Power and communication interface for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

• US 9,873,524 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Fisher, Christopher Eugene, Mukherjee, Jason Sidharthadev, Lott, William Arden
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/466,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/005 Protective coverings for aircraft not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• 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 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/97 Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 : Land vehicles

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an opening disposed in a landing surface of a UAV pod; and

securing the tang of the VTOL UAV to the UAV pod via a locking armature disposed in the opening disposed in the landing surface, wherein the locking armature detachably couples the tang to the UAV pod.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein securing the tang further comprises:

sliding the locking armature into a secured position.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein sliding the locking armature into the secured position further comprises:

receiving a portion of the locking armature in a notch of the tang.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rotating the VTOL UAV, via the secured tang, relative to the UAV pod.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein rotating the VTOL UAV further comprises:

aligning the VTOL UAV with wind conditions for launch.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aligning one or more metallic contacts disposed in the opening disposed in the landing surface with one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

sliding a power contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the opening to touch a power contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

sliding a data contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the opening to touch a data contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

transferring data, via a data contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the opening aligned with a data contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang, between a UAV pod processor and a VTOL UAV processor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the transferred data comprises at least one of:

a plurality of flight mission information, waypoints, altitude, flight speed, sensor suite configuration data, launch day, launch time, and mission weather sensor go and no-go parameters.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

transferring power, via a power contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the opening aligned with a power contact of the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang, between a UAV pod battery and a VTOL UAV battery.

12. A device comprising:

an opening disposed in a landing surface to receive a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and

a locking armature disposed in the opening disposed in the landing surface, wherein the locking armature detachably couples the tang to the landing surface.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein a UAV pod comprises the landing surface.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the opening in the landing surface comprises slanted sides to aid in guiding the tang as the VTOL UAV lands on the landing surface.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the locking armature slidably engages the tang.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the locking armature rotates the VTOL UAV, via the detachably coupled tang, relative to the landing surface.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the opening disposed in the landing surface comprises one or more metallic contacts, wherein the one or more metallic contacts of the opening are aligned with one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface and the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface are at least one of:

power contacts and data contacts.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface slidably engage the aligned one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein the tang comprises a bulbous end.

21. The device of claim 12 wherein the tang comprises a notch to receive a portion of the locking armature.