Abstract:
An aerial micro-drone having a fixed wing supporting a propulsion device. The micro-drone has wheels for traveling on the ground, which are attached to the side ends of a section of the wing. The rotational axis Y1 of the wheels is located in front of the center of gravity of the micro-drone. The center of gravity of the micro-drone is located in front of the aerodynamic center of the micro-drone. The rotational axis Y1 of the wheels being aligned with the thrust axis of the propulsion device and the wheels are sized such that the radius D/2 thereof is greater than the distance between the rotational axis Y1 of the wheels and the trailing edge of the wing.
Abstract:
An aircraft for unmanned aviation is described. The aircraft includes an airframe, a pair of fins attached to a rear portion of the airframe, a pair of dihedral braces attached to a bottom portion of the airframe, a first thrust-vectoring (“T/V”) module and a second T/V module, and an electronics module. The electronics module provides commands to the two T/V modules. The two T/V modules are configured to provide lateral and longitudinal control to the aircraft by directly controlling a thrust vector for each of the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the aircraft. The use of directly articulated electrical motors as T/V modules enables the aircraft to execute tight-radius turns over a wide range of airspeeds.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.
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.
Abstract:
An autonomous battery replacement station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The UAV includes a replaceable battery. The station includes (a) a landing platform configured to receive the UAV, (b) a storage location configured to store a replacement battery for the UAV, and (c) a means for swapping the replaceable battery on the UAV with a replacement battery from the storage location.
Abstract:
Extended-range monitoring and surveillance of facilities and infrastructure—such as oil, water, and gas pipelines and power lines—employs autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable, small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) aircraft and docking platforms for accommodating the sUAS aircraft. Monitoring and surveillance of facilities using one or more embodiments may be performed continually by the sUAS flying autonomously along a pre-programmed flight path. The sUAS aircraft may have an integrated gas collector and analyzer unit, and capability for downloading collected data and analyzer information from the sUAS aircraft to the docking platforms. The gas collector and analyzer unit may provide remote sensing and in-situ investigation of leaks and other environmental concerns as part of a “standoff” (e.g., remote from operators of the system or the facilities) survey that can keep field operators out of harm's way and monitor health of the environment.
Abstract:
In an example embodiment, a method carried out by an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) may involve receiving a reference map of a cluster of charging pads from a server. The cluster may include a layout of charging pads and fiducial markers distributed across the layout, the reference map representing the layout and fiducial markers. The UAV may fly to the cluster and acquire an image of charging pads and observed fiducial markers near the charging pads. The image may capture an observed constellation of fiducial markers at apparent positions and orientations relative to the charging pads. A reference constellation of fiducial markers at reference positions and orientations relative to reference charging pads may be identified in the reference map. Identities of the reference charging pads and a match of the reference constellation to the observed constellation may be used to disambiguate a particular charging pad from among the charging pads.
Abstract:
A base station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes: an enclosure; a slide mechanism; and a cradle. The slide mechanism is repositionable between a retracted and extended positions and is secured in relation to the enclosure via first and second mounts, which are located between the slide mechanism and the enclosure so as to separate the slide mechanism from the enclosure and thereby reduce vibration of the slide mechanism during repositioning between the retracted and extended positions. The cradle is connected to the slide mechanism and is configured for docking with the UAV such that the UAV is movable into and out of the enclosure during repositioning of the slide mechanism between the retracted and extended positions.
Abstract:
A base station is disclosed for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The base station includes: a metallic enclosure; a first electronics module; a second electronics module; and a third electronics module, wherein the first electronics module, the second electronics module, and the third electronics module are each configured for individual removal from the metallic enclosure. The metallic enclosure is configured to receive the UAV and includes a front end having a front door and a rear end having a rear door. The rear door is located adjacent to the first electronics module and includes a metallic panel that is positioned in correspondence with the first electronics module so as to create a Faraday cage for the first electronics module and thereby reduce electromagnetic emissions from the base station.
Abstract:
A wearable device for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more sensors configured to detect first status information of the wearable device, a communication circuit configured to transmit the first status information to the UAV and receive second status information of the UAV from the UAV, and a processor configured to generate a control instruction according to at least one of the first status information or the second status information, and control the communication circuit to transmit the control instruction to the UAV to control the UAV.