System for recharging remotely controlled aerial vehicle, charging station and rechargeable remotely controlled aerial vehicle, and method of use thereof

• US 9,828,093 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Principals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: First Principals, Inc.
• Inventors: Raniere, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CASS, JEAN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/722,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/35 by wireless transmission, e.g. by induction
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A system including an aerial vehicle having an airframe and a power source onboard the aerial vehicle, wherein the aerial vehicle includes a landing gear structure having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and a charging station having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein the aerial vehicle is programmed to dock with the charging station when the power source is in need of recharging, the docking being a mechanical engagement between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the aerial vehicle with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the charging station is provided. A method for continuous surveillance utilizing the aerial vehicles and charging stations is also provided.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled aerial vehicle comprising:

an airframe;

a landing gear structure operably connected to the airframe, the landing gear structure including a first skid and a second skid, wherein the first skid and the second skid each have a recessed area along a bottom portion of the first skid and the second skid;

a first electrical contact connected to the first skid by a first biasing element, and connected to a positive terminal of a battery housed by the airframe; and

a second electrical contact connected to the second skid by a second biasing element, and connected to a negative terminal of the battery housed by the airframe;

wherein the first biasing element and the second biasing element urge the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, respectively, in a direction away from the first skid and the second skid when the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are mechanically engaged with a charging station to promote contact therebetween;

wherein the landing gear structure further includes a first connecting shaft that directly connects the first skid to the airframe, and a second connecting shaft that directly connects the second skid to the airframe;

wherein the second biasing element operably connected to the second skid includes a wire that connects to the negative terminal of the battery, wherein the wire passes through an open channel of the second connecting shaft;

wherein a dielectric element is disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the first electrical contact to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion.

2. The remotely controlled aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element and the second biasing element electrically couple the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, respectively, to the battery of the remotely controlled aerial vehicle.

3. The remotely controlled aerial vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first biasing element operably connected to the first skid includes a wire that connects to the positive terminal of the battery, wherein the wire passes through an open channel of the first connecting shaft.

4. The remotely controlled aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the recessed area of the first skid and the second skid accommodates the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact when the first biasing element and the second biasing element is compressed.

5. A system comprising:

an aerial vehicle having an airframe and a power source onboard the aerial vehicle, the power source housed within the airframe, wherein the aerial vehicle includes a landing gear structure having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein the landing gear structure further includes a first connecting shaft that directly connects the first skid to the airframe, and a second connecting shaft that directly connects the second skid to the airframe, the second biasing element operably connected to the second skid includes a wire that connects to the negative terminal of the battery and passes through an open channel of the second connecting shaft, further wherein a dielectric element is disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the first electrical contact to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion; and

a charging station having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

wherein the aerial vehicle is programmed to dock with the charging station when the battery is in need of recharging, the docking being a mechanical engagement between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the aerial vehicle with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the charging station.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the charging station communicates with the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle transmits a signal that the power source of the aerial vehicle needs to be recharged.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the charging station is connected to a conventional power supply.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the charging station are depressible upon impact of the aerial vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the charging station is portable.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the charging station is integrated into an existing surface.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the landing gear structure are depressible.

12. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a polarity switching circuit connected between the power source and the charging station, wherein the polarity switching circuit is configured to enable a correct polarity connection between the power source and the charging station.

13. A method of continuous security surveillance of a community, comprising:

programming a flight path for an aerial vehicle to fly from a first location to a second location of the community, the aerial vehicle having an airframe and a battery onboard the aerial vehicle, the battery housed within the airframe, wherein the aerial vehicle includes a first electrical contact connected to the first skid by a first biasing element, and connected to a positive terminal of a battery housed by the airframe, a second electrical contact connected to the second skid by a second biasing element, and connected to a negative terminal of the battery housed by the airframe, wherein the first biasing element and the second biasing element urge the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, respectively, in a direction away from the first skid and the second skid when the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are mechanically engaged with a charging station to promote contact therebetween, wherein the landing gear structure further includes a first connecting shaft that directly connects the first skid to the airframe, and a second connecting shaft that directly connects the second skid to the airframe, wherein the second biasing element operably connected to the second skid includes a wire that connects to the negative terminal of the battery, wherein the wire passes through an open channel of the second connecting shaft, wherein a dielectric element is disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the first electrical contact to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion;

placing a charging station for the aerial vehicle at the first location and the second location;

wherein the programmed flight path includes stops at the charging station to recharge a power source located within the airframe of the aerial vehicle, wherein the aerial vehicle is recharged based on a biasing engagement between the charging station and the aerial vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the aerial vehicle is community-owned.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first skid and the second skid each have a recessed area along a bottom portion of the first skid and the second skid.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the charging station communicates with the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle transmits a signal that the power source of the aerial vehicle needs to be recharged.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein if the signal is transmitted by the aerial vehicle, causing the aerial vehicle to continue to the nearest charging station along the programmed flight path for docking with the nearest charging station.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the community is a neighborhood having inhabitants that own the aerial vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more charging stations are placed along the programmed flight path at a location other than the first location or other location.