UAV DOCKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160144982A1
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sugumaran, Ramanathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/12 Details of combines
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/34 wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• 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: 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 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/21 Rotary wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles

Abstract

An aerial vehicle docking system includes a landing pad and an aerial vehicle. The landing pad has a concave landing surface and a depression. The aerial vehicle has landing gear and a protrusion. The protrusion is shaped to mate with the depression. The protrusion and the landing gear are positioned on a bottom surface of the aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle docking system comprising:

a landing pad having a concave landing surface, the concave landing surface having a depression; and

an aerial vehicle having landing gear and a protrusion, the protrusion shaped to mate with the depression, the protrusion and the landing gear positioned on a bottom surface of the aerial vehicle.

2. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a cover attached to the landing pad, the cover movable between a first position covering at least a portion of the aerial vehicle when the protrusion is mated with the depression and a second position not covering the aerial vehicle when the protrusion is mated with the depression.

3. The docking system of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a frame, a sheet, and a pin, the sheet is attached to the frame and the frame is rotatable about the pin from a first position wherein the sheet is not above the depression to a second position wherein the sheet is above the depression.

4. The docking system of claim 3, wherein the cover is a collapsible awning, the cover is collapsed in the first position, and the cover is uncollapsed in the second position.

5. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the landing gear is positioned on a bottom surface of the protrusion.

6. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder included in the aerial vehicle, the shoulder extends outward beyond the perimeter of the protrusion and the shoulder is positioned above at least a portion of the protrusion.

7. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the shoulder is greater than the diameter of the protrusion.

8. The docking system of claim 6, wherein the shoulder comprises at least two wheels.

9. The docking system of claim 6, wherein the shoulder comprises a skid surface positioned on a bottom surface of the shoulder.

10. The docking system of claim 9, wherein the coefficient of friction between the skid surface and the landing surface is less than 0.25.

11. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle is a rotary-wing aircraft.

12. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a first magnetic material included in the aerial vehicle and a second magnetic material included in the landing pad, at least a portion of the first magnetic material overlapping at least a portion of the second magnetic material when the protrusion is mated with the depression.

13. The docking system of claim 12, wherein the second magnetic material is an electromagnet.

14. The docking system of claim 13, further comprising a permanent magnet included in the aerial vehicle or the landing pad, wherein the permanent magnet is configured to attract at least one of the first magnetic material or the second magnetic material and the electromagnet is configured to selectively repel at least one of the first magnetic material or the permanent magnet.

15. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a first induction coil included in the aerial vehicle and a second induction coil included in the landing pad, the first induction coil inductively coupled to the second inductive coil when the protrusion is mated with the depression, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil are configured to transmit power from the landing pad to the aerial vehicle.

16. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wheel attached to the landing pad and configured to provide rolling support to the landing pad as the landing pad is moved.

17. An aerial vehicle docking system for a work vehicle comprising:

an operator station included in the work vehicle, the operator station having a roof;

a landing pad attached to the roof, the landing pad having a concave landing surface, the concave landing surface having a depression; and

an aerial vehicle having landing gear and a protrusion, the protrusion shaped to mate with the depression, the protrusion and the landing gear positioned on a bottom surface of the aerial vehicle.

18. The docking system of claim 17, wherein the landing surface is integrally formed as part of the roof.

19. The docking system of claim 17, wherein the work vehicle is an agricultural tractor, harvester, or sprayer.

20. A method of docking an aerial vehicle, comprising:

positioning an aerial vehicle having landing gear and a protrusion on a bottom surface of the aerial vehicle such that at least a portion of the landing gear is above a concave landing surface, the concave landing surface having a depression;

lowering the aerial vehicle until at least a portion of the landing gear is in contact with the landing surface.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising continuing to lower the aerial vehicle until the protrusion mates with the depression.