Adjustable weight distribution for drone

• US 9,908,618 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Vaughn, Brad Lee, Sweet, Charles Wheeler, Kemler, Vincent, Shivnan, Aine Mary, Gondkar, Kaustubh Balkrishna, Wilson, James York, Taveira, Michael Franco, Hutson, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US15/285,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 701117, 701 13, 701 2, 701 3, 701 4, 701411, 701412, 701467, 701533, 701 8, 701 7, 701 11, 701 15
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/02 by gravity or inertia-actuated apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 40/20 for in-flight adjustment of the base configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.

Claims

1. A weight distribution apparatus for adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:

a first balance track configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone, wherein the first balance track is disposed on an extension arm of the drone, the extension arm extends laterally from the central region and an air propulsion unit is mounted on a distal end of the extension arm; and

a repositionable weight secured along the first balance track, wherein the repositionable weight comprises an electronic component.

2. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repositionable weight wraps around at least a portion of the extension arm using an essential structural shape of the extension arm as the first balance track.

3. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first balance track comprises a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions comprising a series of apertures extending through the extension arm.

4. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repositionable weight is configured to ride along guide elements included on the first balance track.

5. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of an energy cell, an actuator, an indicator, a circuit element, a sensor, and a camera.

6. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is fixed to the repositionable weight.

7. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is remote from the repositionable weight.

8. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit comprises:

a radio frequency transceiver, and

a processor coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to activate a movement of the repositionable weight from a first one of a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions to a second one of a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions in response to receiving an activation signal via the radio frequency transceiver.

9. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repositionable weight is configured to perform a function using the electronic component in addition to adjusting the center of mass of the drone.

10. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repositionable weight is removably secured to at least one of a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions.

11. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second balance track extending outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the first balance track.

12. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first balance track is configured to change length for changing the repositionable weight from a first weight-balance fixation position to a second weight-balance fixation position.

13. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first balance track is configured to rotate about a vertical central axis of the drone.

14. A weight distribution apparatus for adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:

means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone, wherein the means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone is disposed on an extension arm of the drone, wherein the extension arm extends laterally from the central region and a means for propelling air is mounted on a distal end of the extension arm; and

means for securing an electronic component adding weight to the drone along the means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone.

15. A weight distribution apparatus for adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:

a first balance track configured to extent outwardly from a central region of the drone;

a second balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the first balance track; and

a repositionable weight configured to be secured along one or more of the first balance track or the second balance track, wherein the repositionable weight comprises a first weight secured to the first balance track and a second weight secured to the second balance track.

16. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the repositionable weight wraps around at least a portion of an extension arm of the drone using an essential structural shape of the extension arm as the first balance track, wherein a distal end of the extension arm supports an air propulsion unit.

17. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first balance track comprises a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions comprising a series of apertures extending through an extension arm of the drone, wherein a distal end of the extension arm supports an air propulsion unit.

18. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the repositionable weight is configured to ride along guide elements included on the first balance track.

19. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the repositionable weight includes an electronic component.

20. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is fixed to the repositionable weight.

21. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is remote from the repositionable weight.

22. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the repositionable weight is removably secured to at least one of a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions.

23. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to one another.

24. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first balance track is configured to change length for changing the repositionable weight from a first weight-balance fixation position to a second weight-balance fixation position.

25. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first balance track is configured to rotate about a vertical central axis of the drone.

26. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein in response to a change in a weight-distribution balance profile of the drone, in which a payload is added to or removed from the drone, the repositionable weight is configured to be repositioned to a different one of a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions for restoring the weight-distribution balance profile.

27. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions are arranged along one or more of the first balance track or the second balance track such that changing the repositionable weight from a first one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions to a second one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions changes the center of mass of the drone.

28. A weight distribution apparatus for adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:

first means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone;

second means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the first means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone; and

means for adding weight to the drone configured to be secured along one or more of the first or second means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone, wherein the means for adding weight to the drone comprises a first means for adding a first weight to the first means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone and second means for adding a second weight to the second means for adjusting the center of mass of the drone.