Unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10807698-B2
Application number	US-201515579708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

The present invention discloses an unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle including a body unit, a plurality of propeller units in which propellers are installed, a locking unit configured to lock the propeller units so that a state in which the propeller units are overlapping on the body unit is maintained, and propeller unit unfolders, each configured to connect each of the propeller units to the body unit, and unfold the propeller unit from the body unit so the propeller units are positioned around the body unit when locking of the locking unit is released.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a body unit;
a plurality of propeller units configured to be overlappable on the body unit;
a locking unit configured to lock the propeller units and the body unit so that a state in which the propeller units are overlapping on the body unit is maintained; and
propeller unit unfolders, each configured to connect each of the propeller units to the body unit and unfold the propeller units from the body unit so that the propeller units are positioned around the body unit when locking of the locking unit is released,
wherein the plurality of the propeller units are sequentially stacked on one surface of the body unit.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the propeller unit unfolder is elastically deformed to unfold the propeller unit through an elastic restoring force and is formed of a flexible material.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the propeller unit unfolder includes a tape spring hinge or a shape memory alloy hinge.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the propeller unit unfolders are installed at a plurality of positions along a circumference of the body unit.

5. An unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a body unit;
a plurality of propeller units configured to be overlappable on the body unit;
a locking unit configured to lock the propeller units and the body unit so that a state in which the propeller units are overlapping on the body unit is maintained; and
propeller unit unfolders, each configured to connect each of the propeller units to the body unit and unfold the propeller units from the body unit so that the propeller units are positioned around the body unit when locking of the locking unit is released, wherein
some of the plurality of the propeller units are sequentially stacked on one surface of the body unit; and
the remaining propeller units are sequentially stacked on the other surface of the body unit.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the locking unit includes a mechanical type locking device which is manually unlocked or an electronic type locking device which is unlocked in response to a control signal transmitted from the body unit.

7. An unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a body unit;
a plurality of propeller units configured to be overlappable on the body unit;
a locking unit configured to lock the propeller units and the body unit so that a state in which the propeller units are overlapping on the body unit is maintained; and
propeller unit unfolders, each configured to connect each of the propeller units to the body unit and unfold the propeller units from the body unit so that the propeller units are positioned around the body unit when locking of the locking unit is released,
wherein the body unit includes a first body unit and a second body unit connected to each other so that the first body unit and the second body unit in an overlapping state are unfolded by body unit unfolders.

8. An unfolding propeller unit type unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a plurality of body units configured to be overlappable with each other;
body unit unfolders configured to connect the plurality of the body units and switch the body unit from an overlapping state to an unfolded state;
a plurality of propeller units configured to be overlappable on the body units; and
propeller unit unfolders configured to connect the body units and the propeller units and unfold the propeller units from the body units when the body unit unfolders unfolds.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the body units are connected in series by the body unit unfolders; and
the propeller units are connected to the body units by the propeller unit unfolders in a direction different from a direction in which the body unit unfolders connect the body units.

Assignees

• Korea Aerospace Res Inst

Inventors

• Lee Seon Ho

Classifications

• B64U80/60

  by wearable objects, e.g. garments or helmets · CPC title

• B64U30/293

  Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U50/13

  using external fans or propellers · CPC title

• B64U50/19

  using electrically powered motors · CPC title

• B64U10/13 Primary

  Flying platforms · CPC title