Abstract:
The disclosure is related to a system and method for autonomously charging a rechargeable power supply of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The system can have battery power translator (BPT). communicatively coupled to the UAS, The 8PT can have an energy source operable to deliver power at a native power ievei different than a designed power level of the UAS, The BPT can also have a voltage/current translator (VCT) operable to receive energy at the native power level from the energy source, and convert the energy at the native power level to converted energy at the designed power level for use by the UAS. The system can also have a remote charging system (RCS) communicatively coupled to the BPT. The RCS can also have a charging pad having a plurality of configurable terminals, and operable to receive the UAS and deliver recharge energy to the UAS.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide an alternative distributed airborne transportation system. In some embodiments, a method for distributed airborne transportation includes: providing an airborne vehicle with a wing and a wing span, having capacity to carry one or more of passengers or cargo; landing of the airborne vehicle near one or more of passengers or cargo and loading at least one of passengers or cargo; taking-off and determining a flight direction for the airborne vehicle; locating at least one other airborne vehicle, which has substantially the same flight direction; and joining at least one other airborne vehicle in flight formation and forming a fleet, in which airborne vehicles fly with the same speed and direction and in which adjacent airborne vehicles are separated by distance of less than 100 wing spans.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an air vessel which creates the required lift to raise the air vessel off the ground by rotating one propeller or airscrew around its axis. The structural design of the air vessel enables for the movement of air in a primarily horizontal direction, which is created by the rotating propeller, is directed into the turbine part, designed as an air duct within a frame, thereby creating excess pressure in the air duct. A plurality of nozzles are arranged along the circumference of the air duct. The controlled discharge of air from the air duct through the nozzles creates forces which act on the frame in the reverse direction of the flow of air travelling through the nozzles. Directed discharge of air through the nozzles can be utilized to produce additional lift, stabilize and manipulate the air vessel in horizontal directions, and control the rotation of the air vessel in the horizontal plane. The air vessel according to the invention enables an improved utilization rate of the engine and controlled flight and stabilization of the air vessel without any need to adjust the propeller blade angles, thereby allowing the propeller blades of the air vessel according to the invention to be fixedly attached relative to the engine drive axle.
Abstract:
A device includes a propulsion unit configured to move the device and a steering unit configured to control the direction of the device. The device also includes a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit and a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit. The device further includes a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of one or more magnetic fields and a processor communicatively coupled to the propulsion unit, the steering unit, the power unit, and the magnetic sensor. The processor is configured to receive, from the magnetic sensor, a time-varying signal indicative of a magnetic field and determine, based on the time-varying signal, that the magnetic field is associated with an electrical power transmission line. The processor is further configured to cause the steering unit to direct the device toward the electrical power transmission line.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include methods for piggybacking an unmanned aerial vehicle UAV (100) on a vehicle (210), e.g., motor vehicles and trailers coupled to motor vehicles, to reach a destination (B). Various embodiments may include determining whether to dock on a vehicle (210). One or more candidate vehicles (210, 213, 215) may be identified for docking. Travel profile characteristics of the one or more candidate vehicles may be identified. A first vehicle (210) may be selected from the one or more candidate vehicles based on one or more travel profile characteristics that assist the UAV in reaching the UAV destination (B). The UAV may dock with the first vehicle. While docked to the first vehicle (210) the UAV (100) may charge an onboard battery (150) via an electrical connection (415) in a docking structure (410) or by harvesting energy in the wind caused by movement of the vehicle by configuring the UAV rotors (101) to charge the battery.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (201). The UAV (201) may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station (202) autonomously. The UAV (201) may take off and/or land on the energy provision station (202). The UAV (201) may communicate with the energy provision station (202). The energy provision station (202) may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV (201).
Abstract:
A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones may accommodate different UAV types, different battery types, or operate in accordance with different energy provision rules. A marker may be provided on a landing area to aid in guiding the UAV to an appropriate landing area.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of using a device capable of controlled flight in a surrounding environment, the device comprising: lifting means for providing lift to the device; object-retaining means for holding an object to be affixed to a target site; and a dispensing assembly for dispensing an adhesive, wherein the method comprises: controlling the lifting means so as to controllably fly the device in the surrounding environment; and using the device to affix an object held by the object-retaining means to a target site in the surrounding environment by dispensing an adhesive from the dispensing assembly. Thus, an aerial device, for example a robotic device, may be used to fly to a desired location and affix an object at the desired location, by dispensing, ejecting or otherwise applying an adhesive.