Unmanned aerial vehicle with package carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11643203-B2
Application number	US-201816649988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2018
Priority date	Dec 27, 2018
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle, including: a propelling device configured to generate a downward airstream; a package carrier; and wheels arranged so as to allow the package carrier to stand alone. The package carrier includes: vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to prevent falling of the package; support members configured to support a load of the package at positions; and a coupling device configured to hold vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement. The support members are each fixed to a corresponding one of the vertical members. The wheels are each mounted to the corresponding one of the vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the vertical members under a state in which the wheels are on the ground. Through the relative horizontal movement of the vertical members, the package is separable from the support members.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a propelling device;
a package carrier; and
a plurality of wheels configured to act as landing gear;
wherein the package carrier includes:
a plurality of vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to retain the package relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a plurality of support members configured to support a load of the package at a plurality of positions; and
an actuator configured to slidably couple the plurality of vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement so that each of the plurality of vertical members is movable only along a corresponding one direction, and

wherein each of the plurality of wheels is rotatable only in the direction in which the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members is movable;
wherein each of the plurality of support members is fixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members;
wherein each of the plurality of wheels is mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members under a state in which the plurality of wheels are on the ground; and
wherein, through the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members, the package is separable from the plurality of support members.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of vertical members are grouped into a plurality of different groups on a basis of the direction for movement, and
wherein the plurality of wheels are grouped into a plurality of different groups on a basis of the direction for rotation.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein two or more of the plurality of wheels are mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the propelling device includes rotary wings.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a damper interposed between each of the plurality of wheels and the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members.

6. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a propelling device;
a package carrier; and
a plurality of wheels configured to act as landing gear;
wherein the package carrier includes:
a plurality of vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to retain the package relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a plurality of support members configured to support a load of the package at a plurality of positions; and
an actuator configured to slidably couple the plurality of vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement;

wherein each of the plurality of support members is fixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members;
wherein each of the plurality of wheels is mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members under a state in which the plurality of wheels are on the ground; and
wherein, through the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members, the package is separable from the plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of vertical members include a vertical member having none of the plurality of support members fixed thereto.

7. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a propelling device;
a package carrier; and
a plurality of wheels configured to act as landing gear;
wherein the package carrier includes:
a plurality of vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to retain the package relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a plurality of support members configured to support a load of the package at a plurality of positions; and
an actuator configured to slidably couple the plurality of vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement;

wherein each of the plurality of support members is fixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members;
wherein each of the plurality of wheels is mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members under a state in which the plurality of wheels are on the ground; and
wherein, through the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members, the package is separable from the plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of vertical members include a vertical member having none of the plurality of wheels mounted thereto.

8. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a propelling device;
a package carrier; and
a plurality of wheels configured to act as landing gear;
wherein the package carrier includes:
a plurality of vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to retain the package relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a plurality of support members configured to support a load of the package at a plurality of positions; and
an actuator configured to slidably couple the plurality of vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement;

wherein each of the plurality of support members is fixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members;
wherein each of the plurality of wheels is mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members under a state in which the plurality of wheels are on the ground; and
wherein, through the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members, the package is separable from the plurality of support members,
wherein the plurality of vertical members include a vertical member configured to support no load, and
wherein the vertical member configured to support no load is held by the actuator so that the vertical member can be inclined toward an inner side of a space surrounded by the plurality of vertical members but is prevented from being inclined toward an outer side of the space.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a propelling device;
a package carrier; and
a plurality of wheels configured to act as landing gear;
wherein the package carrier includes:
a plurality of vertical members which surround a package in a horizontal direction to retain the package relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a plurality of support members configured to support a load of the package at a plurality of positions; and
an actuator configured to slidably couple the plurality of vertical members so as to enable relative horizontal movement;

wherein each of the plurality of support members is fixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members;
wherein each of the plurality of wheels is mounted to the corresponding one of the plurality of vertical members, and enable the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members under a state in which the plurality of wheels are on the ground; and
wherein, through the relative horizontal movement of the plurality of vertical members, the package is separable from the plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of wheels are arranged on an outer side of a region surrounded by the plurality of support members.

Assignees

• Rakuten Group Inc

Inventors

• LEE Kenichi

Classifications

• B64U60/60

  with rolling cages · CPC title

• B64U2101/64

  for parcel delivery or retrieval · CPC title

• B64D1/14

  Absorbing landing shocks · CPC title

• B64D1/22

  Taking-up articles from earth's surface · CPC title

• B64D1/10

  Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft · CPC title