Abstract:
Described embodiments include an unmanned aerial vehicle and a method. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an airframe and a rotary wing system coupled with the airframe and configured to aerodynamically lift the vehicle in the air. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a flight controller configured to control a movement of the vehicle while airborne. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a cleansing controller configured to manage a removal of a surface contaminant from a selected portion of a surface of an external object using an airflow generated by the rotary wing system.
Abstract:
The disclosed embodiments include a trailer for an autonomous vehicle controlled by a command and control interface. The trailer includes a trailer body configured to retain the autonomous vehicle in an undeployed configuration. The trailer also anchors the autonomous vehicle in a deployed configuration. A tether is provided having a first end coupled to the trailer body and a second end that is configured to couple to the autonomous vehicle. A winch is utilized to adjust a length of the tether to move the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration. Further, a communication system communicates with the command and control interface and the autonomous vehicle to control movement of the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration.
Abstract:
A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether may be connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and may be connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere may have a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method may further involve while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method may involve after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.
Abstract:
A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle may be connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether may be connected to a ground station. The method may involve positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method may involve transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method may involve operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations may be substantially downwind of the ground station.
Abstract:
In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus (112) includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament (106) from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle (102), an exit geometry sensor (230) for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry.
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:
An aerial unit, a method and a system are provide, the system includes a ground unit; an aerial unit; and a connecting element arranged to connect the ground unit to the aerial unit. The ground unit may include (a) a connecting element manipulator, for altering an effective length of the connecting element. The effective length of the connecting element defines a distance between the ground unit and the aerial unit, (b) a ground unit controller for controlling the connecting element manipulator; and (c) a positioning unit arranged to image the aerial unit and to generate metadata about a location of the aerial unit. The aerial unit may include (i) a first propeller; (ii) a frame; (iii) a first propeller motor that is configured to rotate the first propeller about a first axis. The first propeller motor is connected to the frame; at least one steering element, (iv) An interfacing module for coupling a payload to the aerial unit. At least one of the ground unit and the aerial unit may include a controller that is arranged to control, at least in response to the metadata, at least one of the first propeller motor and the at least one steering element to affect at least one of the location of the aerial unit and the orientation of the aerial unit.
Abstract:
L'invention concerne un aérodyne (10) comportant une hélice (84) de sustentation, une carène (14) entourant l'hélice, et un moteur (26) électrique pour l'entraînement en rotation de l'hélice par rapport à la carène. L'aérodyne comporte en outre un train d'atterrissage (13) qui est relié à la carène par une liaison à cardan, le train d'atterrissage comportant des moyens de liaison servant à relier le train d'atterrissage à un câble (12) permettant de retenir l'aérodyne captif d'une plateforme, et permettant d'alimenter le moteur électrique.
Abstract:
This disclosure involves aerial robots (1) that dispense conductive filament (110) or systems, methods, and software for supporting such aerial robots (1). One remotely powered aerial robot system includes an aerial robot (1) and a power source (100/200). The aerial robot comprises a body (25), a first propeller (3) coupled to the body and operable to provide thrust to the aerial robot, a rotatable spool (17) coupled to the body, and a conductive filament (110) that is dispensed from the spool by rotation of the spool is one direction and retrieved by rotation of the spool in another direction. The power source is coupled with, and remote from, the aerial robot via the conductive filament, where the conductive filament is operable to power the first propeller using power from the power source.
Abstract:
An unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system (10), is provided including a ground station (70), a platform (20) configured for carrying a payload (40) and having a propulsion system (30) for enabling the platform at least to selectively sustain a predetermined altitude above the ground station when in flight mode, and also including a tether (50) operatively coupling the ground station with the platform, the tether providing electrical communication between the platform and the ground station.