Autonomous self-stabilizing aerial system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027840-B2
Application number	US-201816108466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

An aerial system includes a body, a propeller coupled to the body, and a motor coupled to the propeller. The motor is configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein an other portion of the aerial system rotates in an opposing second direction. The other portion of the aerial system that rotation in the opposing second direction may be the body or a second propeller. The aerial system also includes a processing system configured to control the motor to cause the aerial system to hover in a substantially fixed pose, and a camera configured to obtain images of an environment proximate the aerial system while the aerial system is hovering.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerial system, comprising:
a body;
a propeller coupled to the body;
a motor coupled to the propeller, the motor configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein the motor is further configured to rotate another portion of the aerial system in an opposing second direction;
a processing system configured to control the motor tocause the aerial system to hover in a substantially fixed pose;
a camera configured to obtain images of an environment proximate the aerial system while the aerial system is hovering; and
a tilt mechanism being controllable by the processing system, the tilt mechanism being disposed inside the body,
wherein the tilt mechanism includes a mass, a motor and a shaft, the mass being coupled to the motor by the shaft and being coupled to the body at a pivot point,
wherein the processing system is configured to rotate the motor to position the mass at a desired location, and
wherein the mass is pivoted to change a center of gravity of the body to tilt the body together with the propeller coupled to the body at a desired angle relative to a center of gravity of the aerial system.

2. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the aerial system further comprises an activation interface coupled to the processing system, the processing system being configured to initiate operation of the aerial system in response to activation of the activation interface.

3. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the propeller includes a plurality of propeller blades, wherein the propeller blades are movable between a folded position and an extended position.

4. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a stationery frame coupled to the body and positioned to surround an outer edge of the propeller.

5. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the other portion of the aerial system is the body.

6. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the activation interface includes a sensor for detecting a rotational force or speed imparted to the body by a user, wherein the activation interface is activated as a function of the detected rotational force or speed.

7. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the activation interface is activated if the detected rotational force or speed exceeds a threshold.

8. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the body is encased in a housing, the housing being cylindrical and extending in a direction away from the propeller, wherein the propeller is mounted at a first end of the housing, the housing tapers inwardly at the first end.

9. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a second end, further comprising at least one camera mounted on the housing at the second end.

10. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a second end, further comprising first and second cameras mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the second end.

11. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a second propeller, wherein the other portion of the aerial system includes the second propeller.

12. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the second propeller is driven by the motor.

13. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising a second motor coupled to the second propeller, wherein the second propeller is driven by the second motor.

14. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 11 , including a first stabilizer coupled to the first propeller and a second stabilizer coupled to the second propeller, wherein the first and second stabilizers rotate with the first and second propellers respectively, and act to reduce torque induced to the body by motion of the respective propeller.

15. The aerial system, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the propeller includes a first plurality of propeller blades and the second propeller includes a second plurality of propeller blades, wherein the first and second plurality of propeller blades are movable between a folded position and an extended position.

Assignees

• Hangzhou Zero Zero Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Lei
• Wang Zhaozhe
• Qian Chenhui
• Li Xiang
• Zhang Tong

Classifications

• B64U10/10

  Rotorcrafts · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U50/32

  generated by fuel cells · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title