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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021266-B2
Application number	US-201615040940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system includes a UAV pod having a UAV pod processor and a UAV selectively enclosed in the UAV pod, the UAV having only two rotors.

First claim

We claim:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:
a UAV pod processor;
a proximity sensor coupled to a UAV pod, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect the presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
a UAV pod transceiver in communication with the UAV pod processor, the UAV pod processor configured to:
enable a no-go flight decision based on the detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
enabling a go flight decision based on no detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
monitor a winged two-rotor UAV trajectory, wherein the wings provide a primary source of lift during horizontal flight of a UAV;
compare the monitored UAV trajectory to mission instructions for the UAV, wherein the mission instructions comprise a UAV trajectory;
provide navigation instructions to the UAV processor for correction of the UAV trajectory to the provided mission instructions in response to the compared monitored UAV trajectory and mission instructions, wherein the provided mission instructions are not modified;
provide navigation instructions to the UAV processor to fly the UAV to a predetermined data offloading waypoint to provide a transfer of geographic survey data based on the provided mission instructions;
monitor a UAV battery status; and

a UAV pod memory in communication with the UAV pod processor, the UAV pod memory storing a plurality of UAV missions that collectively provide the geographic survey data of an area.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV pod processor is configured to monitor for overhead obstacles using a proximity sensor in communication with the UAV pod processor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV pod processor is configured to monitor the weather using a weather sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a long-range UAV pod transceiver coupled to the UAV pod and in communication with the UAV pod processor.

5. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:
a UAV pod having a UAV pod processor and short-range UAV pod transceiver;
a proximity sensor coupled to the UAV pod, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect the presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod, when an object is present, wherein the UAV pod processor enables a no-go flight decision based on the detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod, and wherein the UAV pod processor enables a go flight decision based on no detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
a winged vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) two-rotor UAV capable of being enclosed in the UAV pod, the two-rotor UAV having a UAV processor and a UAV transceiver, the UAV processor in communication with the UAV pod processor through the short-range UAV pod transceiver and the UAV transceiver, wherein the wings provide a primary source of lift during horizontal flight of the UAV; and
wherein the UAV pod processor is configured to:
provide mission instructions to the UAV processor, wherein the mission instructions comprise a UAV trajectory;
monitor the UAV trajectory;
compare the provided mission instructions to the monitored UAV trajectory;
provide navigation instructions to the UAV processor for correction of the UAV trajectory to the provided mission instructions in response to the compared mission instructions and UAV trajectory, wherein the provided mission instructions are not modified; and
provide navigation instructions to the UAV processor to fly the UAV to a predetermined data offloading waypoint to provide a transfer of geographic survey data based on the provided mission instructions.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the UAV pod processor is further configured to provide reroute instructions to the two-rotor UAV.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the rerouting instructions include instructions to return to the UAV pod for landing.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a weather sensor in communication with the UAV pod processor; and
a UAV pod memory in communication with the UAV pod processor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the UAV pod memory is portable memory.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a long-range UAV pod transceiver coupled to the UAV pod and in communication with the UAV pod processor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the UAV pod processor is further configured to monitor UAV pod external environmental conditions in response to information received from the weather sensor.

12. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a UAV pod cover operable to open and close.

13. A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch and control, comprising:
transmitting one of a plurality of mission instructions to a winged two-rotor UAV, wherein the transmitted mission instructions comprises a UAV trajectory, wherein the two-rotor UAV comprises a UAV processor, and wherein the wings provide a primary source of lift during horizontal flight of the UAV;
detecting a presence of an object positioned over a UAV pod by a proximity sensor coupled to the UAV pod wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect the presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod, when an object is present;
enabling a no-go flight decision from a UAV pod processor based on the detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
enabling a go flight decision from the UAV pod processor based on no detected presence of an object positioned over the UAV pod;
launching the two-rotor UAV from the UAV pod if the go flight decision is enabled by the UAV pod processor;
monitoring the UAV trajectory of the two-rotor UAV using a transceiver in communication with a processor;
comparing the transmitted mission instructions to the monitored trajectory of the UAV with the processor;
providing navigation instructions to the UAV processor with the transceiver for correction of the UAV trajectory to the transmitted mission instructions in response to the compared mission instructions and UAV trajectory, wherein the provided mission instructions are not modified; and
providing navigation instructions to the UAV processor to fly the UAV to a predetermined data offloading waypoint to provide a transfer of geographic survey data based on the provided mission instructions.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
downloading geographic survey data from the two-rotor UAV to a memory in communication with the UAV processor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the memory comprises portable memory detachably connected.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
monitoring a battery status of the two-rotor UAV during flight; and
providing re-routing instructions to the two-rotor UAV from the processor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of providing re-routing instructions is performed in response to receipt of UAV battery status data in the processor.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the providing re-routing instructions includes UAV instructions to land.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
landing the two-rotor UAV in the UAV pod;
closing a UAV pod protective cover over the two-rotor UAV;
downloading geographic survey data from the two-rotor UAV to a UAV pod memory in communication with the UAV processor;
transmitting another one of a plurality of missions instructions to the two-rotor UAV seated in the UAV pod;
opening the protective cover; and
launching the two-rotor UAV out of the UAV pod.

20. Th

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B64U80/70

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

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

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• G05D1/226

  Communication links with the remote-control arrangements · CPC title