公开(公告)号：US20170210313A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-27

申请号：US15004327

申请日：2016-01-22

Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor： Guillaume Hoareau ,  Johannes J. Liebenberg ,  John G. Musial ,  Todd R. Whitman

IPC: B60R16/04 ,  B60R16/033

CPC classification number: B60R16/04 ,  B60L11/00 ,  B60R16/033 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/06 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: An apparatus and method for replacing a power source element is provided. The apparatus includes a multiple compartment housing attached to a vehicle, power source elements, a controller, and a communications interface. The power source elements are placed within receptacles of the multiple compartment housing. Each power source element is electrically connected to an input power coupler for electrical connection to the vehicle such that each power source element is configured to supply power to the vehicle independently without requiring power supplied by any other power source element. The controller is configured to monitor a power level of each power source element and generate an associated power level reading. The communication interface is configured to retrieve each associated power level reading from the controller and to an external system.

公开(公告)号：US20170190443A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-06

申请号：US15466012

申请日：2017-03-22

Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.

Inventor： Christopher Eugene Fisher ,  Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee ,  William Arden Lott

IPC: B64F1/00 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64F1/12 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64F1/005 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/201 ,  B64F1/12

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

公开(公告)号：US20170190421A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-06

申请号：US15312968

申请日：2015-05-21

Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Inventor： Francisco Javier Diez-Garias ,  Marco M. Maia

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B63G8/16 ,  B63G8/00 ,  A63H23/08 ,  A63H27/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  A63H23/08 ,  A63H27/12 ,  B63G8/001 ,  B63G8/16 ,  B63G2008/002 ,  B63G2008/005 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/12

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle including a body and a frame structure extending from the body and supporting a plurality of propeller assemblies, each propeller assembly including at least one propeller and a corresponding motor with the motor housed in a watertight housing or coated and made corrosion resistant. The propellers comprise a first subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies and a second subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies which rotate in a plane positioned below a plane in which the first subset of propellers rotate, wherein said first and second subset of propellers are configured for independent operation of one another as the vehicle transitions from an air medium to a water medium.

公开(公告)号：US09688404B1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-27

申请号：US14558046

申请日：2014-12-02

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Buchmueller ,  Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III ,  Jack Erdozain, Jr. ,  Scarlett Elizabeth Koller ,  Eric Alexander Riehl ,  Trevor Barr Walker

IPC: B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C15/14 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C15/14 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D1/12 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/0011 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G06Q10/083

Abstract: Stabilized airborne drop delivery using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is described. In one embodiment, the UAV includes a flight controller configured to control a flight path of the UAV, a winch mechanism secured to an underside of the UAV, a platform tethered to and extendable from the winch mechanism, and a ballast system configured to stabilize the platform. The winch mechanism may be relied upon to drop an item for delivery without landing the UAV. Because the use of the winch mechanism may give rise to certain design and operating considerations, various active and passive flight and/or ballast control systems are described. These systems are configured to maintain an orientation of the UAV, the platform, and/or the item during one or more stages of airborne drop delivery.

公开(公告)号：US20170174316A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US14975506

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Howard Lee Huddleston, JR. ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Allan Ko

IPC: B64C11/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C27/32 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D13/00

CPC classification number: B64C11/00 ,  B64C11/008 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/32 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D13/00

Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be operated with discrete sets of propellers, which may be selected for a specific purpose or on a specific basis. The discrete sets of propellers may be operated separately or in tandem with one another, and at varying power levels. For example, a set of propellers may be selected to optimize the thrust, lift, maneuverability or efficiency of an aerial vehicle based on a position or other operational characteristic of the aerial vehicle, or an environmental condition encountered by the aerial vehicle. At least one of the propellers may be statically or dynamically imbalanced, such that the propeller emits a predetermined sound during operation. A balanced propeller may be specifically modified to cause the aerial vehicle to emit the predetermined sound by changing one or more parameters of the balanced propeller and causing the balanced propeller to be statically or dynamically imbalanced.

公开(公告)号：US20170158354A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15360116

申请日：2016-11-23

Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Inventor： Frederick L. Bourne ,  Peter James Waltner ,  Simon Gharibian

IPC: B64F1/36 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/04

CPC classification number: B64C27/04 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2027/8236 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/06 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D2027/026 ,  B64F1/36 ,  B64F3/02 ,  Y02T50/64

Abstract: A detachable power transfer device for a rotary-wing aircraft includes a docking station integrated into the rotary-wing aircraft. A power pod of the detachable power transfer device is constructed and arranged to detachably connect to the docking station for transferring power to the rotary-wing aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20170158327A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15370592

申请日：2016-12-06

Applicant: AAI Corporation

Inventor： Neal H. Willford

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C25/34 ,  B64D17/80 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C25/34 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/162 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64D17/80 ,  G05D1/0055 ,  G05D1/0816 ,  G05D1/0858

Abstract: A technique is directed to operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage defining a flight direction of the UAV and wing-plate assemblies that propel the UAV in the flight direction defined by the fuselage. The technique involves providing, while the flight direction defined by fuselage of the UAV points vertically from a takeoff location on the ground, thrust from propulsion units of the wing-plate assemblies to fly the UAV along a vertical takeoff path. The technique further involves maneuvering, after the UAV flies along the vertical takeoff path, the UAV to align the flight direction along a horizontal flight path that is perpendicular to the vertical takeoff path. The technique further involves providing, after the UAV flies along the horizontal flight path, thrust from the propulsion units of the wing-plate assemblies to land the UAV along a vertical landing path that is perpendicular to the horizontal flight path.

公开(公告)号：US20170152051A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-01

申请号：US15065963

申请日：2016-03-10

Applicant: OPTiM Corporation

Inventor： Shunji SUGAYA

IPC: B64D25/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D25/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/185

Abstract: The present invention is to prevent an uninhabited airborne vehicle from crashing due to fall impact and from being damaged and to protect an object and a living being at the fall point. The uninhabited airborne vehicle 100 includes a rotary wing 10 and a buffer 111 that reduces impact on the airframe when crashed. The battery charge remaining measurement module 122 and the distance measurement module 123 measure the battery charge remaining and the distance to an object, respectively, and compare the measurement with the respective thresholds. If the measurement is less than the respective thresholds, the buffer module 111 is driven by the drive module 121.

公开(公告)号：US20170144754A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-25

申请号：US14952581

申请日：2015-11-25

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Suhat LIMVORAPUN ,  Randy L. BRANDT

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B60L9/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B60L9/04 ,  B60L50/72 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/54 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B60L2210/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/06 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  Y02T10/7088 ,  Y02T10/7216 ,  Y02T90/127 ,  Y02T90/14 ,  Y02T90/34

Abstract: Systems and methods for powering an airborne transport vehicle from a ground power supply are provided. One system is a hovercraft power system having a ground power supply coupled with at least one on-board DC-DC power converter, wherein the on-board DC-DC power converter is positioned on-board a hovercraft. The hovercraft power system further includes a power cord tethered to the hovercraft, wherein the power cord is capable of delivering at least 100 kilowatts (kW) of power from the ground power supply to the hovercraft. The hovercraft power system also includes a tether dispenser configured to dispense or retract the power cord tethered to the hovercraft.

公开(公告)号：US20170144753A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-25

申请号：US15356327

申请日：2016-11-18

Applicant: ZEROTECH (Shenzhen) Intelligence Robot Co., Ltd

Inventor： Wei-Yong Yu

IPC: B64C27/20 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  A63H27/12 ,  B64C11/001 ,  B64C27/006 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042

Abstract: A supporting assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle is disclosed. The supporting assembly includes a base, rotor arms, and rotor shrouds. The rotor arms extend from the base. Each of the rotor arms includes a proximal end secured to the base and a distal end opposite to the proximal end. Each of the rotor shrouds includes a converged end removably engaged with and secured to the distal end, an arc shaped end, and one or more connecting members extending from the arc shaped end to the converged end. An unmanned aerial vehicle and a rotor shroud apparatus are also disclosed.