System and method for modular unmanned aerial system

• US 10,196,143 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Quinlan, Jesse R., Patterson, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/612,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0033 the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/00 Wings ornithopter wings B64C33/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/14 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 40/20 for in-flight adjustment of the base configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft

Abstract

A modular Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has first and second flight configurations, and includes an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) parent module and a plurality of UAV child modules. The parent module may have a fuselage, forward and aft wings connected to the fuselage, and a first plurality of flight propulsion devices. The child modules have a corresponding second plurality of flight propulsion devices. Each child module docks wingtip-to-wingtip with the parent module or an adjacent edge of a child module using the docking mechanisms. The child modules undock and separate from the forward wing and each other, and achieve controlled flight independently of the parent module while in the second flight configuration. A method for controlling the modular UAS is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A modular unmanned aerial system (UAS) having a first and a second flight configuration, the modular UAS comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parent module comprising;

a forward wing disposed on a fuselage with a first and a second distal end,

a first docking mechanism disposed on the first distal end and a second docking mechanism disposed on the second distal end,

a secondary wing disposed on the fuselage aft of the forward wing, and

a parent flight propulsion system;

a first and second UAV child module each having a child flight propulsion system and a child docking mechanism, wherein the docking mechanism of the first UAV child module is configured to connect to the first docking mechanism of the UAV parent module, and the docking mechanism of the second UAV child module is configured to connect to the second docking mechanism of the UAV parent module, wherein the UAV child modules form an integral part of the forward wing and extend the wingspan of the forward wing; and

wherein the first flight configuration comprises connecting the UAV child modules to the UAV parent module, wherein the second flight configuration comprises separating the UAV child modules from the UAV parent module during aerial flight and the UAV child modules achieving flight independently of the UAV parent module, and wherein the UAS is capable of returning to the first flight configuration from the second flight configuration during aerial flight.

2. The modular UAS of claim 1, further comprising:

a third and fourth UAV child module each having a child flight propulsion system and a child docking mechanism, wherein the docking mechanism of the third UAV child module is configured to connect to the docking mechanism of the first UAV child module, and the docking mechanism of the fourth UAV child module is configured to connect to the docking mechanism of the second UAV child module.

3. The modular UAS of claim 2, wherein the propulsion devices include propellers.

4. The modular UAS of claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank positioned within or connected to the fuselage, and powered using chemical energy from a supply of fuel in the fuel tank.

5. The modular UAS of claim 1, further comprising a main battery positioned within or connected to the fuselage, wherein the propulsion devices are powered using electrical energy from the main battery.

6. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein the propulsion devices further each include a pair of ducted rotors.

7. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein each of the UAV child modules includes a corresponding energy storage system, and wherein the propulsion devices of each UAV child module is powered using energy from the corresponding energy storage system.

8. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein the energy is electrical energy.

9. The modular UAS of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transceivers connected to the UAV parent module and each of the UAV child modules, wherein the UAV parent module and the UAV child modules are configured to remotely communicate with each other using the RF transceivers during at least the second flight configuration.

10. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein each of the docking mechanisms includes a probe and a receptacle configured to engage with a corresponding receptacle and probe of an adjacent one of the UAV child modules or the UAV parent module.

11. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein the docking mechanisms include a set of magnets.

12. The modular UAS of claim 1, wherein the docking mechanisms include an actuator device configured to selectively couple with and engage an adjacent one of the UAV child modules or the UAV parent module.

13. A method of operating a modular unmanned aerial system (UAS) having a first and a second flight configuration during aerial flight, comprising:

providing a modular UAS comprising;

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parent module comprising;

a forward wing disposed on a fuselage with a first and a second distal end,

a first docking mechanism disposed on the first distal end and a second docking mechanism disposed on the second distal end,

a secondary wing disposed on the fuselage aft of the forward wing, and

a parent flight propulsion system;

providing a first and second UAV child module each having a child flight propulsion system and a child docking mechanism, wherein the docking mechanism of the first UAV child module is configured to connect to the first docking mechanism of the UAV parent module, and the docking mechanism of the second UAV child module is configured to connect to the second docking mechanism of the UAV parent module, wherein the UAV child modules form an integral part of the forward wing and extend the wingspan of the forward wing;

forming the first flight configuration by connecting the UAV child modules to the UAV parent module;

forming the second flight configuration by separating the UAV child modules from the UAV parent module during aerial flight, wherein the UAV child modules achieve flight independent of the UAV parent module;

returning to the first flight configuration from the second flight configuration during aerial flight.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein forming the second flight configuration includes delivering one or more payloads to a corresponding destination using at least one of the UAV child modules.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the modular UAS further comprises:

a third and fourth UAV child module each having a child flight propulsion system and a child docking mechanism, wherein the docking mechanism of the third UAV child module is configured to connect to the docking mechanism of the first UAV child module, and the docking mechanism of the fourth UAV child module is configured to connect to the docking mechanism of the second UAV child module.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the UAV parent module and the UAV child modules each include a corresponding radio frequency (RF) transceiver, the method further comprising:

communicating with each of the UAV child modules, via the UAV parent module using the RF transceivers, while in the second flight configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein docking the first and second distal ends of the UAV parent module to the plurality of UAV child modules includes magnetically aligning the UAV parent module with an adjacent UAV child module using a plurality of magnets.

18. A modular unmanned aerial system (UAS) having a first and a second flight configuration, the modular UAS comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parent module comprising;

a forward wing disposed on a fuselage with a first and a second distal end,

a plurality of docking mechanisms disposed on the first and second distal ends,

a secondary wing disposed on the fuselage aft of the forward wing, and

a parent flight propulsion system;

a plurality of UAV child modules each having a child flight propulsion system and a child docking mechanism, wherein the docking mechanisms of the plurality of UAV child modules are configured to connect to the plurality of docking mechanisms of the UAV parent module, wherein the UAV child modules form an integral part of the forward wing and extend the wingspan of the forward wing; and

wherein the first flight configuration comprises connecting the UAV child modules to the UAV parent module, wherein the second flight configuration comprises separating the UAV child modules from the UAV parent module during aerial flight and the UAV child modules achieving flight independently of the UAV parent module, and wherein the UAS is capable of returning to the first flight configuration from the second flight configuration during aerial flight.

19. The modular UAS of claim 18, further comprising a main battery positioned within or connected to the fuselage, wherein the propulsion devices are powered using electrical energy from the main battery.

20. The modular UAS of claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transceivers connected to the UAV parent module and each of the UAV child modules, wherein the UAV parent module and the UAV child modules are configured to remotely communicate with each other using the RF transceivers during at least the second flight configuration.