Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to cooperatively lift a payload (110) are disclosed. An example method to control a lift vehicle (102) includes determining (704) a first positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a payload (110) controlled by a plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...) including the lift vehicle (102), determining (706) a second positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a goal location, detecting distances (708) to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), determining (710) a third positional state of the lift vehicle (102) based on the distances to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), and calculating (712-720) a control command to control the lift vehicle (102) based on the first positional state, the second positional state, and the third positional state.
Abstract:
Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a pushing motor and propeller assembly that is oriented at approximately ninety degrees to one or more of the lifting motors. When the UAV is moving horizontally, the pushing motor may be engaged and the pushing propeller will aid in the horizontal propulsion of the UAV.
Abstract:
An aerial vehicle includes one or more rotors and a cargo container. The one or more rotors are configured to propel the aerial vehicle. The cargo container defines a cargo volume and is configured to travel with the aerial vehicle during propulsion by the one or more rotors. The cargo container is further configured to contain, at least, the one or more rotors, when the aerial vehicle is not configured for moving cargo.
Abstract:
A method and device for receiving the article and a method and system for delivering article are provided in the disclosure. The device for receiving the article (200) includes: a box body (10); a door (20), arranged on the box body (10); and a wireless communication module, configured to perform unlocking matching with an aircraft (100), control the door (20) to be in an open state after unlocking matching succeeds, and send a delivery instruction to the aircraft (100). The technical problem where an article cannot be automatically unloaded after being delivered to a destination is solved.
Abstract:
A system including a landing location where a drone at least one of delivers and acquires a parcel, and a homing device to interact with the drone to guide the drone to the landing location independent of interaction from another source. The homing device guides the drone during the landing phase of a flight plan. A method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a pushing motor and propeller assembly that is oriented at approximately ninety degrees to one or more of the lifting motors. When the UAV is moving horizontally, the pushing motor may be engaged and the pushing propeller will aid in the horizontal propulsion of the UAV.
Abstract:
The patent relates to a remote-controlled object release mechanism with a fastening strap for the electromagnetically controlled fastening of animate and inanimate target objects to, and their release from unmanned aerial vehicles, landmarks and human or animal clothing, and the target object (6) is fastened to a support plate (9), on a target object resting area (16) limited by an electromagnet (1) fixed to the support plate (9) and a support plate fixed magnet (2) fixed to the support plate (9), covered at least in part over the target object resting area (16) by an elastic fastening strap (5) connecting an electromagnet flapping counter-piece (3) that connects to the electromagnet (1) and a support plate magnet counter-piece (4) that connects to the support plate fixed magnet (2), furthermore the path of the movement of the electromagnet flapping counter-piece (3) upon the release of the target object (6) is limited by the fastening strap (5) in such a way that the electromagnet flapping counter-piece (3) closes on the support plate magnet counter-piece (4).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a cargo transport system and method based on an UAV. The cargo transport system includes an UAV (50) and a vehicle (10) that can send and receive the UAV, so that cargos can be transported between the vehicle (10) and another terminal (60) by the UAV (50); the UAV (50) is provided with a navigation system that guides the UAV (50) to fly between the vehicle (10) and the another terminal (60); the vehicle (10) includes: an UAV accommodating device (40) arranged at a top surface of the vehicle (10); an UAV sending controller (20) and an UAV receiving controller (30), which are arranged at the vehicle (10); and the UAV receiving controller (30) includes an identity verification unit (301) and a short distance guide unit (302). According to the cargo transport system based on an UAV of the present invention, the sending and receiving of the UAV (50) can be controlled by the vehicle (10), and the UAV (50) is accommodated in the UAV accommodating device (40). In addition, the vehicle (10) may also provide the identity verification information and the short distance guide information to the UAV (50) by the identity verification unit (301) and the short distance guide unit (302), so that the UAV (50) can determine a target vehicle and accurately land on the target vehicle.