Abstract:
A tether continuous energy supply system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (12) comprises a ground station (14), a ground station energy system (16), a spool (18) coupled to the ground station energy system at a rotating joint, a tether that is wound (20) about the spool, wherein a first end (22) of the tether is coupled to the rotating joint, a tension control motor (24) coupled to both the spool and the ground station energy system, an unmanned aerial vehicle coupled to a second end of the tether, a UAV energy system (26), a fluid that moves throughout the tether continuous energy supply system, a tension control system (28) that receives and transmits signals from a plurality of sensors contained within the tether continuous energy supply system, and a distributed controls system that receives and transmits signals from the plurality of sensors contained within the tether continuous energy supply system.
Abstract:
A heavier-than-air air vehicle (1), particularly a long endurance, solar powered, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended for 'perpetual' flight within the stratosphere, is carried to its operational altitude suspended on a tether (14) from a helium balloon (16). The tether is attached at or towards a tip of the UAV's wing (3) so that it is carried in effectively a 90° banked attitude. At the desired altitude the UAV's powerplant is started and it flies on its tether in an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the balloon until a level or near level attitude is attained, when the tether is released and the UAV is permitted to assume free flight.
Abstract:
A heavier-than-air air vehicle (1), particularly a long endurance, solar powered, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended for 'perpetual' flight within the stratosphere, is carried to its operational altitude suspended on a tether (14) from a helium balloon (16). The tether is attached at or towards a tip of the UAV's wing (3) so that it is carried in effectively a 90° banked attitude. At the desired altitude the UAV's powerplant is started and it flies on its tether in an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the balloon until a level or near level attitude is attained, when the tether is released and the UAV is permitted to assume free flight.
Abstract:
A flying platform (10), propelled by at least one ducted fan (11) causing a vertically downwardly directed airstream in and through a cylindrical duct (12). A vane system in the duct (12) has two mutually perpendicular pairs (31-34) of diametrically opposite first vanes, each extending in from the duct rim toward the center of the duct. Each pair of first vanes provides a pair of generally vertical walls parallel to a diametral line across the duct, and they define duct passages between the pairs of vanes and define quadrants between adjacent pairs. Each first vane has an upper, fixed, rigid portion and a variable camber flap (45, 46) depending therefrom. A first servomotor with linkages vary the camber of each pair of flaps (45, 46), so that the camber of the flaps (45, 46) of each pair is at all times the same amount but in opposite directions. Preferably, there are also four second vanes (41-44), one bisecting each quadrant, and a symmetric pair of spoilers (75-82) is mounted on each second vane (41-44). Each pair of spoilers (75-82) is independently movable, as a pair continuously between a position substantially blocking airflow through the outer portion of said quadrant and a position permitting substantially full airflow therethrough. A second servomotor with linkages symmetrically varies the position of its spoilers (75-82). There may be a radio receiver responsive to remote control signals for actuating each servomotor and its linkages.
Abstract:
The application provides a storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The storage unit includes a container, a UAV landing platform, and a receptacle. The container is provided for enclosing the UAV. The receptacle is positioned above the UAV landing platform and it includes at least one inclined surface for guiding a landing UAV to a predetermined UAV landing position on the UAV landing platform.
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 invention relates to a secure wire-based system for a drone. Said system ensures suitable voltage on the wire during normal control of the drone and automatically locks the wire to a maximum length predefined by the user. The locking is in one direction: it locks the unwinding of the wire without preventing the winding thereof. The drone thus moves within a half-sphere, the radius of which is the maximum length defined by the user. The system is made up of a motor (13) and a drum (14) on which a wire (10), having a one-direction locking mechanism, for example (X2), is wound. The system according to the invention makes it possible to limit the possible crashing region in the event of the drone malfunctioning, and is intended in particular for operations on airports or critical populated or industrial regions.
Abstract:
A method involves operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether is connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and is connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere has a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method further involves 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 involves 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.