Landing platform including positioning arms for engaging an unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780606-B2
Application number	US-201716754809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 16, 2017
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

Example positioning systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a landing platform includes a base having an aperture and multiple positioning arms attached to the base. Each of the multiple positioning arms can rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position. Additionally, each of the multiple positioning arms are configured to engage a positioning ring on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and further configured to reposition the UAV on the base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A landing platform comprising:
a base having an aperture therethrough;
a plurality of positioning arms rotatably attached to the base, wherein each of the plurality of positioning arms can rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein each of the plurality of positioning arms are configured to engage a positioning ring on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and further configured to reposition the UAV on the base; and
a processor configured to:
read an identifier code on the UAV; and
determine a proper orientation of the UAV on the landing platform, wherein determining the proper orientation of the UAV on the landing platform includes determining the proper orientation based on the identifier code.

2. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein the landing platform is configured to reinforce the UAV on the base such that the UAV is properly aligned to load or unload a payload through the aperture or recharge the UAV.

3. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of positioning arms includes a wheel that engages the positioning ring on the UAV.

4. The landing platform of claim 3 , wherein rotation of the wheel on at least one of the positioning arms causes movement of the positioning ring, which reorients the UAV on the base.

5. The landing platform of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of positioning arms includes a continuous rotation servo motor configured to rotate the wheel.

6. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein when the plurality of positioning arms are in the unlocked position vertical movement of the UAV is permitted, and when the plurality of positioning arms are in the locked position vertical movement of the UAV is prevented.

7. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein the landing platform is configured to position the UAV to be centered over the aperture.

8. The landing platform of claim 1 , further comprising a camera attached to the base and configured to read at least one identifier code on the UAV, wherein the identifier code identifies at least one of a type of UAV, settings associated with the UAV, positioning settings associated with the UAV, and orientation settings associated with the UAV.

9. The landing platform of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of positioning arms reposition the UAV on the base based on the identifier code.

10. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein the landing platform is mounted to a delivery vehicle that carries at least one item to be delivered by the UAV.

11. The landing platform of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of positioning arms further includes a stepper motor configured to rotate the positioning arm between the locked position and the unlocked position.

12. A method comprising:
receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a landing platform;
rotating a plurality of positioning arms from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein the plurality of positioning arms engage a positioning ring on the UAV in the locked position;
reading an identifier code on the UAV;
determining a proper orientation of the UAV on the landing platform, wherein determining the proper orientation of the UAV on the landing platform includes determining the proper orientation based on the identifier code; and
rotating a wheel on each of the plurality of positioning arms to adjust the orientation of the UAV to the proper orientation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the UAV is secured to the landing platform when the plurality of positioning arms are in the locked position.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
loading or unloading payload carried by the UAV; and
rotating the plurality of positioning arms from the locked position to the unlocked position to release the UAV from the landing platform.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein rotating the plurality of positioning arms from the unlocked position to the locked position includes activating a stepper motor associated with each of the plurality of positioning arms.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the identifier code identifies at least one of a type of UAV, settings associated with the UAV, positioning settings associated with the UAV, and orientation settings associated with the UAV.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Carthew James
• Ellis Patrick
• Singh Aditya

Classifications

• B64U10/14 Primary

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

• B64U2101/64

  for parcel delivery or retrieval · CPC title

• B64U70/93

  for use on a land or nautical vehicle · CPC title

• B64U70/97

  Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre · CPC title

• B64U70/99

  Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets · CPC title