Electricity generation in automated aerial vehicles

• US 9,550,577 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckman, Brian C., Navot, Amir, Buchmueller, Daniel, Kimchi, Gur, Hensel, Fabian, Green, Scott A., Porter, Brandon William, Rault, Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US14/315,944
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701468-469, 244/190, 244/17.11, 244/17.17, 244/17.19, 244/17.13, 244/17.27, 244/6, 244/17.23, 244/53.R, 244 55- 56, 318/140
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/52 Tilting of rotor bodily relative to fuselage of see-saw type construction B64C27/43
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 35/02 specially adapted for specific power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/65 Composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/29 Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
• 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 50/39 Battery swapping
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

This disclosure describes a system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle wherein the battery life may be extended by performing one or more electricity generation procedures on the way to a destination (e.g., a delivery location for an item). In various implementations, the electricity generation procedure may include utilizing an airflow to rotate one or more of the propellers of the automated aerial vehicle so that the associated propeller motors will generate electricity (e.g., which can be utilized to recharge the battery, power one or more sensors of the automated aerial vehicle, etc.). In various implementations, the airflow may consist of a wind, or may be created by the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air (e.g., as part of a normal flight path and/or as part of an aerial maneuver).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating an automated aerial vehicle, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

controlling a plurality of propeller motors to navigate the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path related to a delivery of an item, each of the propeller motors receiving electricity as supplied from a power supply for powering the propeller motor to rotate a respective propeller, wherein the power supply comprises a battery; and

executing an electricity generation procedure, comprising;

ceasing to supply electricity from the power supply to at least one of the propeller motors;

adjusting an orientation of the respective propeller of the at least one propeller motor relative to an airflow that is able to rotate the respective propeller and correspondingly cause the at least one propeller motor to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that is able to rotate the respective propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air; and

utilizing the electricity that is generated from the at least one propeller motor to at least one of recharge the battery of the power supply or power a sensor of the automated aerial vehicle; and

controlling one or more of the plurality of propeller motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electricity generation procedure includes controlling the automated aerial vehicle to execute an aerial maneuver that increases the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle so as to correspondingly increase the airflow.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein after the electricity generation procedure has been completed electricity is again supplied to the at least one propeller motor.

2. A computer-implemented method for operating an automated aerial vehicle that includes a plurality of propeller motors and a power supply, the computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

controlling the plurality of propeller motors to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path, wherein each of the propeller motors is configured to rotate a respective propeller;

adjusting an orientation of a respective propeller of a propeller motor relative to an airflow as part of an electricity generation procedure during which the airflow rotates the respective propeller and correspondingly causes the propeller motor to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that rotates the respective propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as the automated aerial vehicle moves through the air; and

controlling one or more of the plurality of propeller motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting of the orientation of the respective propeller relative to the airflow includes at least one of adjusting an orientation of the respective propeller relative to a body of the automated aerial vehicle, or adjusting an orientation of the automated aerial vehicle.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the electricity generation procedure is initiated at least in part in response to a determination that a charge level of the power supply of the automated aerial vehicle has reached an amount that is below a threshold.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein after a completion of the electricity generation procedure, an orientation of the respective propeller is changed to an orientation that will aid a flight of the automated aerial vehicle along the flight path.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the electricity generation procedure includes controlling the automated aerial vehicle to execute an aerial maneuver that increases the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle so as to correspondingly increase the airflow.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the aerial maneuver includes flying the automated aerial vehicle toward the ground in order to increase the kinetic energy.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the flying of the automated aerial vehicle toward the ground includes reversing the direction of rotation of one or more of the propellers to produce downward force.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the flying of the automated aerial vehicle toward the ground includes rotating the automated aerial vehicle upside down and flying downward.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the flying of the automated aerial vehicle toward the ground includes altering the pitch of one or more of the propellers to produce downward force.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting of the orientation of the respective propeller relative to the airflow results in a change to an orientation offset of a plane of rotation of the respective propeller relative to the body of the automated aerial vehicle.

4. A system for transporting items, the system comprising:

an automated aerial vehicle, including;

a plurality of motors, each motor coupled to a propeller and configured to rotate the propeller;

a power supply connected to the plurality of motors and configured to provide electricity to the plurality of motors; and

an inventory engagement mechanism for engagement and transport of items; and

a computing system, including;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least;

control the plurality of motors to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path;

adjust an orientation of at least one propeller relative to an airflow as part of an electricity generation procedure during which the airflow rotates the at least one propeller to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that rotates the at least one propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as the automated aerial vehicle moves through the air; and

control one or more of the plurality of motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the automated aerial vehicle further includes a network interface that enables wireless communication to and from the automated aerial vehicle.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the automated aerial vehicle further includes a navigation system comprising a GPS.

8. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the adjusting of the orientation of the at least one propeller relative to the airflow includes at least one of changing an orientation of the at least one propeller relative to a body of the automated aerial vehicle, or changing an orientation of the automated aerial vehicle.

9. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the automated aerial vehicle further includes a battery monitor for monitoring a battery charge level of a battery that is part of the power supply of the automated aerial vehicle and initiating the electricity generation procedure at least in part in response to the battery charge level reaching an amount that is below a threshold.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein as part of the electricity generation procedure the battery of the automated aerial vehicle is charged and the electricity generation procedure is stopped once the battery charge level is above the threshold.

11. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the automated aerial vehicle further includes an airflow sensor for sensing a speed of the airflow and initiating the electricity generation procedure at least in part in response to a determination that the speed of the airflow is above a designated threshold.

12. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein after a completion of the electricity generation procedure an orientation of the at least one propeller is changed to an orientation for helping to fly the automated aerial vehicle along the flight path.