UAV—or personal flying device—delivered deployable descent device

• US 9,987,506 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marcus
• Original Assignee: Robert Marcus
• Inventors: Marcus, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin C
• Application Number:
  US13/474,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 182142, 182145, 182196-199, 182 70, 244 4 A
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 5/00 Other devices for rescuing from fire ladders E06C
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/80 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/56 Rope or chain ladders
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/00 Ladders characterised by being mounted on undercarriages or vehicles Securing ladders on vehicles ladders having wheels, rollers, or runners E06C1/397 ; ladders on boats B63B27/14
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/14 with non-rigid longitudinal members, e.g. rope or chain ladders, ladders of the lazy-tongs type

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or manned/unmanned personal flying device (PFD) may be used to deliver a deployable descent system to an elevated location at which people await rescue, such as people trapped in an upper story of a burning building. The UAV or PFD may be used to deliver the descent system, attach the descent system to the building, and deploy the descent system. After deployment, the descent system may be tensioned to prevent sway and facilitate descent. Standoffs may be installed or integrated into the descent system to provide for adequate handholds for descending individuals. Various equipment and methods used in such systems are described herein.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a deployable descent device, the deployable descent device having a first end and a second end; and

an aerial vehicle configured to;

deliver the deployable descent device to an elevated location at a side of a building,

anchor the first end of the deployable descent device to a feature that is on the side of the building at the elevated location or to a feature that is accessible through the side of the building via an opening in the side of the building at the elevated location while the first end of the deployable descent device is supported by the aerial vehicle, and

release the first end of the deployable descent device after the first end of the deployable descent device is anchored to the feature that is on the side of the building at the elevated location or to the feature that is accessible through the side of the building via the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location, wherein the aerial vehicle comprises;

a body;

at least one mechanical manipulator arm mounted to the body; and

a rigid external framework mounted to the body, the rigid external framework configured to support the first deployable descent device in front of the body during flight of the aerial vehicle, wherein;

the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is configured to anchor the first end of the first deployable descent device to the feature on the side of the building at the elevated location or to anchor the first end of the first deployable descent device to the feature accessible through the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is further configured to provide for anchoring of the second end of the first deployable descent device to a second feature at a second location that is at a lower altitude than the elevated location.

3. The system of claim 2, the first deployable descent device further including a tensioning mechanism configured to induce a tensile load in the first deployable descent device in addition to any tensile load attributable to the weight of the first deployable descent device when the tensioning mechanism is actuated.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising two or more standoffs configured to offset a substantial portion of the first deployable descent device from the side of the building when the first deployable descent device is anchored to the feature and the second location.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second deployable descent device, the second deployable descent device having a first end and a second end,

wherein the aerial vehicle is further configured to provide for delivery of the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the feature on the side of the building at the elevated location or to the feature accessible through the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location and to attach the first end of the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is further configured to deploy the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the feature on the side of the building at the elevated location or to the feature accessible through the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is further configured to retrieve the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the feature.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is a mechanical manipulator arm configured to move an end effector in three dimensions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm includes a mechanical grasper end effector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the aerial vehicle includes a remote control link configured for communication with a separate, external remote control station, and

the aerial vehicle is configured to be at least partially controlled via commands received via the remote control link.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the rigid external framework includes a releasable mechanism for securing the first deployable descent device to the rigid external framework.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the releasable mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

electrically-driven threaded fasteners, computer-controlled release latches, pyrotechnic fasteners, frangible nuts, and cable cutters.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployable descent device includes a J-shaped anchor device at the first end and the rigid external framework is configured to support the J-shaped anchor device such that the J-shaped anchor device is oriented with the ends of the J protruding downwards and with the bottom of the J facing upwards with respect to the orientation of the aerial vehicle during level flight.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm includes a mechanical manipulator arm that includes a powder-actuated fastener driver.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the aerial vehicle further includes a rotary drive mechanism, wherein:

the tensioning mechanism is rotatably and removably coupled with the rotary drive mechanism, and

the tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the first deployable descent device responsive to receiving rotary input from the rotary drive mechanism.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first deployable descent device includes a plurality of connection features that are compatible with a plurality of different types of standoffs, wherein any of the different types of standoffs may be attached to the first deployable descent device using one of the connection features.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least two different types of standoffs, wherein the two different types of standoffs are selected from the group consisting of:

standoffs with suction cups configured to interface with the side of the building, standoffs with masonry fasteners configured to anchor to the side of the building, standoffs with magnetic pads configured to magnetically clamp to the side of the building, standoffs with rubber feet configured to contact the side of the building, and standoffs with adhesive feet configured to adhere to the side of the building.

18. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the rigid external framework is further configured to support the second deployable descent device in front of the body during flight of the aerial vehicle,

the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is configured to grasp the second end of the first deployable descent device after the first end of the first deployable descent device is anchored to the feature on the side of the building at the elevated location or the first end of the first deployable descent device is anchored to the feature accessible through the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location and to attach the second end of the first deployable descent device to the first end of the second deployable descent device while the second deployable descent device is supported by the rigid external framework.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is positioned on the body such that the first descent device is within reach of the at least one mechanical manipulator arm when the first descent device is supported by the rigid external framework and such that the at least one mechanical manipulator arm can retrieve the first end of the first descent device from the rigid external framework when the first descent device is supported by the rigid external framework.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle further comprises:

a spool, wherein;

the spool is mounted underneath the body,

the rigid external framework is configured to support the first deployable descent device by supporting the first end of the first deployable descent device,

the spool is configured such that the second end of the first deployable descent device and a substantial portion of the first deployable descent device adjacent to the second end of the first deployable descent device are windable around the spool.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the spool is releasably mounted underneath the body and the aerial vehicle is further configured to release the spool while the aerial vehicle is in flight.

22. An aerial vehicle configured to:

deliver a first deployable descent device to an elevated location at a side of a building, wherein the first deployable descent device has a first end and a second end,

anchor the first end of the first deployable descent device to a feature that is on the side of the building at the elevated location or to a feature that is accessible through the side of the building via an opening in the side of the building at the elevated location while the first end of the first deployable descent device is supported by the aerial vehicle, and

release the first end of the first deployable descent device after the first end of the first deployable descent device is anchored to the feature that is on the side of the building at the elevated location or to the feature that is accessible through the side of the building via the opening in the side of the building at the elevated location, the aerial vehicle further comprising;

a body;

a plurality of vertical lifters configured to provide lift to the body;

at least one mechanical manipulator arm mounted to the body; and

a rigid external framework mounted to the body, the rigid external framework configured to support the deployable descent device in front of the body during flight of the aerial vehicle, wherein;

the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is configured to anchor the first end of the deployable descent device to a feature on a side of a building at an elevated location or to anchor the first end of the first deployable descent device to a feature accessible through an opening in the side of the building at an elevated location.

23. The aerial vehicle of claim 22, wherein the rigid external framework includes a releasable mechanism for securing the deployable descent device to the rigid external framework.

24. The aerial vehicle of claim 23, wherein the releasable mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

electrically-driven threaded fasteners, computer-controlled release latches, pyrotechnic fasteners, frangible nuts, and cable cutters.

25. The aerial vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm includes a mechanical manipulator arm that includes a powder-actuated fastener driver.

26. The aerial vehicle of claim 22, wherein the aerial vehicle further includes a rotary drive mechanism, wherein the rotary drive mechanism is configured to be removably and rotationally coupled with a tensioning mechanism of the deployable descent device.