Self-enclosed air vehicle

• US 10,011,354 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldstein, Ryan Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US14/973,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• 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 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/60 by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets

Abstract

Vehicles such as unmanned air vehicles that are capable of movement from an open, flight configuration to an enclosed configuration in which all major flight components can be protected by an outer shell are disclosed. In the enclosed configuration, the vehicles can take on standard geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism, sphere, cylinder, or another shape, so as to not be recognizable as an unmanned air vehicle. Embodiments of vehicles can also include interchangeable and/or wireless motor arms, motor arms which are electrically connected to the remainder of the vehicle only when in an open configuration, remote controllers removably attached to the remainder of the vehicle, and clip or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to objects such as backpacks.

Claims

1. An unmanned air vehicle, comprising:

a body comprising an outer shell and shaped to define a first motor arm cavity;

a first motor arm movably attached to said body, said first motor arm comprising a first motor and a first outer surface;

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in a closed configuration, said first outer surface of said first motor arm is substantially flush with said outer shell of said body when said first motor arm is stowed within said first motor arm cavity; and

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an open configuration, said first outer surface of said first motor arm is outside of said first motor arm cavity; and

a first propeller detachably attached to said first motor,

wherein said body is shaped to define a compartment for storage of said first propeller, and

wherein said first propeller is detached from said first motor and stored within said compartment when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration.

2. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said first motor is stowed within said first motor arm cavity.

3. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second motor arm movably attached to said body, said second motor arm comprising a second motor and a second outer surface.

4. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 3, wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said second outer surface of said second motor arm is substantially flush with said outer shell of said body when said second motor arm is stowed within said first motor arm cavity.

5. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 3, wherein said body is shaped to define a second motor arm cavity separate from said first motor arm cavity;

and

wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said second outer surface of said second motor arm is substantially flush with said outer shell of said body when said second motor arm is stowed within said second motor arm cavity.

6. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 4, wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said second motor is stowed within said first motor arm cavity.

7. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 5, wherein said second motor arm is further configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said second motor is stowed within said second motor arm cavity.

8. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising landing gear;

wherein said body is shaped to define a landing gear cavity;

wherein said landing gear is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said landing gear is within said landing gear cavity; and

wherein said landing gear is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an open configuration, said landing gear is outside said landing gear cavity.

9. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein when in said closed configuration, said unmanned air vehicle is substantially rectangularly prismatic.

10. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first motor arm is removably attached to said body so as to be interchangeable with a second motor arm.

11. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a removable cap attached and contoured to said body to protect a payload protruding from said body, and wherein the payload is a camera.

12. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said articulated movement between said closed configuration and said open configuration is accomplished without the use of tools.

13. An unmanned air vehicle, comprising:

a body comprising an outer shell and shaped to define a first motor arm cavity;

a first motor arm movably attached to said body, said first motor arm comprising a first motor and a first outer surface;

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in a closed configuration, said first outer surface of said first motor arm is substantially flush with said outer shell of said body when said first motor arm is stowed within said first motor arm cavity; and

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an open configuration, said first outer surface of said first motor arm is outside of said first motor arm cavity; and

a removable remote controller for controlling the flight of said unmanned air vehicle, said removable remote controller attached to said body.

14. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 13, wherein said removable remote controller is removable only when said unmanned air vehicle is in said open configuration.

15. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 13, wherein said outer shell comprises a removable cap attached and contoured to said body to protect a payload protruding from said body, and wherein the payload is a camera.

16. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

landing gear, wherein said removable remote controller attaches to said unmanned air vehicle in-between said landing gear and conforms to the shape of said body and said landing gear.

17. An unmanned air vehicle capable of flight, comprising:

a body comprising an outer shell;

one or more motor arms;

wherein said unmanned air vehicle is configured for articulated movement of said motor arms from an open configuration for flight to a closed configuration for storage, and

wherein each of said motor arms are fully enclosed within said outer shell and protected from external damage in said closed configuration;

landing gear; and

a removable remote controller for controlling the flight of said unmanned air vehicle, said removable remote controller attachable to and detachable from said body.

18. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a clip attachment point disposed on said body for attachment of said unmanned air vehicle to an object for carrying said unmanned air vehicle, said object comprising at least one of a clip, a strap, a backpack, a belt, a bracelet, or a keychain.

19. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17, wherein said outer shell comprises a removable cap attached and contoured to said body to protect a payload, protruding from said body, and wherein the payload is a camera.

20. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17, wherein said articulated movement between said closed configuration and said open configuration is accomplished without the use of tools.

21. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17, wherein said one or more motor arms comprise outer surfaces, and wherein when said unmanned air vehicle is in said closed configuration, said outer surfaces of said motor arms are substantially flush with said outer shell of said body.

22. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17, wherein said removable remote controller attaches to said unmanned air vehicle in-between said landing gear and conforms to the shape of said body and said landing gear.