Abstract:
Systems, methods, and devices of managing a battery assembly used to power an object are provided to discharge a battery assembly for a safe and long-term storage. A controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly may be initiated when the power to the object is turned off for a certain length of time or the battery assembly is not in use for a threshold length of time. The controlled self-discharge may be terminated if the battery assembly reaches a threshold voltage value or the battery is in use again during the self-discharge.
Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus comprises a frame. Further, the unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus comprises a propulsion mechanism coupled to the frame that propels the frame through the air. In addition, the unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus comprises a storage device that stores one or more airbags and is coupled to the frame. The unmanned aerial vehicle apparatus also comprises an inflation device coupled to the frame that receives an activation signal and inflates the one or more airbags based upon receipt of the activation signal to deploy the one or more airbags from the storage device prior to an impact of the frame with an object.
Abstract:
An airship may include a hull (22) substantially shaped as an oblate spheroid, one or more frame members (122, 124) defining a support structure (20), wherein the support structure forms at least a partial support for the hull, at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) operably coupled to a lower surface of the airship and at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) having a first end and a second end. The at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) may define an anhedral configuration. The airship may also include a vertical stabilizing member (310) having a first end pivotally coupled to the airship and a second end oriented to remain below an upper surface of the airship. The vertical stabilizing member (310) may be configured to pivot within a vertical plane and the first end of the vertical stabilizing member and the first end of the at least one horizontal stabilizing member may be operably coupled to one another.
Abstract:
An authorisation management and flight compliance system for a plurality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) operating in a region, said system configured to assess a flight command request for a UAV submitted by an authorised controller for approval, the assessment based on constraints for the flight and a level of authority assigned to the controller; and cryptographically sign an approved command request and return the signed command request to the controller for sending to the UAV.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining actions for entities (4, 6) such that a goal is accomplished constraints are satisfied. The method comprises: determining an initial plan comprising actions that, if performed by the entities (4, 6), the goal would be accomplished; determining that a constraint would not be satisfied if the initial plan was implemented; and iteratively performing steps (i) to (v) until a final plan that accomplishes the goal and satisfies the is determined. Step (i) comprises identifying a constraint that is not satisfied in part of the current plan. Step (ii) comprises determining a remedy that, if implemented, satisfies the identified constraint. Step (iii) comprises updating the goal specification to include the remedy. Step (iv) comprises, using the updated goal specification, determining a further plan that accomplishes the goal and the remedy. Step (v) comprises determining whether or not the further plan satisfies each constraint.
Abstract:
A micro unmanned aerial vehicle or drone ("UAV") 10 is remotely controlled through an HMI (309), although this remote control is supplemented by and selectively suppressed by an on-board controller (302). The controller operates to control the generation of a sonar bubble that generally encapsulates the UAV. The sonar bubble, which may be ultrasonic in nature, is produced by a multiplicity of sonar lobes generated by specific sonar emitters associated with each axis of movement for the UAV. The emitters produce individual and beamformed sonar lobes (80-102) that partially overlap to provide stereo or bioptic data in the form of individual echo responses detected by axis- specific sonar detectors (40-68). In this way, the on-board controller is able to interpret and then generate 3-D spatial imaging of the physical environment in which the UAV is currently moving or positioned. The controller is therefore able to plot relative and absolute movement of the UAV through the 3-D space by recording measurements from on-board gyroscopes (342), magnetometers (344) and accelerometers (346). Data from the sonar bubble can therefore both proactively prevent collisions with objects by imposing a corrective instruction to rotors (12-18) and other flight control system and can also assess and compensate for sensor drift.
Abstract:
A micro unmanned aerial vehicle or drone ("UAV") 10 is remotely controlled through an HMI (309), although this remote control is supplemented by and selectively suppressed by an on-board controller (302). The controller operates to control the generation of a sonar bubble that generally encapsulates the UAV. The sonar bubble, which may be ultrasonic in nature, is produced by a multiplicity of sonar lobes generated by specific sonar emitters associated with each axis of movement for the UAV. The emitters produce individual and beamformed sonar lobes (80-102) that partially overlap to provide stereo or bioptic data in the form of individual echo responses detected by axis- specific sonar detectors (40-68). In this way, the on-board controller is able to interpret and then generate 3-D spatial imaging of the physical environment in which the UAV is currently moving or positioned. The controller is therefore able to plot relative and absolute movement of the UAV through the 3-D space by recording measurements from on-board gyroscopes (342), magnetometers (344) and accelerometers (346). Data from the sonar bubble can therefore both proactively prevent collisions with objects by imposing a corrective instruction to rotors (12-18) and other flight control system and can also assess and compensate for sensor drift.