UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AND OPERATIONS THEREOF
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
1 Citation
19 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
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a central body comprising an upper housing member and a lower housing member; a plurality of branch housing members extending from the central body, each comprising an upper branch housing member and a lower branch housing member, the plurality of upper branch housing members and the upper housing member forming an integral upper body portion, the plurality of lower branch housing members and the lower housing member forming an integral lower body portion, the integral upper body portion and the integral lower body portion coupled together to form a hollow body portion defining a central cavity and a plurality of branch cavities, wherein the plurality of branch housing members are configured to support a plurality of actuator assemblies, wherein the branch housing members and the central body collectively form an “
X”
shaped arrangement, the central body is located at the center of the “
X”
shaped arrangement, the branch housing members are distributed around the central body in a symmetric fashion;one or more electrical components comprising at least a flight control module and a wireless transceiver, the flight control module and the wireless transceiver disposed inside the central cavity; a plurality of electronic speed control (ESC) modules, each electrically coupled to a corresponding actuator assembly of the plurality of actuator assemblies and the flight control module, in order to control a corresponding actuator of the actuator assembly to effect movement of the UAV, wherein the thrust of the plurality of actuator assemblies is oriented in a vertical direction relative to the central body; a plurality of electrical wires disposed inside the branch housing members, wherein the plurality of electrical wires configured to electrically connect one of the plurality of ESC module and one of the plurality of actuator assemblies; a landing stand extending from the integral lower body portion, wherein the landing stand is configured to bear weight of the UAV when the UAV is not airborne, the landing stand comprises two substantially vertical support portions which are connected by a substantially horizontal connecting portion; a magnetometer located on the vertical support portion of the landing stand, wherein the magnetometer is at a distance of at least 3 cm and no more than 0.5 m away from the one or more electrical components; wherein one of the vertical support portion has an attachment interface comprising one or more opening configured for allowing a passage of wires connecting the magnetometer and other components; wherein the UAV comprises four actuator assemblies and four ESC modules; and an indicator light source, wherein the indicator light source is positioned at an opening or window, the opening or the window is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, the opening or window is on at least one branch housing member of the one or more branch housing members. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification