Pod cover system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850866-B2
Application number	US-201615041758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system includes a UAV pod having an open position and a closed position, the closed position establishing an interior that is weather resistant to an environment external to the UAV pod and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod so that the UAV pod in the closed position provides a weather resistant interior for the VTOL UAV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of migrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations between geographic survey areas, comprising:
launching, by a UAV from a first location, the UAV having a portable UAV pod, wherein the portable UAV pod is attached to the UAV at launch;
flying, by the UAV, the UAV having the portable UAV pod to a second location;
landing, by the UAV, the UAV having the portable UAV pod at the second location;
detaching the UAV from the portable UAV pod; and
launching the UAV from the portable UAV pod at the second location.

2. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the portable UAV pod folds up during flight of the UAV and unfolds prior to landing.

3. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the portable UAV pod does not have doors to enclose the UAV.

4. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 further comprising:
charging the UAV by the portable UAV pod.

5. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein landing the UAV having the portable UAV pod at the second location further comprises:
positioning, by the UAV, the portable UAV pod at the second location.

6. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the second location is on an island.

7. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the second location is on top of a mountain.

8. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the second location is an otherwise effectively inaccessible location.

9. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the portable UAV pod is physically attached to the UAV at launch.

10. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein launching the UAV comprises a vertical takeoff of the UAV.

11. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the UAV is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV.

12. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 wherein the portable UAV pod comprises one or more folding portions.

13. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 12 wherein the one or more folding portions comprise solar panels.

14. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 13 further comprising:
charging, by the solar panels, a UAV pod battery.

15. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 12 further comprising:
folding up the one or more folding portions during flight of the UAV.

16. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 12 further comprising:
unfolding the one or more folding portions prior to landing of the UAV.

17. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 14 further comprising:
charging, by the UAV pod battery, the UAV.

18. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 1 further comprising:
landing, by the UAV, the UAV at a fixed UAV pod at a third location.

19. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 18 further comprising:
enclosing, by the fixed UAV pod, the UAV within the fixed UAV pod.

20. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 18 further comprising:
transmitting data between the fixed UAV pod and the UAV.

21. The method of migrating UAV operations between geographic survey areas of claim 18 further comprising:
charging the UAV by the fixed UAV pod.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Mukherjee Jason Sidharthadev
• Lott William Arden

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U80/30

  with arrangements for data transmission · CPC title

• B64U80/25

  for recharging batteries; for refuelling · CPC title

• B64U70/92

  Portable platforms · CPC title

• B64U10/20

  Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17) · CPC title