UAV KIT

• US 20140217242A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Unmanned Aerial Systems AS (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prox Dynamics AS (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Muren, Petter, Marton, Trygve Frederik, Paulsen, Dag Henning, Mellem, Geir Morten
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/4.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2203/00 Flying model aircraft, flying toy aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/60 by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

The embodiments herein disclose a personal UAV kit for storing, preparing and remote control of micro UAVs (40). The UAV kit includes a base unit (10), a control unit (30) and at least one UAV. The UAVs can typically be a winged aircraft with foldable wings or a helicopter with a two-bladed or foldable rotor. The base unit comprises UAV compartments for housing at least one UAV, bay (14) for storing the control unit, batteries and electronic components for charging, communication, control and processing and storing of data. In addition, the system includes an eye near display device for viewing system information and sensor data, typically live video, transmitted from the UAV.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle kit, UAV-kit, for storage and control of at least one UAV, comprising

at least one UAV with a UAV head and a UAV tail,

a control unit with a control head and a handle for controlling the at least one UAV adjusted for one-hand operations, wherein the at least one UAV and the control unit when stored in the UAV-kit are stacked so that the UAV head is placed side-by-side with the handle,

a base unit including one compartment for each of the at least one UAV and one bay for the control unit, the base unit being shaped to house the at least one UAV and the control unit,

a stand-by connector inside each compartment housing the at least one UAV providing electric contact between the base unit and the respective UAV when the at least one UAV is stored in the UAV-kit wherein the respective stand-by connector when the associated UAV is placed in the UAV-kit is positioned in line with and in electrical contact with a corresponding second connector device mounted at the underside of the respective UAV,

at least one fastening device for each of the at least one UAV inside the associated compartment being adjusted to keep the UAV firmly attached to the base unit, but still detachable from the base unit.

2. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the compartment for each UAV comprises a bay and a lid, hinged together, wherein each compartment is formed by a first cavity in the bay and a second cavity in the associated lid.

3. An UAV-kit according to claim 2, wherein the respective fastening device comprises two spring clips attached inside the second cavity positioned on each side of the UAV when the UAV is stored in the UAV-kit, the spring clips providing a spring force to both hold the respective UAV in the associated lid when the lid is opened and to allow removal of the UAV from the associated lid.

4. An UAV-kit according to claim 2, wherein the respective fastening device comprises two magnets attached inside the second cavity positioned on each side of the UAV when the UAV is stored in the UAV-kit, the magnets providing a magnetic force to both hold the respective UAV in the associated lid when the lid is opened and to allow removal of the UAV from the associated lie.

5. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the respective stand-by connector when the associated UAV is placed in the UAV-kit enables uploading of software to the associated UAV.

6. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the respective stand-by connector when the associated UAV is placed in the UAV-kit enables recharging of a battery installed in the associated UAV.

7. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the respective stand-by connector provides exchange of coding keys for provisioning a unique coded communication between the at least one and the base unit when on mission.

8. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the respective stand-by connector when the associated UAV is placed in the UAV-kit enables downloading of data from the associated UAV.

9. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit contains at least one radio transmitter adjusted to transmit control signals to the at least one UAV.

10. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit contains at least one radio receiver adjusted to receive data from the at least one.

11. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided with an activation button for starting an initializing process preparing the at least one UAV for a mission.

12. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UAV comprises a GPS receiver and the control unit is adjusted to provide the at least one UAV with initial GPS data during an initializing process.

13. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UAV comprises sensors adjusted to pick up a characteristic hand-movement indicating that the UAV should start a mission.

14. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided with a video output device for connection of a video display to the base unit for streaming and playing back video recorded by the at least one UAV and transmitted on a radio link between the at least one UAV and the base unit.

15. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, wherein the base unit includes at least one base battery and a charger, the charger is adjusted to charge UAV batteries in the at least one UAV in stand-by mode, and the base battery is adjusted to supply power to the charger and the electronics in the base unit.

16. An UAV-kit according to claim 1, comprising a poach containing the base unit provided with suspension means adjusted to make the UAV kit attachable to an operator'"'"'s clothing.

17. An UAV-kit according to claim 4, wherein the lid of the compartment for each UAV is hinged so that the UAV is facing towards an operator when the lid is in the open position.