SELF-ENCLOSED AIR VEHICLE

• US 20160176520A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldstein, Ryan Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,011,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/00 Transport or storage specially adapted for UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/60 by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets

Abstract

Vehicles such as unmanned air vehicles that are capable of movement from an open, flight configuration to an enclosed configuration in which all major flight components can be protected by an outer shell are disclosed. In the enclosed configuration, the vehicles can take on standard geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism, sphere, cylinder, or another shape, so as to not be recognizable as an unmanned air vehicle. Embodiments of vehicles can also include interchangeable and/or wireless motor arms, motor arms which are electrically connected to the remainder of the vehicle only when in an open configuration, remote controllers removably attached to the remainder of the vehicle, and clip or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to objects such as backpacks.

Claims

1. An unmanned air vehicle, comprising:

a body comprising an outer shell and shaped to define a first motor arm cavity; and

a first motor arm movably attached to said body, said first motor arm comprising a first motor and a first outer surface;

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an enclosed configuration, said first motor is within said first motor arm cavity; and

wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an open configuration, said first motor is outside said first motor arm cavity.

2. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said first outer surface is substantially flush with said outer shell.

3. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a first propeller detachably attached to said first motor;

wherein said body is shaped to define a compartment for storage of said first propeller.

4. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second motor arm movably attached to said body, said second motor arm comprising a second motor and a second outer surface.

5. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 4, wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said second motor is within said first motor arm cavity.

6. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 4, wherein said body is shaped to define a second motor arm cavity separate from said first motor arm cavity;

wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said second motor is within said second motor arm cavity.

7. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 4, wherein said second motor arm is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said second outer wall is substantially flush with said outer shell.

8. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 7, wherein said second motor arm is further configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said second outer wall is substantially flush with said first outer wall.

9. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising landing gear;

wherein said body is shaped to define a landing gear cavity;

wherein said landing gear is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in said enclosed configuration, said landing gear is within said landing gear cavity; and

wherein said landing gear is configured such that when said unmanned air vehicle is in an open configuration, said landing gear is outside said landing gear cavity.

10. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein when in said enclosed configuration said unmanned air vehicle is substantially rectangularly prismatic, cylindrical, or spherical.

11. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first motor arm is removably attached to said body so as to be interchangeable with a second motor arm.

12. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a removable remote controller for controlling the flight of said unmanned air vehicle, said removable remote controller attached to said body.

13. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 12, wherein said removable remote controller is removable only when said unmanned air vehicle is in said open configuration.

14. A drone, comprising:

a main body comprising an outer shell and one or more pin receptacles;

a foldable motor arm comprising one or more contact pins and a motor, said foldable motor arm movable between an open position and a closed position wherein said motor is within said outer shell;

wherein in said open position said contact pins are electrically connected to said pin receptacles.

15. The drone of claim 14, wherein said contact pins are disconnected from said pin receptacles when said foldable motor arm is in said closed position.

16. The drone of claim 14, wherein said foldable motor arm comprises a rotation joint;

and

wherein said contact pins are on said rotation joint.

17. The drone of claim 16, wherein said main body is shaped to define a motor arm socket;

wherein said rotation joint is attachable to said main body within said motor arm socket; and

wherein said rotation joint is removably attached to said main body within said motor arm socket such that said foldable motor arm is interchangeable with a second foldable motor arm.

18. The drone of claim 14, wherein said contact pins comprise locking mechanisms for locking into said pin receptacles.

19. An unmanned air vehicle comprising an outer shell and capable of flight, said unmanned air vehicle comprising one or more motor arms, one or more propellers, and landing gear, wherein said unmanned air vehicle is configured for articulated movement from an open flight configuration to an enclosed configuration wherein each of said motor arms, propellers, and landing gear are within said outer shell.

20. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 19, further comprising a clip for attachment to an object.