Abstract:
Methods and systems are described for an aerial drone system including a drone system controller, at least one working drone (101), and a plurality of support drones (103). The working drone (101) is operated by the drone system controller (125) to adjust a position of the working drone (101). A tether line (105) coupled to the working drone (101) provides electrical power to the working drone (101). The support drones (103) are each coupled to the tether line (105) at a different location along the tether line (105) forming a tethered aerial drone system. Each support (drone 103) supports a portion of the weight of the tether line (105) and is operated by the drone system controller (125) to adjust the position of the tether line (105) by adjusting the position of one or more of the support drones (103).
Abstract:
L'invention concerne un système filaire sécurisé pour drone assurant une tension adaptée sur le fil en pilotage normal du drone et bloquant automatiquement le fil à une longueur maximale prédéfinie par l'utilisateur. Le blocage est monodirectionnel : il bloque le déroulement du fil sans empêcher l'enroulement. Le drone évolue ainsi dans une demi-sphère ayant pour rayon la longueur maximale définie par l'utilisateur. Le système est constitué d'un moteur (13), d'un tambour (14) sur lequel est enroulé un fil (10) avec un mécanisme de blocage monodirectionnel, par exemple (X2). Le système selon l'invention permet de limiter la zone possible d'écrasement en cas de dysfonctionnement du drone, et est particulièrement destiné aux opérations sur les aéroports, les zones peuplées, ou industrielles critiques.
Abstract:
A tethered flight control system for a small unmanned aircraft. The tethered flight control system can have a mobile base, a tether arm, a tether spout, and a remote-controlled winch that can hold a tether line, which can be connected to a small unmanned aircraft. By controlling the tether line using the winch, the small unmanned aircraft can be prevented from flying out of range or out of control. The winch can have a high-speed motor configured to remove substantially all slack from the tether line while the small unmanned aircraft is in flight. The winch can be controlled from a hard-wired winch remote, which can take the form of a foot pedal device having one or more foot pedals. The tether line can be attached to the small unmanned aircraft through a tether attachment apparatus, which can have a travel bar, two or more rotor protectors, and a mounting section.
Abstract:
Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine ("AWT"), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount, in one aspect, the tether may be a conductive tether that can transmit electricity and'Or electrical signals back and forth between the aerial vehicle and the ground station. The tether termination mount may include one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination mount to rotate about one or more axis. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount may- include a slip ring that allows for rotation of the tether without twisting the tether.
Abstract:
Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine ("AWT"), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount, in one aspect, the tether may be a conductive tether that can transmit electricity and'Or electrical signals back and forth between the aerial vehicle and the ground station. The tether termination mount may include one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination mount to rotate about one or more axis. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount may- include a slip ring that allows for rotation of the tether without twisting the tether.
Abstract:
A system (100,400) may include a tether (120,420) connected to a ground station (110). The tether (120,420) may include at least two bridle segments (122,123,124,422,423,424). The system may further include an aerial vehicle (130) connected to the at least two bridle segments (122,123,124,422,423,424). The system (100,400) may also include at least one sensor (160A-D) and a control system. The control system may be configured to: a) receive sensor data from the at least one sensor (160A-D); and b) determine a tether roll angle (450) based on the sensor data. The tether roll angle (450) may represent an angle between the tether (420) and an axis of the aerial vehicle (440). Optionally, the control system may also be configured to determine a curvature of a path (150) of the aerial vehicle (130) based on the tether roll angle (450). The control system may additionally be configured to control at least one control surface of the aerial vehicle (130) based on the curvature of the path (150).
Abstract:
An aerial platform receives power in the form of light, for example laser light, transmitted via an optical fiber from a remote optical power source. The platform comprises a receiver which converts at least a portion of the light to a different form of power, for example electric power. The platform also comprises a propulsion element which consumes the different form of power to generate propulsive thrust. Supplying power to the aerial platform from a remote source enables the platform to remain aloft longer than a battery or fuel tank carried by the platform would allow. Transmitting the power in the form of light is preferable in many cases to transmitting electric power, because electrical conductors are generally heavier than optical fibers, and are hazardous in the presence of lightning or a high-voltage power line.
Abstract:
The present invention pertains to a technique for supplying power to an object in midair, and more specifically, to a ground-level power supply system for a small unmanned aerial robot to continuously supply power as a power source for the small unmanned aerial robot to stay in midair a long time, to operate a camera, a communication relay, and a lighting device, and to hover in midair with directional change and the like. The ground-level power supply system includes: the small unmanned aerial robot including a propeller, a monitoring camera, a communication relay, a motor/controller, a voltage booster/charger, a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device, a battery power source, and a wind direction balancing device; and a ground-level power supply for supplying power from the ground, wherein the ground-level power supply includes: a cable formed by a flexible material, wherein the thickness of inner wirings in the cable varies according to the body size or the use of the small unmanned aerial robot; a wiring winding device functioning as a reel for winding and unwinding the cable; a fixing device for fixing the cable to the wiring winding device; a fixing base installed with a weight that changes according to the size of the small unmanned aerial robot to fix and pull the small unmanned aerial robot when the fixing base is installed on the ground; an outlet formed to receive alternate current (AC) or direct current (DC) power from the outside; and a power connection line for supplying power to the small unmanned aerial robot via the cable which supplies the power by supplying the AC or DC power received from the outlet to a cable terminal of the wiring winding device.
Abstract:
A vehicle, especially a maritime vessel, is provided with an autogyro drawn by a tether. The tether contains mechanical strengthening components that enable it to securely retain the autogyro to the vehicle. The tether also contains two electrical conductors carrying different phases of AC power to the autogyro, and four optical fibers carrying optical data signals to and from the autogyro electronic payloads and avionics control circuitry. Signal converters at ends of the tether convert a wide range of electrical or wireless signals to optical data signals for transmission along the tether, and then back into the original electrical signal format for use by the autogyro or vehicle electronics.