Storage system for flying object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370560-B2
Application number	US-201816140619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2018
Priority date	Oct 5, 2017
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

A storage system for a flying object is equipped with a landing portion having a landing surface on which the flying object can land, and a storage main body for storing the flying object that has landed on the landing surface. The storage main body includes opening and closing portions that cover the landing surface. The storage system is further equipped with retaining mechanisms adapted to retain the flying object in a state of having landed on the landing surface from a direction perpendicular to the landing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage system for a flying object, comprising:
a landing portion having a landing surface on which the flying object is capable of landing;
a storage main body adapted to store the flying object that has landed on the landing surface, the storage main body including an opening and closing portion adapted to cover and enclose the landing surface;
a retaining mechanism mounted on the storage main body and adapted to retain the flying object in a state of having landed on the landing surface from a direction perpendicular to the landing surface,
a horizontal support unit including actuators adapted to support the storage main body in a manner so that a horizontal angle of the landing surface can be adjusted, and
a horizontal control unit adapted to control the actuators so that a horizontal angle of the landing surface falls within a predetermined angular range.

2. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism includes a pressing member adapted to press the flying object that has landed on the landing surface in a direction toward the landing surface.

3. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism includes an elevating mechanism capable of raising and lowering the landing portion.

4. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal sensor adapted to detect a horizontal angle of the landing surface.

5. A storage system for a flying object, comprising:
a landing portion having a landing surface on which the flying object is capable of landing; and
a storage main body adapted to store the flying object that has landed on the landing surface,
wherein the storage main body includes an opening and closing portion adapted to cover the landing surface; and
the storage system further comprises
a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the flying object in a state of having landed on the landing surface from a direction perpendicular to the landing surface,
a horizontal sensor adapted to detect a horizontal angle of the landing surface, and
an opening and closing control unit which, when the flying object lands on the landing surface, in the case that the horizontal angle detected by the horizontal sensor lies within a predetermined angular range, is adapted to control the opening and closing portion so as to open, whereas in the case that the horizontal angle does not lie within the predetermined angular range, is adapted to control the opening and closing portion so as to close.

6. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining control unit adapted to control the retaining mechanism in a manner so that the flying object that has landed on the landing surface is retained in a state with the opening and closing portion closed.

7. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , further comprising a charging unit adapted to charge the flying object that has landed on the landing surface.

8. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 7 , the charging unit comprising:
a first electrode that constitutes the landing portion; and
a second electrode provided on the retaining mechanism;
wherein, in a state in which the flying object is retained by the retaining mechanism, a first charging terminal of the flying object is electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second charging terminal of the flying object is electrically connected to the second electrode.

9. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 1 , further comprising a traveling mechanism that enables the storage system to move.

10. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 8 , wherein:
the retaining mechanism includes a pressing member adapted to press the flying object that has landed on the landing surface in a direction toward the landing surface; and
the second electrode is provided on the pressing member.

11. The storage system for a flying object according to claim 2 , wherein the retaining mechanism includes a displacement mechanism provided on the opening and closing portion and adapted to displace the pressing member in a direction perpendicular to the landing surface.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nishikawa Shosei
• Ishitsuka Yuji
• Kita Akinori
• Ishihara Yuya
• Muraoka Koji

Classifications

• B64F1/228 Primary

  remotely controlled; operating autonomously · CPC title

• B64U80/70 Primary

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

• B64U50/37

  Charging when not in flight · CPC title

• B64U80/86

  Land vehicles · CPC title

• B64F1/007

  Helicopter portable landing pads · CPC title