Shock absorbable flying device, method of flying the same, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11042166-B2
Application number	US-201816135706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A flying device includes a propulsion unit, a restrictor and a releaser. The propulsion unit flies the flying device in air. The restrictor restricts the propulsion unit in an open state from rotating more than a predetermined angle during flight of the flying device, the propulsion unit in the open state being rotated from a closed state by the predetermined angle. The releaser releases a restriction by the restrictor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flying device comprising:
a propulsion unit which flies the flying device in air; and
a restrictor which (i) restricts the propulsion unit in an open state from rotating more than a predetermined angle during flight of the flying device, the propulsion unit in the open state being rotated from a closed state by the predetermined angle and (ii) releases a restriction on the propulsion unit.

2. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein the restrictor releases the restriction when or before the propulsion unit receives an external force greater than or equal to a threshold value that causes the propulsion unit to rotate more than the predetermined angle in a case in which the propulsion unit is restricted by the restrictor.

3. The flying device according to claim 2 , wherein
the propulsion unit comprises a plurality of rotors,
the flying device further comprises a detector which detects a rotor receiving the external force greater than or equal to the threshold value among the plurality of rotors of the propulsion unit, and
the restrictor releases the restriction of the rotor detected by the detector.

4. The flying device according to claim 2 , wherein,
the propulsion unit comprises a plurality of rotors,
the threshold value equals a magnitude of lift generated by the rotation of the rotors, and
the external force equals the force generated by a collision of the propulsion unit with an object after a fall of the flying device with the propulsion unit in the open state.

5. The flying device according to claim 4 , wherein the object comprises ground.

6. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein the restrictor releases the restriction in a case in which the flying device in the air falls.

7. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein,
the propulsion unit comprises a plurality of rotors,
the propulsion unit rotates the rotors to generate lift and changes the rotors from the closed state to the open state when a user launches the flying device into the air, and
the propulsion unit stops rotation of the rotors and changes the rotors from the open state to the closed state in order to stop the flight of the flying device.

8. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein,
the restrictor comprises a restricting member and restricts the propulsion unit from rotating more than the predetermined angle by shifting the restricting member from a first position to a second position and engaging the restricting member with the propulsion unit, and
the restrictor releases the restriction by shifting the restricting member from the second position to the first position to disengage the restricting member from the propulsion unit and to allow the propulsion unit to rotate more than the predetermined angle.

9. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein,
the propulsion unit comprises a plurality of rotors, and
the propulsion unit changes the rotors to the open state and flies the flying device at a predetermined altitude from a reference plane.

10. The flying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an image capturing unit which captures images,
the image capturing unit comprising a camera system comprising a camera.

11. The flying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flight sensor which measures a position, an altitude, or a tilt of the flying device, wherein
the flight sensor which measures the position of the flying device comprises a GPS sensor,
the flight sensor which measures the altitude of the flying device comprises an ultrasonic sensor or a laser sensor, and
the flight sensor which measures the tilt of the flying device comprises a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor.

12. The flying device according to claim 11 , wherein,
the propulsion unit comprises a plurality of rotors, and
in a case in which the tilt is continuously detected in a certain direction for a predetermined time by the gyro sensor or the acceleration sensor, the detector detects a rotor in the direction of the tilt among the rotors as the rotor receiving the external force greater than or equal to the threshold value.

13. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein the restrictor comprise an actuator.

14. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case in which the restrictor restricts the propulsion unit, the restrictor releases the restriction and changes the propulsion unit to the closed state just before receiving the external force.

15. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein the flying device has a spherical shape in a case in which the propulsion unit is in the closed state.

16. The flying device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is 90 degrees.

17. A method of flying a flying device comprising a propulsion unit, the method comprising steps of:
restricting the propulsion unit in an open state from rotating more than a predetermined angle during flight of the flying device, the propulsion unit in the open state being rotated from a closed state by the predetermined angle; and
releasing a restriction.

18. A recording medium which stores a program executed to instruct a computer of a flying device comprising a propulsion unit, to control:
a restrictor which (i) restricts the propulsion unit in an open state from rotating more than a predetermined angle during flight of the flying device, the propulsion unit in the open state being rotated from a closed state by the predetermined angle and (ii) releases a restriction on the propulsion unit.

Assignees

• Casio Computer Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohta Masanori

Classifications

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

• B64U20/30

  for safety, e.g. with frangible components (rotor guards B64U30/299) · CPC title

• B64U30/293

  Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U50/30

  Supply or distribution of electrical power · CPC title