Abstract:
An unmanned aircraft such as a tethered drone has an electrical power connection (10) for receiving electrical power from a remote source, and a power delivery system for delivering electrical power to onboard applications equipment (14) such as radio transmitters (5, 6). To ensure that ground staff are not exposed to high levels of radiation from the transmitters, power is only delivered to the communications equipment after the aircraft has left the ground. A sensor (13) associated with the aircraft's undercarriage may be used to detect when the aircraft is airborne. The applications equipment (14) is powered from an accumulator which is only charged up from the power supply (10) after launch. In the event of a failure of the power supply (10) when airborne, the output of the accumulator is diverted to control propulsion and flight control systems (17), which are normally powered directly from the power supply (10), to allow a controlled descent, and thus shutting off the applications equipment (14) before the aircraft returns to proximity to personnel on the ground.
Abstract:
A tethered unmanned aerial system (UAS) is described, wherein the flight of more UASs may be used in connection with a water and light display.
Abstract:
A method of extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (100) is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: (a) detecting that an energy storage device (110) on board the UAV is depleted below a threshold level; (b) operating the UAV so as to land at a base station (200); and (c) at least initiating operation of the base station to cause a replacement mechanism (220) thereof to remove the energy storage device on board the UAV from the UAV and to replace this with another energy storage device (120). Other steps are also disclosed. In addition, a UAV (100), a base-station (200) and a command-and-control device (400) arranged to carry out steps of the method are disclosed.
Abstract:
Multi-rotor aerial vehicle (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″, 1″″′, 1″″″) comprising, at least a first, second and third rotor 10, 20, 30, each rotatable by a dedicated first second and third hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31, a power unit 2, at least a first, second and third hydraulic pump 12, 22, 32 dedicated to the respective first, second and third hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31, wherein each hydraulic pump 12, 22, 32 is arranged to provide pressurized fluid to each hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31 for powering the hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31 and thereby rotating the respective rotor 10, 20, 30, a control unit 6 for controlling the operation of the multi-rotor aerial vehicle (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″, 1″″′, 1″″″), wherein the control of the multi-rotor aerial vehicle (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″, 1″″′, 1″″″) is arranged to be performed by altering the flow of pressurized fluid distributed to each respective hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31, wherein, wherein the flow of pressurized fluid provided to each hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31 is individually controllable by means of at least one control valve 13, 23, 33 configured to control the flow of pressurized fluid from each hydraulic pump 12, 22, 32 to its dedicated hydraulic motor 11, 21, 31.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle and a battery thereof. The battery includes a battery body and a shell disposed on one end of the battery body. The shell has a clamp button disposed on the side opposite the unmanned aerial vehicle. One end of the clamp button is fixed on the shell and the other is used for detachably connecting with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The clamp button makes the battery detachably connect with the main body of the unmanned aerial vehicle be possible and it is very convenient for changing the battery.
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.