Systems and methods for docking and charging unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 9,902,504 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldemaryam, Assres H
• Application Number:
  US14/613,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• 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: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/92 Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicle charging systems including unmanned aerial vehicle charging stations having a light socket connector configured to be coupled to a light socket, a power circuit electrically coupled to the light socket connector, and a charging station body having one or more electrical contact regions electrically coupled to the power circuit. The one or more electrical contact regions are electrically engageable with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle charging station comprising:

a light socket connector configured to be coupled to a light socket;

a power circuit electrically coupled to the light socket connector;

one or more detection sensors configured to detect one or more unmanned aerial vehicles and to provide a signal to the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station when one or more unmanned aerial vehicles are within a threshold distance greater than zero from the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station; and

a charging station body having one or more electrical contact regions electrically coupled to the power circuit, wherein the one or more electrical contact regions are electrically engageable with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles, wherein;

the one or more detection sensors are communicatively coupled to the one or more electrical contact regions such that when the one or more detection sensors detect one or more unmanned aerial vehicles within a threshold distance greater than zero from the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station, the one or more electrical contact regions produce an inductive charge.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein the one or more detection sensors comprise one or more cameras, one or more proximity sensors, or combinations thereof.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein the charging station body further comprises one or more magnetic engaging portions configured to magnetically engage one or more unmanned aerial vehicles.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein the charging station body further comprises an annular portion and the one or more electrical contact regions are positioned on the annular portion.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein:

the charging station body further comprises one or more mounting hooks; and

the one or more electrical contact regions are disposed on each mounting hook.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein the charging station body further comprises an engagement surface and one or more magnetic engaging portions, wherein the one or more electrical contact regions and the one or more magnetic engaging portions are disposed on the engagement surface.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, wherein the charging station body further comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle garage sized and configured to enclose one or more unmanned aerial vehicles within the unmanned aerial vehicle garage.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging station of claim 1, further comprising a communications module configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle charging system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle;

an unmanned aerial vehicle charging station comprising;

a light socket connector electrically coupled to a power circuit, wherein the light socket connector is configured to be electrically coupled to a light socket;

a communications module configured to wirelessly communicate with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

a charging station body having one or more electrical contact regions electrically coupled to the power circuit, wherein the one or more electrical contact regions are electrically engageable with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

one or more magnetic engaging portions that are actuatable; and

one or more detection sensors that are configured to detect the unmanned aerial vehicle and to provide a signal to the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station when the unmanned aerial vehicle is within a threshold distance greater than zero from the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station, wherein

the one or more detection sensors are communicatively coupled to the one or more magnetic engaging portions such that when the one or more detection sensors detect one or more unmanned aerial vehicles within a threshold distance greater than zero from the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station, the one or more magnetic engaging portions produce a magnetic field.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging system of claim 9, wherein the communications module wirelessly communicates with the unmanned aerial vehicle using RF, WiFi, Bluetooth, or combinations thereof.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging system of claim 9, wherein the communications module is configured to wireles sly receive a signal from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the signal communicating a status of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the status indicates one or more of:

a charge level of an electrically chargeable battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

a presence of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

a distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station.

12. An unmanned aerial vehicle charging system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle charging station comprising a power circuit, one or more electrical contact regions, one or more detection sensors, and one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions, wherein;

the one or more electrical contact regions are electrically coupled to the power circuit;

the one or more electrical contact regions are configured to provide conductive charging, inductive charging, or both to one or more unmanned aerial vehicles;

the one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions are configured to produce a magnetic field; and

the one or more detection sensors are communicatively coupled to the one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions such that when the one or more detection sensors detect one or more unmanned aerial vehicles within a threshold distance greater than zero from the unmanned aerial vehicle charging station, the one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions produce a magnetic field.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging system of claim 12, wherein the one or more detection sensors comprise one or more cameras, one or more proximity sensors, and combinations thereof.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle charging system of claim 12, wherein the one or more electrical contact regions and the one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions are each disposed on an engagement surface such that when one or more unmanned aerial vehicles are magnetically coupled to the one or more actuatable magnetic engaging portions the one or more unmanned aerial vehicles are electrically coupled to the one or more electrical contact regions.