Post-type apparatus for containing and charging unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft and method of containing and charging unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft using the same

• US 9,975,442 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Cherl, Kim, Hae-Dong, Gong, Hyeon-Cheol, Choi, Gi-Hyuk, Hwang, In-Hee, Suk, Byong-Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Vicente
• Application Number:
  US15/455,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20170182901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 320109, 320113, 320115
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/005 Protective coverings for aircraft not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/10 for stealth, e.g. reduction of cross-section detectable by radars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• 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: Y02E 10/50 : Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method for containing and charging an unmanned VTOL aircraft are disclosed. The apparatus for containing and charging an unmanned VTOL aircraft includes a post, an extended member, a cover, a fastening unit, and a charging unit. The post is placed on a ground. The extended member is connected to the post. The cover is provided on the extended member, and is configured to be opened or closed in order to contain and protect the unmanned VTOL aircraft. The fastening unit is provided in the cover, and is configured to fasten the unmanned VTOL aircraft. The charging unit is provided in the fastening unit, and is configured to charge the unmanned VTOL aircraft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for containing and charging an unmanned VTOL aircraft, comprising:

a post placed on a ground;

a plurality of lateral fastening holes formed in a side of the post; and

LED/IR lights formed in each of the plurality of fastening holes,

wherein the plurality of lateral fastening holes are disposed in the side of the post at different levels from the ground and spaced apart from each other, such that a plurality of unmanned VTOL aircrafts are allowed to be simultaneously connected to the post through the plurality of lateral fastening holes, with a pole of each of the plurality of unmanned VTOL aircrafts being allowed to be inserted and fastened into the lateral fastening holes,

wherein an entrance of each of the lateral fastening holes is formed in a cone shape, such that the pole of each of the plurality of unmanned VTOL aircrafts is easily inserted into the lateral fastening holes during fastening of the unmanned VTOL aircrafts, and

wherein the LED/IR lights are lit in order to guide the unmanned VTOL aircrafts through automatic insertion via vision of the unmanned VTOL aircrafts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pole is fixed not to move within the lateral fastening hole in a rolling direction so that the unmanned VTOL aircrafts do not roll in a state in which the pole has been inserted into the lateral fastening hole.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pole has a plurality of side faces angled with each other, and the lateral fastening holes have a shape corresponding to the pole having the plurality of side faces angled with each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LED/IR lights include a plurality of line lights, respectively, disposed at different depths from the entrance of the lateral fastening holes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of line lights at different depths collectively form both of a target shape and a cross shape, taken from a front view of the lateral fastening holes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of lateral fastening holes are spaced apart from each other in a height direction of the post by a distance greater than a height of the unmanned VTOL aircraft.