Servo, control method, and unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11249491-B2
Application number	US-201916395875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2019
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central part, a frame assembly, and a propulsion assembly mounted to the frame assembly. The UAV also includes a servo mounted to the central part. The servo includes a driving apparatus, a control apparatus operably coupled with the driving apparatus, and a sensor configured to obtain operating parameters of the driving apparatus. The operating parameters include operating positions of the driving apparatus. The control apparatus is configured to control the driving apparatus to rotate to a predetermined position and stay at the predetermined position based on the operating positions of the driving apparatus obtained by the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a central part;
a frame assembly including a linkage assembly and an arm, wherein:
the linkage assembly has a first connecting mechanism connected with the central part, a second connecting mechanism connected with the arm, a transmission mechanism mounted to the central part, and a primary link connected with the transmission mechanism, the first connecting mechanism is disposed at a first end of the linkage assembly, and the second mechanism is disposed at a second end of the linkage assembly opposite to the first end; and

the linkage assembly further comprises two ends connected to the central part and a secondary link of the arm, the secondary link being connected to the arm through a third connecting mechanism having a bent shape.

2. The UAV of claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined position is a position between two limiting positions, and
wherein the two limiting positions are two end positions of the driving apparatus in two opposite rotating directions.

3. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to control operations of the transmission mechanism.

4. The UAV of claim 3 ,
wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a screw-nut structure that comprises a screw and a nut coupled with the screw through threads, and
wherein when the driving apparatus drives the screw to rotate, the nut is configured to axially move along the screw.

5. The UAV of claim 3 , wherein:
the arm is coupled to the linkage assembly at a distal end away from the transmission mechanism, wherein the arm is configured to support the propulsion assembly.

6. The UAV of claim 5 ,
wherein the primary link is configured to rotate relative to the central part under a force output by the transmission mechanism.

7. The UAV of claim 6 ,
wherein an end of the primary link adjacent the central part is pivotably connected with the central part through the first connecting mechanism, and
wherein a side surface of the primary link adjacent the central part is connected with the transmission mechanism through a second connecting mechanism.

8. The UAV of claim 7 , wherein the second connecting mechanism comprises two opposing ends, one of the two opposing ends connected with the transmission mechanism, and the other one of the two opposing ends connected with the side surface of the primary link.

9. The UAV of claim 8 ,
wherein the second connecting mechanism has a substantially Y shape, and
wherein two ends of the Y-shape of the second connecting mechanism are pivotably connected with the side surface of the primary link, the remaining end of the Y-shape of the second connecting mechanism is pivotably connected with the transmission mechanism.

10. The UAV of claim 9 , wherein the transmission mechanism comprises an extended shaft sleeve bracket pivotably connected with the second connecting mechanism.

11. The UAV of claim 9 ,
wherein an end of the primary link distant from the central part is connected with the arm through a substantially T-shaped connecting mechanism, the connecting mechanism comprising a fixing part that is connected with an end of the primary link through a sleeve that extends perpendicularly from the fixing part, the sleeve being mounted on the arm.

12. The UAV of claim 6 ,
wherein the arm is configured to rotate relative to the central part as the primary link rotates, and the secondary link is configured to rotate relative to the central part as the arm rotates.

13. The UAV of claim 12 , wherein an end of the secondary link that is adjacent the central part is pivotably connected with the central part.

14. The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the third connecting mechanism comprises:
a connecting part pivotably connected with an end of the secondary link; and
a sleeve disposed at an end of the connecting part that is distant from the secondary link, the sleeve being configured to mount onto the arm.

15. The UAV of claim 1 , further comprising a cable connecting the electrical connector and the propulsion assembly, the cable being located within the frame assembly.

16. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein a first pivot connection hole is disposed at the first connecting part, and the first connecting part is rotatably connected with the central part through the first pivot connection.

17. The UAV of claim 16 , wherein:
a first shaft sleeve bracket is disposed at the central part, the first shaft sleeve including a first shaft sleeve hole; and
the first connecting part is rotatably connected with the central part through a shaft, rod, or pin inserted into the first pivot connection hole and the first sleeve hole.

18. The UAV of claim 17 , wherein two first shaft sleeve brackets, and the first connecting part are disposed between the first shaft sleeve brackets.

19. The UAV of claim 17 , wherein:
a nut of a transmission mechanism mounted to the central part is fixedly connected with the second shaft sleeve bracket, the second shaft sleeve bracket having a second shaft sleeve bracket hole and the control apparatus being configured to control operations of the transmission mechanism; and
the second connecting part is connected to the nut through a shaft, a rod, or pin inserted into the second shaft sleeve bracket hole and a rotation shaft hole disposed at the main body.

20. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein:
the second connecting part includes a main body part, a first rotation shaft hole and a second rotation shaft hole being disposed at the main body part;
the second connecting part is rotatably connected to an outer side wall of the first fixing part through the first rotation shaft hole; and
the second connecting part is rotatably connected to a transmission mechanism through the second rotation shaft hole, wherein the transmission mechanism is mounted to the central part and the control apparatus is configured to control operations of the transmission mechanism.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Luo Hao
• Ou di
• Chen Chaobing
• Zheng Dayang
• Wang Wentao

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U50/19

  using electrically powered motors · CPC title

• B64U10/14

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

• B64U60/50

  with landing legs · CPC title

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title