Aerial vehicle configuration

• US 9,764,835 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kimchi, Gur, Hensel, Fabian, Green, Scott A., Buchmueller, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Xavier, Valentina
• Application Number:
  US14/315,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports

Abstract

This disclosure describes a configuration of a multi-propeller aerial vehicle (MPAV). The components of the MPAV are designed for easy manufacture, assembly, configuration and replacement. Likewise, the configuration of the MPAV is designed for increased flight duration.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a first support arm, a second support arm, a third support arm, and a fourth support arm;

a first extension arm, a second extension arm, a third extension arm, and a fourth extension arm;

a first universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a first end of the first support arm is attached to a first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the second support arm is attached to a second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the first extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the first universal Y attachment member;

a second universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the second support arm is attached to a first connection point of the second universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the third support arm is attached to a second connection point of the second universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the second extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the second universal Y attachment member;

a third universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the third support arm is attached to a first connection point of the third universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the fourth support arm is attached to a second connection point of the third universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the third extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the third universal Y attachment member; and

a fourth universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the fourth support arm is attached to a first connection point of the fourth universal Y attachment member;

a second end of the first support arm is attached to a second connection point of the fourth universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the fourth extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the fourth universal Y attachment member.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a first motor arm, a second motor arm, a third motor arm, a fourth motor arm, a fifth motor arm, a sixth motor arm, a seventh motor arm, and an eighth motor arm;

a fifth universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the first extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the fifth universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the first motor arm is attached to a first connection point of the fifth universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the second motor arm is attached to a second connection point of the fifth universal Y attachment member;

a sixth universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the second extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the sixth universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the third motor arm is attached to a first connection point of the sixth universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the fourth motor arm is attached to a second connection point of the sixth universal Y attachment member;

a seventh universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the third extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the seventh universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the fifth motor arm is attached to a first connection point of the seventh universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the sixth motor arm is attached to a second connection point of the seventh universal Y attachment member; and

an eighth universal Y attachment member, wherein;

a second end of the fourth extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the eighth universal Y attachment member;

a first end of the seventh motor arm is attached to a first connection point of the eighth universal Y attachment member; and

a first end of the eighth motor arm is attached to a second connection point of the eighth universal Y attachment member.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a first motor attached to a second end of the first motor arm;

a second motor attached to a second end of the second motor arm;

a third motor attached to a second end of the third motor arm;

a fourth motor attached to a second end of the fourth motor arm;

a fifth motor attached to a second end of the fifth motor arm;

a sixth motor attached to a second end of the sixth motor arm;

a seventh motor attached to a second end of the seventh motor arm; and

an eighth motor attached to a second end of the eighth motor arm.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

each of the first universal Y attachment member, the second universal Y attachment member, the third universal Y attachment member, the fourth universal Y attachment member, the fifth universal Y attachment member, the sixth universal Y attachment member, the seventh universal Y attachment member, and the eighth universal Y attachment member, are approximately a same size, a same shape and interchangeable.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member is positioned at approximately ninety degrees with respect to the first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member; and

the third connection point of the first universal Y attachment member is positioned at approximately one-hundred thirty five degrees with respect to the first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member and the second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member.

6. An automated aerial delivery vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of support arms;

a plurality of extension arms;

a plurality of motor arms;

a plurality of universal Y attachment members; and

a plurality of motors;

wherein;

a first end of a first support arm is attached to a first connection point of a first universal Y attachment member, a first end of a second support arm is attached to a second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member, and a first end of a first extension arm is attached to a third connection point of the first universal Y attachment member; and

a second end of the first extension arm is attached to a third connection point of a second universal Y attachment member, a first end of a first motor arm is attached to a first connection point of the second universal Y attachment member, and a first end of a second motor arm is attached to a second connection point of the second universal Y attachment member.

7. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

the second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member is positioned at approximately ninety degrees with respect to the first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member; and

the third connection point of the first universal Y attachment member is positioned at approximately one-hundred thirty five degrees with respect to the first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member and the second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member.

8. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first universal Y attachment member and the second universal Y attachment member are approximately a same size and shape.

9. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein each end of each of the plurality of support arms, each end of each of the plurality of extension arms, and one end of each of the plurality of motor arms is attached to one of the plurality of universal Y attachment members.

10. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

each of the plurality of support arms are a same first length and interchangeable;

each of the plurality of motor arms are a same second length and interchangeable; and

each of the plurality of extension arms are a same third length and interchangeable.

11. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein each of the first connection point of the first universal Y attachment member, the second connection point of the first universal Y attachment member, and the third connection point of the first universal Y attachment member are configured to attach to a support arm, an extension arm or a motor arm by fitting inside an end of the support arm, the extension arm, or the motor arm.

12. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

each of the plurality of support arms is hollow;

each of the plurality of motor arms is hollow;

each of the plurality of extension arms is hollow; and

each of the plurality of universal Y attachment members is hollow.

13. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

the first support arm, the first universal Y attachment member, the first extension arm, the second universal Y attachment member and the first motor arm are hollow and configured to receive a wire that extends from a second end of the first motor arm.

14. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the wire includes a separable junction configured to allow separation of the wire.

15. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 14, wherein the separable junction is positioned near the second end of the first motor arm.

16. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 14, wherein the wire includes a plurality of separable junctions located at connection points of respective Y attachment members.

17. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 6, further comprising:

an upper mounting plate positioned outside a second end of the first motor arm and below a motor; and

a lower mounting plate positioned inside the first motor arm and attached to the motor, wherein the upper mounting plate and the first motor arm are positioned between the motor and the lower mounting plate.

18. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 17, wherein each of the upper mounting plate, the first motor arm and the lower mounting plate have a hole, each hole configured to receive a screw, wherein the screw is threaded into a bottom of the motor.

19. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the first motor arm is at least one of graphite, aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, titanium, or plastic;

the lower mounting plate is at least one of graphite, aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, titanium, or plastic; and

the upper mounting plate is at least one of graphite, aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, titanium, or plastic.

20. The automated aerial delivery vehicle of claim 17, wherein the upper mounting plate and the lower mounting plate are positioned to distribute pressure resulting from the mounting of the motor to the first motor arm.