SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

• US 20170015415A1
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: CHAN, ALISTAIR K., CHEATHAM, JESSE R. III, CHIN, HON WAH, DUNCAN, WILLIAM DAVID, HYDE, RODERICK A., ISHIKAWA, MURIEL Y., KARE, JORDIN T., PAN, TONY S., PETROSKI, ROBERT C., TEGREENE, CLARENCE T., TUCKERMAN, DAVID B., URZHUMOV, YAROSLAV A., WEAVER, THOMAS ALLAN, WOOD, LOWELL L. Jr., WOOD, VICTORIA Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• 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 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• 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 50/35 by wireless transmission, e.g. by induction
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 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

A system and method for repowering an unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. The system and method may comprise use of a utility transmission system configured to function as power system/source for UAV/aircraft and UAV/aircraft configured to interface with the power source/system. Systems and methods provide access and for administrating, managing, and monitoring access and interfacing by UAV/aircraft with the power system/source. UAV/aircraft system can be configured and operated/managed to interface with and use the power system/source (e.g. network of power lines from a utility transmission system) to enhance range and utility (e.g. for repowering and/or as a flyway or route). The system comprises an interface between the aircraft and the power source for power transfer; a monitoring system to monitor the aircraft; and an administrative/management system to manage interaction/transaction with the aircraft. The power source for power transfer may be a power line; power transfer to the aircraft may be by wireless power transfer (capacitive or inductive or optical) of an aircraft while at or operating along the power line. The aircraft may comprise a connector configured to interface with the power source/line; the power line may be configured to interface with the connector/aircraft. Data communications between the aircraft and system may be facilitated for interaction/transaction.

Claims

1. A method of transferring power to an unmanned aircraft having an energy storage system from a power system providing an administration system and a power source comprising a power line comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an interface between the aircraft and the power source;

(b) transferring power to the aircraft from the power source through the interface; and

(c) data communication between the aircraft and the power system;

wherein the interface for power transfer to the aircraft is provided along the power line.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein power is transferred by capacitive power transfer or inductive power transfer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a wireless power transfer system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein data communications comprise data exchange with the power system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein data communications comprise data communication with the administration system.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the power line is a utility transmission line providing electric power.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein power can be transferred to the aircraft in an interaction administered for the power source.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the power can be transferred to the aircraft in a transaction managed for the power source.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the aircraft comprises a profile.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the profile comprises at least one of (a) an identifier for the aircraft;

(b) an account for the aircraft to use with the power source;

(c) a billing arrangement between the aircraft and power source;

(d) operator identification for the aircraft.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the profile comprises an identifier.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein data communication comprises use of an identifier to identify the aircraft at the interface.

3. (canceled)

5-7. -7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26-64. -64. (canceled)

75-210. -210. (canceled)

211. An unmanned aircraft system comprising an unmanned aircraft configured for power transfer from a power system providing a power source comprising a power line comprising:

[1] an energy storage system;

[2] an interface for power transfer;

[3] an identifier provided to identify the aircraft for the power system; and

[4] a system configured for data communications with the power system and the aircraft;

wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the aircraft can be provided for the power source by the identifier of the aircraft;

wherein power transfer is by one of capacitive power transfer or inductive power transfer.

212-362. -362. (canceled)

363. An unmanned aircraft system comprising an unmanned aircraft configured for power transfer from a power system providing a power source comprising a power line comprising:

(a) an energy storage system;

(b) an interface for power transfer;

(c) an identifier provided to identify the aircraft for the power source; and

(d) a system configured for data communications by the aircraft with the power system;

wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the aircraft can be provided for the power source by the identifier of the aircraft; and

wherein the interface is provided along the power line.

364-507. -507. (canceled)

508. A method of operating an unmanned aircraft with an energy storage system and identifier configured for an interface for power transfer from a power system providing a power source comprising at least one power line comprising the steps of:

(a) interacting with the power system;

(b) interfacing with the power source at the interface;

(c) transferring power from the power source to the energy storage system;

(d) communicating with the power system; and

(e) transacting with the power system;

wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the aircraft can be provided for the power system by the identifier of the aircraft;

wherein power transfer is by wireless power transfer.

509-832. -832. (canceled)

833. A method of transferring power to an unmanned aircraft having an energy storage system from a power source provided by a power system with a monitoring system and an administration system and providing a structure for power lines of the power source comprising the steps of:

1. providing an interface between the aircraft and the power source;

2. data communication by the aircraft to the administration system for the power source;

3. transferring power to the aircraft from the power source through the interface by one of capacitive power transfer or inductive power transfer; and

4. data communication by the aircraft to the administration system for the power source.

834-882. -882. (canceled)