Tethered unmanned aerial vehicle system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10535986-B2
Application number	US-201715415777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Jan 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

Example dynamically adjustable tether systems are described herein. An example tether system for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may include a base and a vertically-oriented elongate structure having an adjustable height. For instance, the elongate structure may include a lower end, and an upper end. The elongate structure may also couple to the base proximate the lower end. The system may further include a tether that extends from a first coupling-point positioned proximate the upper end of the elongate structure to a second coupling-point positioned on the UAV and a computing system configured for performing a set of acts, such as detecting a change in height of the elongate structure, and causing the tether to be reconfigured within the tether system based on the detected change in height of the elongate structure.

First claim

I claim:

1. A tether system for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the tether system comprising:
a base;
a vertically-oriented elongate structure having an adjustable height, wherein the elongate structure comprises a lower end, and an upper end, wherein the base is coupled to the elongate structure proximate the lower end;
a first coupling-point positioned proximate the upper end of the elongate structure;
a tether that extends from the first coupling-point to a second coupling-point of the UAV; and
a computing system configured for performing a set of acts comprising:
detecting a change in height of the elongate structure; and
responsive to the detected change in height of the elongate structure, causing the tether to be reconfigured a particular amount within the tether system that is proportionate to the change in the height of the elongate structure.

2. The tether system of claim 1 , wherein the base is a vehicle.

3. The tether system of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a spooling mechanism, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool or unspool a portion of the tether.

4. The tether system of claim 3 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting an increase in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to unspool a portion of the tether.

5. The tether system of claim 3 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting a decrease in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool a portion of the tether.

6. The tether system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor system; and
wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises using sensor data obtained from the sensor system to detect the change in height of the elongate structure.

7. The tether system of claim 1 , wherein the set of acts further comprises:
outputting a signal that indicates reconfiguration of the tether is complete.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with a tether system comprising:
a base;
a vertically-oriented elongate structure having an adjustable height, wherein the elongate structure comprises a lower end, and an upper end, wherein the base is coupled to the elongate structure proximate the lower end;
a first coupling-point positioned proximate the upper end of the elongate structure;
a tether that extends from the first coupling-point to a second coupling-point of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and
wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon program instructions that when executed cause performance of a set of acts comprising:
detecting a change in height of the elongate structure; and
responsive to the detected change in height of the elongate structure, causing the tether to be reconfigured a particular amount within the tether system that is proportionate to the change in the height of the elongate structure.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the base of the tether system is a vehicle.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the base of the tether system comprises a spooling mechanism, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool or unspool a portion of the tether.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting an increase in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to unspool a portion of the tether.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting a decrease in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool a portion of the tether.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the tether system further comprises:
a sensor system; and
wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises using sensor data obtained from the sensor system to detect the change in height of the elongate structure.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the set of acts further comprises:
outputting a signal that indicates reconfiguration of the tether is complete.

15. A method for use with for use with a tether system comprising:
a base; a vertically-oriented elongate structure having an adjustable height, wherein the elongate structure comprises a lower end, and an upper end, wherein the base is coupled to the elongate structure proximate the lower end; a first coupling-point positioned proximate the upper end of the elongate structure; and a tether that extends from the first coupling-point to a second coupling-point of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
detecting, by a computing system, a change in height of the elongate structure; and
responsive to the detected change in height of the elongate structure, causing, by the computing system, the tether to be reconfigured a particular amount within the tether system that is proportionate to the change in the height of the elongate structure.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the base of the tether system comprises a spooling mechanism, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool or unspool a portion of the tether.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting an increase in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to unspool a portion of the tether.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises detecting a decrease in the height of the elongate structure, and wherein causing the tether to be reconfigured the particular amount within the tether system comprises causing the spooling mechanism to spool a portion of the tether.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tether system further comprises:
a sensor system; and
wherein detecting the change in height of the elongate structure comprises using sensor data obtained from the sensor system to detect the change in height of the elongate structure.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
outputting, by the computing system, a signal that indicates reconfiguration of the tether is complete.

Assignees

• Tribune Broadcasting Co Llc

Inventors

• Hundemer Hank J

Classifications

• B64U2201/202

  using tethers for connecting to ground station · CPC title

• B65H2701/39

  Other types of filamentary materials or special applications · CPC title

• H02G11/02 Primary

  using take-up reel or drum · CPC title

• B65H75/4486

  Electric motors · CPC title

• B60P3/11

  for carrying aircraft · CPC title