UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVs) AND CARRIER PLATFORMS THEREFOR

Abstract

A system for unmanned vehicles and carriers therefor having a propulsion system, anchoring system, anchoring sites and a locking and unlocking mechanism. A carrier having one or more arresting locations. The propulsion system has at least one propeller for each rotor and at least one blade capable of rotating for each rotor. The locking and unlocking mechanism has a switching member such as a rod. The switching member in a standby position is in the path of the rotating propeller blade and upon being displaced into a position not in the path of the rotating blade is in an unlocking position sending a signal to unlock the UAV from the anchoring site.

Claims

1. A system comprising one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) detachably associated to an arresting position provided on a UAV docking surface, wherein each of the one or more UAVs has a body and a propelling system, said propelling system having at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade; and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with one or more arresting location provided on the docking surface; a locking/unlocking mechanism on said docking surface, wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism is configured to manipulate the anchoring system of said one or more UAVs between a respective locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in said locked position the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with said arresting location, and in said unlocked position the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location; and a switching member engaging said locking/unlocking mechanism that is configured to switch between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism; whereby rotation of said at least one propeller blade activates said switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the UAV docking surface is a stationary surface, or wherein the UAV docking surface is a docking surface of a UAV carrier or mothership.

3-4. (canceled)

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more UA Vs having a chassis, a landing base or landing legs equipped with the anchoring system configured to securely engage with the arresting location provided on the docking surface.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more arresting locations are spaced apart on the docking surface, each being structured, configured and operable to engage with said one or more UAVs through said anchoring system.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein each of the one or more arresting locations is a flat surface or a 3-dimensional member configured to latch onto, to fit into, to physically associate with, or interact with the anchoring system to cause a reversible attachment to the UAV.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the UAV anchoring system comprises a mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic or an electric member or surface capable of reversibly interacting with a reciprocal or a matching member or surface provided at the arresting location.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the anchoring system or the arresting location further comprises a hook, a latch, a projecting arm, a magnetic surface, or a 3D structure, structured to reversibly interact with a reciprocal element or member or surface on the other of the anchoring system and the arresting location.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the anchoring system comprises a locking latch member or a latch-catch member, each being configured to associate with the other.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the anchoring system comprises a magnetic attaching assembly.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more propellor blades is configured to rotate and wherein the switching member is an actuator rod, or a rod element, extending from the arresting location or from a region in a vicinity of the arresting location or from a base of the rod to a distance defined by a path of rotation of the one or more of the UAV's propeller blades.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the switch member being positioned substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the platform or aligned upright, or is tilted such that a portion of the switch member is disposed at the path of rotation.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein displacement of the switch member into the unlocking position, upon encountering by the one or more propeller blades, activates a microswitch to generate the unlocking signal.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more arresting locations being in a form of a docking port provided with an altimeter for measuring altitude, a compass, a multi-axis gyroscope for continuously identifying directional motion, orientation and relative spatial position of the UAV.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more arresting locations and/or the one or more UA Vs incorporate a GPS module for location positioning, with a wireless communication module for cellular and/or satellite communications.

17-18. (canceled)

19. The system according to claim 1, being a UAV carrier comprising two or more arresting locations configured to associate to two or more same or different UAVs.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the UAV carrier is a UAV mothership.

21. A landing platform for one or more UAV, the landing platform comprises a docking surface comprising one or more arresting locations for detachably engaging with the one or more UAVs via an anchoring system of the UAV, each of the one or more arresting locations comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location, said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism; whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.

22. The platform according to claim 21, being a UAV carrier in a form of a UAV mothership.

23. A system comprising one or more UAVs and a UAV carrier configured to carry the one or more UAVs from a point of origin to a destination; comprising a UAV having a body and a propelling system comprising at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade; and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with an arresting location provided on a docking surface; the UAV carrier comprises a docking surface and a plurality of arresting locations distributed thereon, the docking surface comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location, said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which the switching member generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism; whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.

24. The system according to claim 23 wherein each arresting location is provided with a locking/unlocking mechanism configured to engage to or disengage UAV carrier from the UAV; each of the plurality of arresting locations further comprises an actuator rod extending from the surface of each of the arresting locations such that a rod portion is disposed at a path of rotation of the UAV's one or more propeller blades, wherein rotation of the propeller blades entails encountering of the UAV's one or more propeller blades with the rod portion of the actuator rod, to thereby disengage the UAV from the arresting location.

25. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] FIG. 1 demonstrates a landing platform in a form of a UAV carrier or mothership for carrying a plurality of UAVs.

[0080] FIGS. 2A-B demonstrate an exemplary locking mechanism for engaging with a UAV. FIG. 2A shows the mechanism in a locked position. FIG. 2B shows the mechanism in an open position.

[0081] FIGS. 3A-B demonstrate an exemplary UAV when in an engaged state (FIG. 3A) and a disengaged state (FIG. 3B) from an arresting location on a UAV carrier.

[0082] FIG. 4 depicts a UAV carrier carrying 3 UAVs, each positioned in a distinct arresting location on the carrier landing platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0083] The invention will now be further described in connection with the figures of the application. Each of the figures constitutes a separate embodiment of a UAV, a system, a landing platform, an aircraft carrier or any other element or feature of the invention.

[0084] As generally noted, the invention provides a system, which comprises UAV, which comprises an anchoring system configurable for detachably engaging with an arresting location on a docking surface, e.g., of a UAV carrier or a mothership or on any landing platform. The arresting location comprises a locking/unlocking mechanism that is configured for manipulating the UAV anchoring system between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the unlocking mechanism to manipulate the anchoring system from the locked position to the unlocked position. As disclosed herein, to allow for a fast deployment and a concerted rotor activation and unlocking from the docking surface, to thereby bring the UAV into an immediate take-off action, rotation of at least one of the UAV's propeller blades physically interacts or encounters the switching member and activates the switching member into the unlocking position, thereby unlocking the anchoring system. Following unlocking of the mechanism, the UAV is in a ready-to-takeoff mode, still physically associated, but not locked to the docking surface, such that actual take off can follow immediately upon command.

[0085] Depicted in FIG. 1 is an exemplary landing platform for a UAV in a form of a UAV carrier 10 which comprises a docking surface 12 comprising three arresting locations designated 14a, 14b and 14c, for detachably engaging with one or more UAVs via an anchoring system of the UAV. Each of the arresting positions 14a, 14b and 14c provided on the docking surface 12 comprises a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV. In the depicted UAV carrier, the carrier is provided on a set of landing lags or elements 16 and a plurality of rotors 18.

[0086] An expanded view of an arresting location is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the exemplary configuration, an arresting location, e.g., 14a provided on the docking surface 12 of FIG. 1 is provided with a locking/unlocking mechanism 15 that is configured to transition between a locked position 15a shown in FIG. 2A. The locking/unlocking mechanism engaging with an anchoring system of a UAV and an unlocked position 15b shown in FIG. 2B, which disengages from the UAV anchoring system. The locking/unlocking mechanism 15 comprises a switching member 18 operable between a standby position (as shown in FIG. 2A) that moves in the direction indicated by 17 to an unlocking position (as shown in FIG. 2B). In the unlocking position the an unlocking signal is generated to the locking/unlocking mechanism 15.

[0087] FIGS. 3A and 3B, demonstrate a UAV 20 detachably associated to an arresting position 22 (same as arresting position 14a, 14b or 14c of FIGS. 1 and 14a in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B) provided on a UAV docking surface (not shown). The UAV 20 comprises a body 24 and a propelling system comprising at least one propeller 26 with at least one propeller blade 28 and an anchoring system configurable for detachably engaging with an arresting position 22 provided on a docking surface, being in the depicted embodiments a UAV carrier or a mothership. The locking/unlocking mechanism (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) is provided with a switching member 30 that is positioned in the rotation path of the propellor blade 28, as depicted in FIG. 3A. Rotation of the propeller blade 28 strikes switching member 30 activating switching member 30 into the unlocking position (depicted in FIG. 2B), to thereby unlock the anchoring system, as depicted in FIG. 3B.

[0088] The switching member may be an actuator rod 30 which at the standby position has a rod portion 32 of actuator rod 30 is disposed in the path of rotation of the least one propeller blade 28, when said UAV is positioned on the landing platform or carrier, wherein rotation of the propeller blade 28 encounters rod portion 32 of the actuator rod 30 displacing it as shown by direction 17 of FIG. 2A into the unlocking position, to thereby generate the unlocking signal. In some configurations, displacement of the actuator rod 30 into the unlocking position, upon encountering by the propeller blade 28, activates a microswitch positioned or provided at the base 34 of the rod 30 to generate the unlocking signal.

[0089] In some configurations, the actuator rod 30 is pivotally articulated to a locking/unlocking mechanism. Alternatively, a bottom end portion of actuator rod 30 is at base 34. The actuator rod 30 is pivotally articulated to the locking/unlocking mechanism of the landing platform or carrier. At the standby position the actuator rod 30 is disposed at substantially an upright position as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 3A or at a slightly tilted position, and at the unlocking position said actuator rod 30 is greatly or more tilted so that rod portion 32 is not positioned within the path of the rotating blades, as depicted in FIGS. 2B and 3B. When the actuator rod portion 32 of rod 30 is in the unlocking position it is disposed outside of the path of rotation of the least one propeller blade 28 as depicted in FIG. 3B.

[0090] FIG. 4 depicts a UAV carrier 40 carrying 3 UAVs 42a, 42b and 42c, each being configured for detachably engaging with an arresting mechanism of a carrier 40, wherein the arresting mechanism is configured at a top face 44 of the carrier 40. In some configurations, the UAV may be configured for detachably engaging with an arresting mechanism for each UAV of a carrier 40 wherein the arresting mechanism is configured at a face such as bottom face 46 of the carrier 40.

[0091] As further depicted in FIG. 4, at least one UAV 42a, 42b and 42c has a body 48a, 48b and 48c, respectively, and a propelling system (in the depicted embodiments, each UAV has a propelling system comprising 4 propelling units, each comprising at least one propeller blade); wherein the carrier 40 is configured with arresting locations 50a, 50b and 50c for each accommodating a UAV. Each of the arresting locations comprises a locking mechanism that is configured for detachably engaging with an anchoring system of the UAV; an unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the arresting mechanism between a respective locked position at which it is engaged with the arresting mechanism, and an unlocked position at which it is disengaged from the arresting mechanism; and a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the unlocking mechanism; whereupon rotation of the at least one propeller blade of a UAV activates a respective switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the arresting mechanism to disengage from the anchoring system, to facilitate takeoff of the respective UAV.

[0092] It is not intended that the example contained in this application are limiting of the disclosed technology.