Landing platform for unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891192-B2
Application number	US-201817262229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2018
Priority date	Jul 23, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A UAV landing platform having movable covers to securely store/maintain/charge a UAV. The UAV may be launched from the landing platform, and the landing platform can have visual indicators to guide the landing of the UAV back onto the landing platform. There can be an optional mechanism to self-adjust/self-level the landing surface such that a UAV can safely land onto the landing platform even when the landing platform is on a traveling vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A landing platform for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be installed onto an object, the landing platform comprising:
a base having a landing surface;
a movable cover coupled to the base to enclose an interior space of the landing platform;
at least three visual indicators coupled to the base;
a plurality of charging contacts disposed on said landing surface to make direct contact with a charging contact of said UAV when said UAV rests on said landing surface;
a movement compensating mechanism coupled to the landing surface to compensate a movement of the landing surface relative to the object, wherein the compensating mechanism provides a freedom of tilting movement along at least one axis relative to the object so as to keep the land surface level irrespective of the object; and
a heater coupled to the base to supply heat into said interior space.

2. The landing platform as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the at least three visual indicators has an attribute that is different from one another; and wherein the three visual indicators includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a colored light, colored marker, distinctively shaped marker.

3. The landing platform as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of charging contacts includes an array of charging plates, wherein the charging plates are arranged in alternating polarities.

4. The landing platform as recited in claim 1 wherein the movement compensating mechanism has at least 3 axes of tilting movement.

5. The landing platform as recited in claim 4 , wherein the movement compensating mechanism has at least 3 axes of movement.

6. The landing platform as recited in claim 1 , wherein the movable cover includes a plurality of pivoting panels, and the landing platform further comprises a wireless transmitter to automatically transfer a data from said UAV.

7. A method of storing, deploying, and maintaining an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:
providing a storage container including:
a base having a landing surface; and
a movable cover coupled to said base capable of enclosing an interior storage space to store a UAV;

placing said UAV within the interior storage space on top of the landing surface;
charging said UAV by providing a plurality of charging contacts on the landing surface and said plurality of charging contacts make physical connection with a part of the UAV to charge the UAV; and
drying the UAV with a heater coupled to the storage container.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising arranging the plurality of charging contacts in an array of charging plates of alternating charges.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising detachably coupling the storage container onto a movable object, said movable object is one selected from a group consisting of a land vehicle, a water craft, an aerial vehicle, a floating station, and a gear attached to an animal.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising providing a movement compensating mechanism to move the landing surface such that the landing surface remains stationary relative to earth regardless of a movement of the moving object.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the movement compensating mechanism includes an inertial measurement unit and a robotic arm.

12. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:
allowing a UAV to recognize at least three visual indicators each has an attribute that is different from others, wherein the three visual indicators includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a colored light, a colored marker, and a distinctively shaped marker; and
automatically and wirelessly download a data from the UAV.

13. An aerial vehicle charging system, the system comprising:
a first plurality of charging contacts disposed on a bottom surface of a landing gear of the aerial vehicle;
a second plurality of charging contacts disposed on a landing surface configured for the aerial vehicle to rest on; and
a dryer coupled to the landing surface configured to dry the aerial vehicle;
wherein the second plurality of charging contacts supply electricity to the aerial vehicle via the first plurality of charging contacts.

14. The aerial vehicle charging system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the second plurality of charging contacts include a group of positive contacts intermixed with a group of negative contacts.

15. The aerial vehicle charging system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a movable cover coupled to the landing surface capable to enclosing the aerial vehicle in an interior space.

16. The aerial vehicle charging system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a movement compensative arm with at least 3 axes configured to automatically move the landing platform to ensure the landing platform is substantially stationary relative to earth.

17. The aerial vehicle charging system as recited in claim 13 further comprising at least three light sources disposed about the landing surface, said at least three light sources each has a distinct color.

Assignees

• Shanghai Autoflight Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tian Yu

Classifications

• B64U70/95

  Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means · CPC title

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B64U50/37

  Charging when not in flight · CPC title

• B64U70/93

  for use on a land or nautical vehicle · CPC title

• B64F1/007 Primary

  Helicopter portable landing pads · CPC title