Systems and methods for UAV battery exchange

• US 10,363,826 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Mingxi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/261,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0297 adjustable to align with aircraft trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids taxiing aids B64F1/002
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/36 Other airport installations ground installations for de-icing aircraft B64F5/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/39 : Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 : with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 : Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 : associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/102 : specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV.

Claims

1. A method for changing a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

supporting the UAV on a UAV landing area of a station, wherein said UAV is coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV;

removing the first battery from the UAV with aid of a battery replacement member; and

moving, within a battery storage section, a holding station configured to store a second battery capable of powering the UAV upon being coupled to the UAV, wherein the holding station is moved simultaneously while the first battery is being removed with aid of the battery replacement member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the holding station is moved about an axis of rotation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first battery is removed via a translational motion without rotation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises a recessed region into which the first battery is inserted to couple to the UAV and provide power to the UAV.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV landing area comprises visible markers including images and/or LED lights that are configured to aid the UAV in landing.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

effecting the landing of the UAV when the UAV detects a predefined image indicative that the UAV is to land.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

effecting the landing of the UAV when the UAV detects a specific spatial or temporal flashing pattern of the LED lights indicative that the UAV is to land.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the first battery within the holding station of the battery storage section with aid of the battery replacement member, or removing the second battery from the holding station of the battery storage section with aid of the battery replacement member.