Transportable ground station for an unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 9,845,020 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swift Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Swift Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Streett, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward J
• Application Number:
  US15/392,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20170101017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• 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

Abstract

A transportable ground station for a UAV includes a container in which the UAV may be transported and housed. The container includes a wireless or contact-based recharging station that recharges the UAV'"'"'s batteries or other power sources after the UAV returns from a mission. The recharging station may be directly or indirectly connected to one or more solar panels that generate energy to power the recharging station. The ground station may be deployed virtually anywhere, from any vehicle (e.g., plane, train, boat, truck, etc.), and may operate over an extended period of time without human intervention.

Claims

1. An unmanned ground station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the ground station comprising:

a wheeled structure, wherein the wheels facilitate movement of the ground station;

a support structure positioned in the wheeled structure and configured to receive a UAV; and

circuitry in or on the wheeled structure configured to facilitate remote or autonomous control of the wheels to transport the ground station.

2. The unmanned ground station of claim 1 wherein the support structure includes guide arms configured to guide the UAV into a recharging or storage position.

3. The unmanned ground station of claim 1, further comprising a recharging station in the wheeled structure configured to recharge a battery of the UAV.

4. The unmanned ground station of claim 3 wherein the recharging station is a wireless recharging station.

5. The unmanned ground station of claim 1, further comprising a solar panel attached to the wheeled structure.

6. The unmanned ground station of claim 1 wherein the wheeled structure includes an openable top panel.

7. The unmanned ground station of claim 1 wherein the wheeled structure comprises one of a 20-foot standard shipping container or a 40-foot standard shipping container.

8. The unmanned ground station of claim 1, further comprising a weather station positioned on or in the wheeled structure.

9. The unmanned ground station of claim 1, further comprising a marine propulsion system attached to the wheeled structure.

10. An unmanned ground station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the ground station comprising:

a housing;

a support structure positioned in the housing and configured to receive a UAV; and

means for facilitating transportation of the housing, wherein the housing is configured for autonomous self-transportation.

11. The unmanned ground station of claim 10, further comprising:

a solar panel connected to the housing;

a recharging station positioned in the housing; and

an electronics unit positioned in the housing and connected to the solar panel, the electronics unit including recharging circuitry;

wherein

the electronics unit is connected to the recharging station and configured to provide energy generated by the solar panel to the recharging station to charge a battery in a UAV.

12. The unmanned ground station of claim 11 wherein the recharging station comprises a first induction coil configured to wirelessly couple with a second induction coil to recharge the battery of the UAV.

13. The unmanned ground station of claim 10 wherein the means for facilitating transportation of the housing comprises a plurality of wheels.

14. The unmanned ground station of claim 10 wherein the means for facilitating transportation of the housing comprises a marine propulsion system.

15. The unmanned ground station of claim 10 wherein the housing includes an openable top panel.

16. The unmanned ground station of claim 10 wherein the support structure comprises guide arms or a landing pad.

17. An unmanned ground station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the ground station comprising:

a housing;

a support structure positioned in the housing and configured to receive a UAV;

a recharging station positioned in the housing and configured to charge a battery of the UAV;

at least one of a plurality of wheels or a marine propulsion system attached to the housing and configured to transport the ground station; and

circuitry in or on the housing that allows movement of the ground station to be controlled remotely.

18. The unmanned ground station of claim 17 wherein the circuitry is further configured to control movement of the ground station autonomously.

19. The unmanned ground station of claim 17 wherein the housing comprises an openable top panel, the unmanned ground station further comprising a solar panel attached to the openable top panel and configured to generate energy to power the recharging station.

20. The unmanned ground station of claim 17 wherein the housing comprises a shipping container.