Positioning mechanism, UAV dock using same, and UAV replenishment method

    公开(公告)号:US10414517B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-09-17

    申请号:US15599204

    申请日:2017-05-18

    IPC分类号: B64F1/02 B64C39/02

    摘要: A positioning mechanism comprises a base comprising a landing area and a guide member. The landing area comprises a positioning portion. The guide member is movably arranged at the landing area and comprises a guide surface. The guide member is configured to be movable with respect to the base. A height of the guide member relative to the landing area is configured to be lower when the guide member is in a non-operating state than when the guide member is in an operating state. The guide surface is configured to adjoin the positioning portion when the guide member is in the operating state.

    Mult-functional compartment
    2.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11305875B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-19

    申请号:US16245590

    申请日:2019-01-11

    IPC分类号: B64C39/02 B64C25/32

    摘要: A method for operating a vehicle chassis includes providing the vehicle chassis including a main body and at least one compartment arranged on the vehicle chassis, selectively receiving one or more components in the compartment, and effecting an operational state of a vehicle comprising the vehicle chassis based on a type of at least one of the one or more components that are selectively received in the compartment. The one or more components is selected from a plurality of components of different types.

    Foldable UAV
    5.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11124298B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-21

    申请号:US17035266

    申请日:2020-09-28

    IPC分类号: B64C39/02 B64C3/56

    摘要: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body and a plurality of arms extendable from the central body using one or more actuators. Each of the plurality of arms is configured to support one or more propulsion units. One arm of the plurality of arms is configured to connect to one of the one or more actuators via a linkage mechanism. The one of the one or more actuators is configured to actuate the linkage mechanism between (1) a first dead center position for securing the one arm when the one arm is extended away from the central body in a flight configuration and (2) a second dead center position for securing the one arm when the one arm is folded substantially parallel to the central body in a compact configuration.

    Systems and methods of aircraft walking systems

    公开(公告)号:US11124292B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-21

    申请号:US16226140

    申请日:2018-12-19

    摘要: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body and a plurality of landing gears that are extendable from and movable relative to the central body. The plurality of landing gears are configured to transform between a flight configuration and a surface configuration. In the flight configuration, the landing gears are extending laterally away from the central body and not in contact with a surface below the central body. In the surface configuration, the landing gears are extending towards the surface below the central body. When the landing gears are in the surface configuration, the landing gears are configured to support a weight of the central body on the surface and transport the UAV over the surface by moving one or more of the landing gears relative to the surface.

    Foldable UAV
    8.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10793270B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-06

    申请号:US16192316

    申请日:2018-11-15

    IPC分类号: B64C39/02 B64C3/56

    摘要: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body having a plurality of sides and a plurality of arms extendable from the central body. Each arm of the plurality of arms comprises a plurality of foldable sections. Each arm of the plurality of arms is configured to transform between a flight configuration and a compact configuration. When an arm is in the flight configuration, the plurality of foldable sections of the arm are extended away from the central body. When an arm is in the compact configuration, the plurality of foldable sections of the arm are folded toward a corresponding side of the central body such that the plurality of foldable sections are substantially parallel to one another.

    System and method for managing unmanned aerial vehicles

    公开(公告)号:US10195952B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-02-05

    申请号:US15463574

    申请日:2017-03-20

    摘要: A base station for automated battery pack or payload exchange and methods for using the same. The base station provides a landing surface for receiving a mobile platform and includes a manipulator controlled by a manipulator compartment for accessing resource storage. The base station is operable to ascertain a location of the platform on the landing surface and move the manipulator to the mobile platform. Thereby, the base station system advantageously accommodates low-accuracy landing of the mobile platform and further enables extended and autonomous operation of the mobile platform without the need for user intervention for exchanging battery packs and payloads.