Abstract:
A system for facilitating automated landing and takeoff of an autonomous or pilot controlled hovering air vehicle with a cooperative underbody at a stationary or mobile landing place and an automated storage system used in conjunction with the landing and takeoff mechanism that stores and services a plurality of UAVs is described. The system is primarily characterized in that the landing mechanism is settable with 6 axes in roll, pitch, yaw, and x, y and z and becomes aligned with and intercepts the air vehicle in flight and decelerates the vehicle with respect to vehicle's inertial limits. The air vehicle and capture mechanism are provided with a transmitter and receiver to coordinate vehicle priority and distance and angles between landing mechanism and air vehicle. The landing and takeoff system has means of tracking the position and orientation of the UAV in real time. The landing mechanism will be substantially aligned to the base of the air vehicle. With small UAVs, their lifting capacity is limited. Reducing sensing and computation requirements by having the landing plate perform the precision adjustments for the landing operation allows for increased flight time and/or payload capacity.
Abstract:
In an aspect, an apparatus includes a hovering unmanned aerial vehicle (HUAV). The HUAV includes an arm assembly configured to support a propeller in such a way that propeller drag of the propeller is decoupled from yaw torque requirements associated with the hovering unmanned aerial vehicle. In another aspect, an apparatus includes an HUAV that has an arm assembly that is field-foldable relative to the HUAV between a flight-ready state and a folded state. In another aspect, an apparatus includes an HUAV having an arm assembly that is keyed in such a way as to facilitate field-assembly relative to the HUAV.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
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:
A flying device includes a flight unit; and a flight control unit that performs, in a case where a flight position by the flight unit is out of a predetermined range, a control that is different from a control in a case where the flight position is within the predetermined range.
Abstract:
Vehicles such as unmanned air vehicles that are capable of movement from an open, flight configuration to an enclosed configuration in which all major flight components can be protected by an outer shell are disclosed. In the enclosed configuration, the vehicles can take on standard geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism, sphere, cylinder, or another shape, so as to not be recognizable as an unmanned air vehicle. Embodiments of vehicles can also include interchangeable and/or wireless motor arms, motor arms which are electrically connected to the remainder of the vehicle only when in an open configuration, remote controllers removably attached to the remainder of the vehicle, and clip or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to objects such as backpacks.
Abstract:
The present application discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle. The umanned aerial vehicle includes a support having a plurality of receiving slots; a plurality of arms attached to the support and a plurality of propellers respectively attached to the plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of receiving slots is configured to receive one of the plurality of arms and one of the plurality of propellers attached to the one of the plurality of arms.
Abstract:
An aircraft including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis extending through the fuselage front end and the fuselage rear end; a foldable wing located on the fuselage and being movable between a flight position wherein the wing is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a stowed position wherein the wing is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a pair of stabilizing wings having an anhedral orientation disposed on the fuselage.
Abstract:
A sliding door assembly includes a landing platform located in a first plane, a sliding door mating with the landing platform and located in a second plane approximately parallel to the first plane, and a driving assembly configured to drive the sliding door to move translationally in the second plane to open or close the sliding door.