Ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10981672-B2
Application number	US-201615762812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 23, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft, comprising an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft, a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft. The ground station device is designed to be stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft, comprising
an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a lower face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles formed opposite to the plurality of receptacles of the upper face, the plurality of receptacles of the lower face allowing for positioning of upper sections of the plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and
a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft,
wherein the ground station device is stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device.

2. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functionality of the ground station device is provided in a stacked condition.

3. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lower face is configured to secure the plurality of unmanned aircraft in receptacles of another ground station device in the stacked condition.

4. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data interface is connected to each receptacle of the ground station device.

5. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power supply device comprises a power connection and a cable, wherein the power connection is connected to each receptacle via the cable.

6. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ground station device has guides for aligning the ground station device relative to at least one other ground station device in a stacked condition.

7. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to position at least one unmanned aircraft at a predetermined position on the upper face.

8. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to enter into a form-fitting connection to an unmanned aircraft.

9. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ground station device comprises a contactless data interface for providing a data connection between the ground station device and at least one unmanned aircraft.

10. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power supply device is configured to supply power to the unmanned aircraft when there is physical contact between the ground station device and the unmanned aircraft.

11. The ground station device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the power supply device comprises a plurality of spring-loaded contacts for contacting one unmanned aircraft each.

12. The ground station device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power supply device is configured for inductive charging, wherein the power supply device is configured to inductively charge the unmanned aircraft when located on the ground station device.

13. A system comprising a control unit, at least one ground station device comprising:
an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a lower face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles formed opposite to the plurality of receptacles of the upper face, the plurality of receptacles of the lower face allowing for positioning of upper sections of the plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and
a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft,
wherein the ground station device is stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device,
wherein the lower face is configured to secure the plurality of unmanned aircraft in receptacles of the at least one other ground station device, and

at least one unmanned aircraft, wherein the unmanned aircraft is supplied with power by means of the ground station device, and wherein the ground station device is provided a data connection between the control unit and the unmanned aircraft.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the control unit is configured to query a status of the unmanned aircraft via the data connection.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein mission data is loaded from the control unit onto the unmanned aircraft via the data connection.

16. A system comprising at least two ground station devices stacked on top of one another, each ground station comprising:
an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a lower face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles formed opposite to the plurality of receptacles of the upper face, the plurality of receptacles of the lower face allowing for positioning of upper sections of the plurality of unmanned aircraft,
a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and
a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft,
wherein the ground station device is stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device;

at least one unmanned aircraft and a control unit, wherein the unmanned aircraft is arranged between a lower ground station device and an upper ground station device and is secured by means of the receptacles of the lower ground station device and the plurality of receptacles of the upper ground station device, wherein a rechargeable battery of the unmanned aircraft is charged in the secured state, and wherein the ground station device is provided a data connection between the unmanned aircraft and the control unit, by means of which a system status of the unmanned aircraft is queried and data is loaded from the control unit onto the unmanned aircraft.

Assignees

• Intel Deutschland Gmbh

Inventors

• Achtelik Michael
• Doth Klaus
• Gurdan Daniel
• Stumpf Jan
• Luetzenburger Markus
• Oberndorfer Fabian
• Stobbe Martin

Classifications

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title