公开(公告)号：US20170267334A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15169782

申请日：2016-06-01

Applicant: INVENTEC APPLIANCES (PUDONG) CORPORATION ,  INVENTEC APPLIANCES CORP.

Inventor： Pei-Lun Tsai

IPC: B64C25/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06T7/00 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06K9/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64D45/04

CPC classification number: B64C25/10 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G06K9/0063 ,  G06T7/11 ,  G06T7/55 ,  G06T2207/10032 ,  G06T2207/30252 ,  H04N7/183 ,  H04N7/185

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a landing method thereof are provided. The landing method includes the following steps. Firstly, a depth image of a scene is obtained. Next, a landing position is determined in accordance with the depth image. Next, a height information of the landing position is obtained. Next, a plurality of relative distances of the landing gears relative to the landing position are adjusted in accordance with the height information to make the relative distances substantially the same. Then, the UAV lands on the landing position.

公开(公告)号：US20170240062A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-24

申请号：US15436801

申请日：2017-02-18

Applicant: SWARMX PTE. LTD.

Inventor： Pulkit JAISWAL ,  Badrinarayanan RANGARAJAN

IPC: B60L11/18

CPC classification number: G05D1/0676 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/305 ,  B60L53/37 ,  B60L53/60 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B60L2240/622 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64F1/12 ,  B64F1/22 ,  G01S13/913 ,  G05D1/0011 ,  G05D1/102 ,  Y02T10/7005 ,  Y02T10/7088 ,  Y02T10/7291 ,  Y02T90/121 ,  Y02T90/125 ,  Y02T90/128 ,  Y02T90/14 ,  Y02T90/16 ,  Y02T90/162 ,  Y02T90/163

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, method and station for docking unmanned vehicles. The system, method and station are particularly relevant, but not limited to dock the unmanned vehicles for autonomous operations. Further the system, method and station are particularly relevant, but not limited to protect the unmanned vehicles from external environments.

公开(公告)号：US20170225800A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15017263

申请日：2016-02-05

Applicant: Jordan Holt ,  Jeremy Sarao ,  Alex Barchet

Inventor： Jordan Holt ,  Jeremy Sarao ,  Alex Barchet

IPC: B64F1/18 ,  B64C19/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02

CPC classification number: B64F1/18 ,  B64C19/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G06K9/00637 ,  G06K9/3216 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: Visual landing aids including a series of contrasting circles and polygons for unmanned aerial vehicles that are capable of being accurately detected over a wide range of angles and distances by an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera and shape detection capabilities. The visual landing said may be implemented using contrasting colors for the pattern which reflect visible and/or UV or infrared light, or by light emitting elements. In some examples, the landing aids includes a secondary smaller version of the landing aid shape pattern that is embedded within the larger pattern, to enable greater detection range while facilitating close-in precision guidance. In still further examples, light emitting elements may be pulsed at a rate that is synchronized with the camera shutter on the unmanned aerial vehicle to further enhance accurate detection.

公开(公告)号：US20170158326A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15230439

申请日：2016-08-07

Applicant: Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Inventor： Sang Cherl LEE ,  Sun Hee WOO ,  Sang Il AHN ,  Eun Kyou KIM ,  Young Min CHO ,  Dae Hwan HYUN ,  Jin Ho LEE ,  Hae Jin CHOI

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64D17/00 ,  B64F1/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B60L53/30 ,  B60L53/51 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/082 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/201 ,  B64C2201/206 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64D17/00 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  Y02T10/7005 ,  Y02T10/7088 ,  Y02T50/55 ,  Y02T90/12 ,  Y02T90/121 ,  Y02T90/14 ,  Y02T90/16

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for remote sensing using a drone. An apparatus for remote sensing using a drone includes: a drone station which communicates with a server through a satellite and includes a containment portion at an upper portion and a post portion at a lower portion; and a drone which is contained in a containment portion of the drone station and communicates with the drone station, and further includes: a solar panel which is installed at the drone station and converts solar energy into electric energy; an capacitor which is installed at the drone station and stores electric energy generated by the solar panel; and a charging container access deck which is installed at the containment portion and charges the drone.

公开(公告)号：US09672748B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-06

申请号：US14936632

申请日：2015-11-09

Applicant: AeroVironment Inc.

Inventor： Christopher E. Fisher ,  Thomas Robert Szarek ,  Justin B. McAllister ,  Pavel Belik

IPC: G08G5/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64D31/00 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: G08G5/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64D31/00 ,  G05D1/0011 ,  G05D1/0676

Abstract: An aircraft defining an upright orientation and an inverted orientation, a ground station; and a control system for remotely controlling the flight of the aircraft. The ground station has an auto-land function that causes the aircraft to invert, stall, and controllably land in the inverted orientation to protect a payload and a rudder extending down from the aircraft. In the upright orientation, the ground station depicts the view from a first aircraft camera. When switching to the inverted orientation: (1) the ground station depicts the view from a second aircraft camera, (2) the aircraft switches the colors of red and green wing lights, extends the ailerons to act as inverted flaps, and (3) the control system adapts a ground station controller for the inverted orientation. The aircraft landing gear is an expanded polypropylene pad located above the wing when the aircraft is in the upright orientation.

公开(公告)号：US20170139420A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-18

申请号：US15419804

申请日：2017-01-30

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： John A. Lockwood ,  Joseph F. Stanek

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0276 ,  B60R16/02 ,  B60W30/00 ,  B64C29/0008 ,  B64C29/0091 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/00 ,  B64C2201/02 ,  B64C2201/08 ,  B64C2201/086 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/182 ,  B64C2201/185 ,  B64C2201/187 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  B64C2230/00 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/0212 ,  G05D1/0231 ,  G05D1/0242 ,  G05D1/0255 ,  G05D1/0257 ,  G05D1/028 ,  G05D2201/0213 ,  G08C17/00 ,  G08G1/012 ,  G08G1/091

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

公开(公告)号：US09650133B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-16

申请号：US15042090

申请日：2016-02-11

Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.

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

IPC: B64C27/22 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F1/00

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：US20170110901A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-20

申请号：US15294459

申请日：2016-10-14

Applicant: Droneventory Corporation

Inventor： Melanie Amarasekara ,  Marc Allen Bernard

IPC: H02J7/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H02J50/90

CPC classification number: H02J7/025 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64F1/007 ,  H02J7/027 ,  H02J50/10 ,  H02J50/80 ,  H02J50/90 ,  H02J2007/0001

Abstract: The disclosure is related to a system and method for autonomously charging a rechargeable power supply of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The system can have battery power translator (BPT). communicatively coupled to the UAS. The BPT can have an energy source operable to deliver power at a native power level different than a designed power level of the UAS. The BPT can also have a voltage/current translator (VCT) operable to receive energy at the native power level from the energy source, and convert the energy at the native power level to converted energy at the designed power level for use by the UAS. The system can also have a remote charging system (RCS) communicatively coupled to the BPT. The RCS can also have a charging pad having a plurality of configurable terminals, and operable to receive the UAS and deliver recharge energy to the UAS.

公开(公告)号：US20170108861A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-20

申请号：US15391730

申请日：2016-12-27

Applicant: GoPro, Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Anthony Enke

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G01C23/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0044 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/185 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  G01C23/00 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0038 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D1/102 ,  G07C5/08 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/006 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0078 ,  G08G5/0086 ,  G08G5/0091 ,  G08G5/045 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04W84/042 ,  H04W84/12

Abstract: Disclosed is a configuration to control automatic return of an aerial vehicle. The configuration stores a return location in a storage device of the aerial vehicle. The return location may correspond to a location where the aerial vehicle is to return. One or more sensors of the aerial vehicle are monitored during flight for detection of a predefined condition. When a predetermined condition is met a return path program may be loaded for execution to provide a return flight path for the aerial vehicle to automatically navigate to the return location.

公开(公告)号：US20170092137A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US15280436

申请日：2016-09-29

Applicant: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH

Inventor： Manfred HIEBL

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G08G5/06 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/0069 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/003 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0056 ,  G08G5/0091 ,  G08G5/025 ,  G08G5/065 ,  H04B7/155 ,  H04L67/12

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle with lift and propulsion system and a flight control system and method. The flight control system has a flight control unit, a navigation system, a communication system and an actuator system. The flight control unit can calculate, based on data from the navigation system and/or data of a ground control station, control commands which can be fed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. The ground control station is configured to control and/or monitor the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle has a monitoring unit to monitor the communication system to determine whether all the communication links are interrupted. The monitoring unit can cause the flight control unit to land the aerial vehicle safely at a suitable landing site based on stored data relating to current flight conditions and nearby landing sites.