Unmanned aerial vehicles, charging systems for the same and methods of charging the same

• US 9,896,203 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Kim, Joung-Ho, Kim, Youngwoo
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFALL, NICHOLAS A
• Application Number:
  US14/614,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20180044015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0016 the lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• 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 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• 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 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a body portion, a plurality of driving portions, a plurality of arms and first and second landing members. The body portion is formed at a center thereof, and the body portion includes an inner space defined by an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames that connect the upper plate with the lower plate. The plurality of driving portions generate an impellent force for a flight. Each of the plurality of arms has one end connected to the body portion and the other end connected to one of the driving portions.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a body portion formed at a center thereof, wherein the body portion includes an inner space defined by an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames that connect the upper plate with the lower plate;

a plurality of driving portions that generate an impellent force for a flight;

a plurality of arms, each having one end connected to the body portion and the other end connected to one of the driving portions; and

first and second landing members connected to the lower plate, wherein the first and second landing members are opposed to each other and support the body portion such that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a ground with a predetermined height from the ground,

wherein the first landing member comprises;

a first supporting portion connected to the lower plate, the first supporting portion extending in a first direction; and

a second supporting portion connected to the first supporting portion, the second supporting portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the second landing member comprises;

a third supporting portion connected to the lower plate, the third supporting portion extending in the first direction; and

a fourth supporting portion connected to the third supporting portion, the fourth supporting portion extending in the second direction,

wherein the second supporting portion includes first and second leg portions divided with respect to the first supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion includes third and fourth leg portions divided with respect to the third supporting portion, and

wherein a first reception coil that charges a rechargeable battery installed in the body portion is installed in the first leg portion and a second reception coil that charges the rechargeable battery is installed in the fourth leg portion.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first electromagnet is mounted in the second leg portion, a second electromagnet is mounted in the third leg portion and the first and second electromagnets support landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inner space comprises:

a converter coupled to the first and second reception coils; and

a charger coupled to the converter, the charge configured to charge the rechargeable battery.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein each of the driving portions comprises:

a motor that receives a power from the rechargeable battery to generate a driving force; and

a propeller that receives the driving force from the motor and generates the impellent force.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the body portion comprises:

a control module therein, wherein the control module is coupled to the rechargeable battery and controls a flight operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

a communication module therein, wherein the communication module is coupled to the rechargeable battery and communicates with an external control device to exchange data with the external control device.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein one or more global positioning system (GPS) sensors are installed in at least some of the arms.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6, wherein the GPS sensors support an alignment operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a charging station.

8. A charging system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the charging system comprising:

a charging station in which transmission coils coupled to a power supply are installed; and

an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes first and second reception coils, the unmanned aerial vehicle receiving a power from the charging station through magnetic coupling, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises;

a body portion formed at a center thereof, wherein the body portion includes an inner space defined by an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames that connect the upper plate with the lower plate;

a plurality of driving portions that generate an impellent force for a flight;

a plurality of arms, each having one end connected to the body portion and the other end connected to one of the driving portions; and

first and second landing members connected to the lower plate, wherein the first and second landing members are opposed to each other and support the body portion such that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a ground with a predetermined height from the ground,

wherein the first landing member comprises;

a first supporting portion connected to the lower plate, the first supporting portion extending in a first direction; and

a second supporting portion connected to the first supporting portion, the second supporting portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the second landing member comprises;

a third supporting portion connected to the lower plate, the third supporting portion extending in the first direction; and

a fourth supporting portion connected to the third supporting portion, the fourth supporting portion extending in the second direction,

wherein the second supporting portion includes first and second leg portions divided with respect to the first supporting portion and the fourth portion includes third and fourth leg portions divided with respect to the third supporting portion, and

wherein the first reception coil that charges a rechargeable battery installed in the body portion is installed in the first leg portion and the second reception coil that charges the rechargeable battery is installed in the fourth leg portion.

9. The charging system of claim 8, wherein a first electromagnet is mounted in the second leg portion, a second electromagnet is mounted in the third leg portion and the first and second electromagnets support landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the charging station comprises:

a first guiding rail in which a third electromagnet is mounted, wherein the third electromagnet combines with the first electromagnet when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station;

a third guiding rail in which a fourth electromagnet is mounted, wherein the fourth electromagnet combines with the second electromagnet when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station;

a second guiding rail connected to the first guiding rail, wherein the second guiding rail is in contact with the first leg portion when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station; and

a fourth guiding rail connected to the third guiding rail, wherein the fourth guiding rail is in contact with the fourth leg portion when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station.

11. The charging system of claim 10,

wherein a first shell is installed in the second guiding rail, the first shell has a cylindrical shape having a cavity therein, the first shell includes a first transmission coil therein, and the first shell moves toward the first leg portion to enfold the first reception coil after the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station,

wherein a second shell is installed in the fourth guiding rail, the second shell has a cylindrical shape having a cavity therein, the second shell includes a second transmission coil therein, and the second shell moves toward the fourth leg portion to enfold the second reception coil after the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station, and

wherein the first and second shells move after the first through fourth electromagnets are deactivated.

12. The charging system of claim 8, wherein one or more first global positioning system (GPS) sensors are mounted on at least some of the arms and one or more second GPS sensors communicating with the first GPS sensors are mounted on the charging station.

13. A method of charging an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

aligning the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to a charging station by using one or more first global positioning system (GPS) sensors;

landing the unmanned aerial vehicle on the charging station by activating first through fourth electromagnets, wherein the first and second electromagnets are mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle and the third and fourth electromagnets are mounted on the charging station;

deactivating the first through fourth electromagnets; and

moving a transmission coil toward a reception coil to charge a rechargeable battery in the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the transmission coil is installed in the charging station and the reception coil is installed in a landing member that supports the unmanned aerial vehicle.