Systems and methods for UAV battery exchange
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) energy provision station, said station comprising:
- a UAV landing area configured to support a UAV when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV;
a second battery in said station, said second battery capable of powering the UAV upon being coupled to the UAV;
a battery charging unit capable of charging the first battery of the UAV; and
one or more processors, individually or collectively configured to receive, via wireless communication, information about a state of charge of the first battery and generate an instruction (a) prior to landing of the UAV on the UAV landing area, and (b) depending on the state of charge of the first battery, to effect a selection between;
(1) exchanging the second battery for the first battery such that the first battery is decoupled from the UAV and the second battery is coupled to the UAV, and (2) charging the first battery with the battery charging unit, thereby allowing rapid battery replacement or charging of the UAV for its operation.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV.
221 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) energy provision station, said station comprising:
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a UAV landing area configured to support a UAV when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV; a second battery in said station, said second battery capable of powering the UAV upon being coupled to the UAV; a battery charging unit capable of charging the first battery of the UAV; and one or more processors, individually or collectively configured to receive, via wireless communication, information about a state of charge of the first battery and generate an instruction (a) prior to landing of the UAV on the UAV landing area, and (b) depending on the state of charge of the first battery, to effect a selection between;
(1) exchanging the second battery for the first battery such that the first battery is decoupled from the UAV and the second battery is coupled to the UAV, and (2) charging the first battery with the battery charging unit, thereby allowing rapid battery replacement or charging of the UAV for its operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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11. A method of providing energy to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
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providing an energy provision station, said energy provision station comprising; a UAV landing area configured to support a UAV when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV; a second battery in said station, said second battery capable of powering the UAV upon being coupled to the UAV; and a battery charging unit capable of charging the first battery of the UAV;
receiving information, at one or more processors of the station, about a state of charge of the first battery; andgenerating, with aid of the one or more processors, an instruction (a) prior to landing of the UAV on the UAV landing area, and (b) depending on the state of charge of the first battery, to effect a selection between;
(1) exchanging the second battery for the first battery such that the first battery is decoupled from the UAV and the second battery is coupled to the UAV, and (2) charging the first battery with the battery charging unit, thereby allowing rapid battery replacement or charging of the UAV for its operation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification