Enclosure for an unmanned aerial system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148805-B2
Application number	US-201916378812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2019
Priority date	Apr 10, 2018
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

An enclosure for a UAS includes a housing having a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base, a motive apparatus coupled to the housing, a platform coupled to the motive apparatus, and a plurality of lids pivotably coupled to the sidewalls and the platform. The platform and the plurality of lids move collectively under control of the motive apparatus (e.g., a linear actuator). Driving the motive apparatus in a first direction causes the platform to raise from a stowed position toward a deployed position and causes each of the plurality of lids to pivot from a closed position toward an open position. Conversely, driving the motive apparatus in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the platform to lower from the deployed position toward the stowed position and causes each of the plurality of lids to pivot from the open position toward the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure for an unmanned aerial system (UAS), said enclosure comprising:
a housing defining an interior volume;
an actuator mounted within said interior volume;
a platform coupled to said actuator and configured to move generally vertically within said interior volume under control of said actuator, said platform defining an opening therethrough and a generally uniform gap around a perimeter of said platform between said platform and said housing, said opening and said gap facilitating the passage of air by said platform;
first and second non-metallic lids movable between open and closed positions under control of said actuator, each of said first and said second lids being pivotably coupled between said housing and said platform via a multi-segment linkage;
a plurality of airflow management vents formed in said housing;
a plurality of guides coupled to said platform and being configured to slidably engage respective landing supports of said UAS and to guide each of said landing supports along a plurality of directions into a predetermined position on said platform between an inside apex of said guide and said opening;
a plurality of retainers mounted on an inside surface of each of said first and said second lids, each of said retainers being positioned to urge said UAS toward said platform when said lid is in said closed position;
a power connector coupled to said platform and configured to engage a complementary power connector on said UAS; and wherein
driving said actuator in a first direction raises said platform and opens said first and said second lids;
driving said actuator in a second direction opposite said first direction lowers said platform and closes said first and said second lids;
each of said multi-segment linkages comprises a first segment affixed to said platform and extending generally upward therefrom to define a first connection point, a second segment affixed to a respective one of said first and said second lids and extending away from said respective lid to define a second connection point, and a third segment pivotably coupled between said first connection point and said second connection point; and
said multi-segment linkage of said first lid further comprises a mechanical feature formed in at least one of said first connection point and said second connection point such that said first lid opens slower than said second lid.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein
said housing includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to said base, said base and said plurality of sidewalls defining said interior volume.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said power connector protrudes generally upward from said platform.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein said plurality of guides extend generally vertically from said platform and are configured to passively position said UAS such that said complementary power connector of said UAS is moved into alignment with said power connector coupled to platform.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of guides extends generally vertically from said platform and is configured to passively guide said landing support of said UAS.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein
at least some of said plurality of guides are removably coupled to a top surface of said platform outside of said opening.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein
each of said plurality of retainers is positioned to contact a respective one of a plurality of propellers of said UAS.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bumper coupled to said actuator, said at least one bumper positioned under said platform.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein said at least one bumper moves via said actuator.

10. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias said platform toward a raised position when said platform is in a lowered position.

11. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure controller adapted to interface with said actuator and to selectively drive said actuator in said first and said second directions.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 , further comprising:
a vehicle bracket comprising a base; and wherein
said enclosure is mounted to a first side of said base; and
said enclosure controller is mounted to a second side of said base opposite said enclosure.

Assignees

• Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army

Inventors

• Cooper Neil E
• Paternoster Eric S
• Schrader Jason A
• Bronstetter Gary L

Classifications

• B64U80/70 Primary

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · 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

• B64U60/50

  with landing legs · CPC title

• B64U80/25

  for recharging batteries; for refuelling · CPC title

• B64U10/14

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