Method of navigating an amphibious aerial vehicle on water

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623746-B2
Application number	US-202217751706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	Feb 20, 2019
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A method of navigating an UAV over water with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) function. The UAV having a plurality of lift propellers; a cabin engaged with a plurality of lift propellers; a water propulsion system engaged with the cabin to push the cabin in a forward direction when the cabin is at least partially immersed in water; at least one water inlet engaged with the water propulsion system; the cabin is a cargo hold or a passenger cabin. The UAV provided by the disclosure can realize vertical takeoff and landing in the water area, and fly, drive and navigate freely in the whole area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of navigating a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) on water, which is characterized by comprising:
providing a UVA having
a) a plurality of lift propellers;
b) a cabin engaged with said plurality of lift propellers;
c) a water propulsion system engaged with the cabin to push the cabin in a forward direction when the cabin is at least partially immersed in water;
d) at least one water inlet engaged with the water propulsion system;
wherein the water propulsion system includes a motor, a water propeller and a cylinder;
wherein the cylinder is fixedly connected to the cabin; the cylinder is provided with an open end and a blocking end; the cylinder has an axis and said axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cabin; and the open end of the cylinder faces a rear end of the UAV; the water inlet is positioned on a side wall of the cylinder;
wherein the motor is positioned inside the cylinder, and a body of the motor is fixedly connected with an inner wall of the cylinder;
wherein the water propeller is positioned inside the cylinder and close to the open end of the cylinder, and the water propeller is connected with an output shaft of the motor; and
turning the water propeller while the UAV is floating on water to move the UAV in a forward direction.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of lift propellers are arranged on a pair of linear supports.

3. The UAV according to claim 2 further providing a pair of main wings coupled to the pair of linear supports.

4. The UAV according to claim 2 further providing a floatation device coupled to the cabin.

5. The UAV according to claim 4 further providing a first energy storage unit arranged in the cabin, and is configured to supply energy to the water propulsion system.

6. The UAV according to claim 5 further providing at least one electrically-driven wheel coupled to the cabin.

7. The UAV according to claim 5 further providing at least one electrically-driven wheel coupled to the flight platform.

Assignees

• Shanghai Autoflight Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tian Yu

Classifications

• B64C37/02 Primary

  Flying units formed by separate aircraft (towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00) · CPC title

• B64C29/0025 Primary

  the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage · CPC title

• B64U60/40

  foldable or retractable · CPC title

• B64U50/13

  using external fans or propellers · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title