Unmanned aerial vehicle with adjustable aiming component

• US 9,630,713 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Von Novak, III, William Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/972,342
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• 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 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/35 by wireless transmission, e.g. by induction

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems of various embodiments are disclosed for operating a UAV. Various embodiments include a UAV having a pivotal platform, a tilt assembly, and a processor. The pivotal platform may be configured to selectively tilt relative to a frame of the UAV. The tilt assembly may be configured to change a tilt angle of the pivotal platform. The processor may be coupled to the tilt assembly and configured with processor-executable instructions to determine whether to implement a first change of the tilt angle of the pivotal platform in order to causes a first adjustment of a lift/drag profile of the UAV. The processor may also be configured to activate the tilt assembly to implement the determined first change in the tilt angle of the pivotal platform in response to determining that the first change should be implemented.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a pivotal platform configured to selectively tilt relative to a frame of the UAV;

a tilt assembly configured to change a tilt angle of the pivotal platform relative to the frame; and

a processor coupled to the tilt assembly and configured with processor-executable instructions to;

determine whether to implement a first change of the tilt angle of the pivotal platform in order to cause a first adjustment of a lift/drag profile of the UAV; and

activate the tilt assembly to implement the determined first change in the tilt angle of the pivotal platform in response to determining that the first change should be implemented.

2. The UAV of claim 1, further comprising:

an aiming component fixed to the pivotal platform, the aiming component having an aiming surface facing away from the pivotal platform in a first aiming direction, wherein the aiming component operates at an acceptable level when the first aiming direction extends within a first arc of directions extending away from the UAV, wherein the first change in the tilt angle causes a corresponding change to the first aiming direction,

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to determine whether to implement the first change of the tilt angle of the pivotal platform based on the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment to the lift/drag profile.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the pivotal platform is centrally mounted on an upper side of the frame.

4. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the first aiming direction extends above the UAV.

5. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the pivotal platform is centrally mounted on a lower side of the frame.

6. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the first aiming direction extends below the UAV.

7. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the pivotal platform is an annular structure surrounding the frame.

8. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the aiming component includes a planar antenna.

9. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the aiming component includes a solar panel.

10. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the aiming component includes a camera.

11. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the aiming component includes a wireless power link.

12. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the pivotal platform includes a hollow conical structure with a wider open end thereof spaced away from the tilt assembly, wherein the aiming component is a wireless recharging target configured to receive power for recharging the UAV.

13. The UAV of claim 12, wherein the hollow conical structure serves as a primary landing gear assembly for the UAV.

14. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the tilt assembly includes a servomechanism configured to drive the pivotal platform to the determined first change of the tilt angle.

15. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the tilt assembly is configured to selectively allow the tilt angle to change in response to external forces imparted on the UAV.

16. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the tilt assembly includes a biasing element configured to induce the determined first change in the tilt angle.

17. The UAV of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to;

receive an input from the sensor; and

use the input received from the sensor to determine at least one tilt angle adjustment factor for determining whether the tilt angle should be adjusted.

18. The UAV of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to;

receive an input from the receiver; and

use the input received from the receiver to determine at least one tilt angle adjustment factor for determining whether the tilt angle should be adjusted.

19. A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

receiving, in a processor, a first input for assessing a tilt angle of a pivotal platform relative to a frame of the UAV, wherein the pivotal platform is configured to selectively tilt relative to the frame, and a first change in the tilt angle causes a first adjustment of a lift/drag profile of the UAV, wherein the pivotal platform supports an aiming component that includes an aiming surface facing away from the pivotal platform in a first aiming direction, wherein the aiming component operates at an acceptable level when the first aiming direction extends within a first arc of directions extending away from the UAV, wherein the changes in the tilt angle cause a corresponding change to the first aiming direction;

determining, in the processor based on the first input, at least one tilt angle adjustment factor selected from a group consisting of the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment of the lift/drag profile;

determining, in the processor, the first change of the tilt angle based on the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment to the lift/drag profile; and

activating a tilt assembly to change the tilt angle according to the first change.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the tilt assembly to change the tilt angle comprises:

activating a servomechanism driving the tilt assembly.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the tilt assembly to change the tilt angle comprises:

allowing at least one of a biasing element, environmental forces, and aerodynamic forces to change the tilt angle.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the tilt assembly to change the tilt angle comprises:

releasing the pivotal platform from a first fixed position;

detecting the tilt angle has achieved the first change when the pivotal platform reaches a second position; and

locking the pivotal platform in the second position.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

activate elements of the UAV for initiating an aerial maneuver based the first change of the tilt angle;

receiving a second input, in the processor, regarding a second change of the tilt angle;

determining whether the second change of the tilt angle matches the first change of the tilt angle; and

locking the tilt angle in a second position in response to determining the second change of the tilt angle matches the first change of the tilt angle.

24. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a frame;

a pivotal platform pivotally coupled to the frame configured to selectively tilt relative to the frame, wherein a first change in a tilt angle of the pivotal platform relative to the frame causes a first adjustment of a lift/drag profile of the UAV based on the tilt angle;

an aiming component supported by the pivotal platform that includes an aiming surface facing away from the pivotal platform in a first aiming direction, wherein the aiming component operates at an acceptable level when the first aiming direction extends within a first arc of directions extending away from the UAV, wherein the changes in the tilt angle cause a corresponding change to the first aiming direction;

means for receiving a first input for assessing the tilt angle of the pivotal platform relative to the frame;

means for determining, based on the first input, at least one tilt angle adjustment factor selected from a group consisting of the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment of the lift/drag profile;

means for determining the first change of the tilt angle based on the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment to the lift/drag profile; and

means for activating a tilt assembly to change the tilt angle according to the first change.

25. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first input for assessing a tilt angle of a pivotal platform relative to a frame of the UAV, wherein the pivotal platform is configured to selectively tilt relative to the frame and a first change in the tilt angle causes a first adjustment of a lift/drag profile of the UAV, wherein the pivotal platform supports an aiming component that includes an aiming surface facing away from the pivotal platform in a first aiming direction, wherein the aiming component operates at an acceptable level when the first aiming direction extends within a first arc of directions extending away from the UAV, wherein the changes in the tilt angle cause a corresponding change to the first aiming direction;

determining, based on the first input, at least one tilt angle adjustment factor selected from a group consisting of the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment of the lift/drag profile;

determining the first change of the tilt angle based on the first aiming direction, the first arc of directions, and the first adjustment to the lift/drag profile; and

activating a tilt assembly to change the tilt angle according to the first change.

26. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

allowing at least one of a biasing element, environmental forces, and aerodynamic forces to change the tilt angle.

27. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

releasing the pivotal platform from a first fixed position;

detecting the tilt angle has achieved the first change when the pivotal platform reaches a second position; and

locking the pivotal platform in the second position.

28. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

activating elements of the UAV for initiating an aerial maneuver based the first change of the tilt angle;

receiving a second input, in the processor, regarding a second change of the tilt angle;

determining whether the second change of the tilt angle matches the first change of the tilt angle; and

locking the tilt angle in a second position in response to determining the second change of the tilt angle matches the first change of the tilt angle.