Unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 9,981,741 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutson, Donald Bolden
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US14/858,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein related to an unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a frame portion, two rear arms extending away from the frame portion, and at least one rear air propulsion device arranged on each of the rear arms at an orthogonal angle relative to a vertical axis. The at least one rear air propulsion device has an axis of rotation for both lift and rotation based on the angle. The unmanned aerial vehicle has two front arms arranged along a horizontal axis. The vertical axis is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The unmanned aerial vehicle also includes at least one camera arranged on at least one of the front arms. The at least one camera faces a front direction.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

a frame portion oriented on a horizontal plane;

two rear arms extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion at an acute angle relative to one another to form a V-shape between the two rear arms;

two rear air propulsion devices, each coupled to a corresponding one of the rear arms and each having an axis of rotation including a component in a bottom direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and including a component in a side direction coplaner with the horizontal plane;

two front arms parallel to each other and extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion along the horizontal plane, wherein ends of the two rear arms are elevated, relative to the two front arms, in a top direction; and

two front air propulsion devices, each coupled to a corresponding one of the front arms and each having an axis of rotation in the bottom direction.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the front air propulsion devices is configured to face the bottom direction.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the axis of rotation of a first of the rear air propulsion devices comprises a first direction forming an acute angle with the bottom direction; and

the axis of rotation of a second of the rear air propulsion devices comprises a second direction forming an acute angle with the bottom direction, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of each of the rear air propulsion devices is fixed.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of each of the front air propulsion devices is fixed.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation component in the bottom direction is configured for lift, and the axis of rotation component in the side direction is configured for rotation.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a charging engagement element.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera configured to face a front direction and vibration isolated from the front air propulsion devices.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the front arms comprises a frame and a panel;

the camera is arranged on the panel; and

the at least one front air propulsion device is arranged on the frame.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a vibration dampener between the panel and the frame.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 7, wherein the charging engagement element is configured to charge the unmanned aerial vehicle.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 11, wherein the charging engagement element includes a number of hook members.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the number of hook members are part of the frame portion.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein each of the number of hook members extends from the frame portion in a different direction.

15. A method of providing an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

providing a frame portion oriented on a horizontal plane;

providing two rear arms extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion at an acute angle relative to one another to form a V-shape between the two rear arms;

providing two rear air propulsion devices, each coupled to a corresponding one of the rear arms and each having an axis of rotation including a component in a bottom direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and including a component in a side direction coplaner with the horizontal plane;

providing two front arms parallel to each other and extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion along the horizontal plane, wherein ends of the two rear arms are elevated, relative to the two front arms, in a top direction; and

providing two front air propulsion devices, each coupled to a corresponding one of the front arms and each having an axis of rotation in the bottom direction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the front air propulsion devices is configured to face the bottom direction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the axis of rotation component in the bottom direction is configured for lift, and the axis of rotation component in the side direction is configured for rotation.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a charging engagement element configured to charge the unmanned aerial vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the axis of rotation of a first of the rear air propulsion devices comprises a first direction forming an angle with the bottom direction; and

the axis of rotation of a second of the rear air propulsion devices comprises a second direction forming an angle with the bottom direction, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal to each other.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a camera configured to face a front direction.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the camera is vibration isolated from the front air propulsion devices.

23. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

a frame portion oriented on a horizontal plane;

first and second rear arms extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion at acute angles relative to one another to form a V-shape between the first and second rear arms;

a first rear air propulsion device coupled to the first rear arm and having a fixed axis of rotation in a first direction non-orthogonal to the horizontal plane;

a second rear air propulsion device coupled to the second rear arm and having a fixed axis of rotation in a second direction non-orthogonal to the horizontal plane, wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal to each other; and

first and second front arms parallel to each other and extending away in fixed directions from the frame portion along the horizontal plane.

24. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23, wherein ends of the rear arms are elevated, relative to the front arms, in a top direction.

25. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23, further comprising:

a first front air propulsion device coupled to the first front arm and having an axis of rotation in a bottom direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane; and

a second front air propulsion device coupled to the second front arm and having an axis of rotation in the bottom direction.

26. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 25, wherein the axis of rotation of each of the front air propulsion devices is fixed.

27. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a charging engagement element configured to charge the unmanned aerial vehicle.

28. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 27, wherein the charging engagement element includes a number of hook members extending from the frame portion in a different direction.