Power and communication interface for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

• US 10,518,901 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Fisher, Christopher Eugene, Mukherjee, Jason Sidharthadev, Lott, William Arden
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/843,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20180194491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/005 Protective coverings for aircraft not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• 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 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/97 Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 : Land vehicles

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a tang extending from an aerial vehicle, wherein the tang comprises two or more metallic contacts disposed along a length of the tang on an exterior surface of the tang; and

an opening disposed in a landing surface to receive the tang.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tang is a rearward facing tang.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the tang extends from a rear fuselage portion of the aerial vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the aerial vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an aerial vehicle pod, wherein the aerial vehicle pod comprises the landing surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening comprises slanted sides to aid in guiding the tang as the aerial vehicle lands.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening disposed in the landing surface comprises one or more metallic contacts, and wherein the one or more metallic contacts of the opening are aligned with the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang and along the length of the tang when the tang is disposed in the opening.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface and the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang are power contacts and data contacts.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface slidably engage the aligned one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a locking armature disposed proximate the opening of the landing surface, wherein the locking armature is in the landing surface, and wherein the locking armature detachably couples the tang to the landing surface when the tang is disposed in the opening.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the tang comprises a notch to receive a portion of the locking armature.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the locking armature slidably engages the tang.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the locking armature rotates the aerial vehicle, via the detachably coupled tang, relative to the landing surface.

15. An aerial vehicle comprising:

a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of the aerial vehicle; and

two or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang, wherein at least one of the two or more metallic contacts is disposed along a length of the tang.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the tang comprises a notch.

17. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the two or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang comprise power contacts.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the two or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang comprise data contacts.

19. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the tang comprises a bulbous end.

20. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the aerial vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).