Unmanned aerial rescue system

• US 9,650,134 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana R. Chappell
• Original Assignee: Dana R. Chappell
• Inventors: Chappell, Dana R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/732,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20160355257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/52 Tilting of rotor bodily relative to fuselage of see-saw type construction B64C27/43
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/10 Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• 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 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/90 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

Embodiments of unmanned aerial rescue systems are disclosed, which may comprise: a frame or chassis, a landing member, a control system, a propulsion system, a propulsion system support member, a propulsion system orientation mechanism, a rotor shield or protector, a sealed equipment container, a cover or shroud, an equipment carrier, an equipment release mechanism, a navigation system, a sensor system, a sound system, a light system, a data communication system, an emergency equipment system, and a power management system. In some embodiments, a parabolic shroud increases the performance of sensor systems of the unmanned aerial rescue system, such as sound and light systems.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a frame of the unmanned aerial system;

a landing member attached to the frame;

a propulsion system support member attached to the frame;

at least one electric motor connected to at least one propeller and attached to the propulsion system support member;

a shroud attached to the frame;

a sealed equipment container attached to the frame;

a control system within the sealed equipment container;

a power source within the sealed equipment container; and

a sensor system within the sealed equipment container,

a rescue equipment carrier; and

a rescue equipment release mechanism, wherein the rescue equipment release mechanism is controllable by the control system and configured to release a piece of rescue equipment from the rescue equipment carrier,

wherein the controls system is configured to be powered by the power source and to control the propulsion system and the sensor system.

2. The unmanned aerial system of claim 1, wherein the shroud includes a parabolic portion.

3. The unmanned aerial system of claim 2, further comprising:

a light system.

4. The unmanned aerial system of claim 3, further comprising:

a sound system.

5. The unmanned aerial system of claim 4, wherein the light system comprises a light emitter located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container.

6. The unmanned aerial system of claim 5, wherein the sound system comprises a sound capturing device located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container.

7. The unmanned aerial system of claim 6, wherein the sound system comprises a sound emitting device located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container.

8. The unmanned aerial system of claim 7, wherein the shroud comprises a reflective inner surface.

9. The unmanned aerial system of claim 8, wherein the light emitter located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container is located near a focal point of the parabolic portion of the shroud.

10. The unmanned aerial system of claim 9, wherein the sound capturing device located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container is located near a focal point of the parabolic portion of the shroud.

11. The unmanned aerial system of claim 10, wherein the sound emitting device located on a top portion of the sealed equipment container is located near a focal point of the parabolic portion of the shroud.

12. The unmanned aerial system of claim 11, further comprising:

a propulsion system shield attached to the propulsion system support member.

13. The unmanned aerial system of claim 12, wherein the at least one electric motor is connected to a gimbal, and wherein the gimbal is controllable by the control system and configured to change the orientation of the at least one electric motor and thereby the orientation of the at least one propeller.

14. The unmanned aerial system of claim 13, further comprising:

a tether line configured to tether the piece of rescue equipment to the unmanned aerial system after the piece of rescue equipment is deployed.

15. The unmanned aerial system of claim 13, wherein the sound capturing device is a microphone.

16. The unmanned aerial system of claim 13, wherein the sound emitting device is a speaker.

17. The unmanned aerial system of claim 2,

wherein the sealed equipment container comprises a transparent portion, and

wherein the sensor system comprises at least one image sensor oriented to receive image data through the transparent portion of the sealed equipment container.

18. The unmanned aerial system of claim 2, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells on an outer surface of the shroud, and wherein the plurality of photovoltaic cells are configured to produce electric current for the unmanned aerial system.

19. An unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of landing members connected to the frame;

an electronic control system;

a plurality of electric motors, each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors connected to a rotor, each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors configured to be controlled by the electronic control system;

a plurality of mesh rotor shields, each rotor shield of the plurality of rotor shields encompassing one of the plurality of electric motors and its connected rotor;

a sealed equipment container connected to the frame and encompassing the electronic control system;

a parabolic shroud connected to the frame;

a plurality of external equipment carriers, each external equipment carrier of the plurality of external equipment carriers attached to the frame and configured to carry a piece of rescue equipment;

an equipment release mechanism for each of the respective external equipment carriers, each equipment release mechanism configured to release a piece of rescue equipment from its respective external equipment carrier;

a light system comprising at least one light emitter;

a sound system comprising at least one sound capturing device and at least one sound emitter;

a sensor system comprising at least one image capturing device; and

a data communication system comprising at least one antenna and at least one transceiver,

wherein the electronic control comprises;

one or more processors;

one or more memories comprising processor-executable software configured to be executed by the one or more processors.