight mode.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 in which the generated flight mode comprises optical flow methodology to align the drone with a ground target consisting of a pattern that is designed to determine the drone orientation relative to a fixed or variable determined destination point.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 in which the generated flight mode utilizes a 2D printed pattern that imparts a 3D special position measurement and wherein the processor combines the 3D position measurement with a GPS to maintain an operator determined position relative to the fixed or variable moving target, host vehicle, ground target or other determined destination point.