Control method of aero wind power generation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338801-B2
Application number	US-202217980326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2022
Priority date	Feb 4, 2022
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A method of controlling an aero wind power generation device, includes take-off preparation process of preparing for take-off of the aero wind power generation device; a gas injection process of injecting gas into a buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation device; a take-off process of taking off the aero wind power generation device using a drone unit and the buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation device; and a charging process of charging a battery connected to the aero wind power generation device using the aero wind power generation device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling an aero wind power generation apparatus, the method comprising:
preparing for take-off of the aero wind power generation apparatus;
injecting gas into a buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus;
taking off the aero wind power generation apparatus using a drone unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus and the buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus; and
charging a battery of the aero wind power generation apparatus using the aero wind power generation apparatus,
wherein the aero wind power generation apparatus comprises:
the buoyancy generation unit connected to the drone unit and including a side cover configured to open or close and a balloon provided inside the side cover, wherein the buoyancy generation unit is configured to enable injection of the gas into or release of the gas from the balloon; and
a power generation unit connected to the buoyancy generation unit and including:
a rotating unit with a plurality of blades;
a blade control unit configured for adjusting a state of the blades; and

a motor unit engaged to the rotating unit and configured for converting kinetic energy transferred from the rotating unit into electrical energy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparing for take-off of the aero wind power generation apparatus includes:
unlocking the aero wind power generation apparatus and moving the aero wind power generation apparatus to a preset position; and
spreading drone wings of the drone unit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the moving of the aero wind power generation apparatus to the preset position includes operating a winch of a cable of the aero wind power generation apparatus and controlling a piston configured to move the aero wind power generation apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the gas is helium gas, and
wherein the injecting of the gas into the buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus includes:
opening the side cover of the buoyancy generation unit; and
injecting the helium gas into the balloon of the buoyancy generation unit.

5. The method of claim 4 ,
wherein the injecting of the gas into the buoyancy generation unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus further includes:
determining buoyancy of the balloon into which the helium gas is injected; and
determining whether the buoyancy of the balloon is greater than a preset buoyancy.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging of the battery includes:
moving the aero wind power generation apparatus to a preset altitude; and
operating the blades of the aero wind power generation apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the moving of the aero wind power generation apparatus to the preset altitude includes operating the drone unit, and determining a relative distance with a housing of the aero wind power generation apparatus using an ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the operating of the blades of the aero wind power generation apparatus includes adjusting one or more of heights, surface areas, and angles of the blades and distances between the blades.

9. A method of controlling an aero wind power generation apparatus, the method comprising:
detecting information for control of the aero wind power generation apparatus;
determining, by a controller, whether tension of a cable of the aero wind power generation apparatus is higher than a preset tension value; and
moving, by the controller, the aero wind power generation apparatus when the controller concludes that the tension is higher than the preset tension value,
wherein the aero wind power generation apparatus comprises:
a buoyancy generation unit connected to a drone unit and including a side cover configured to open or close and a balloon provided inside the side cover, wherein the buoyancy generation unit is configured to enable injection of gas into or release of the gas from the balloon; and
a power generation unit connected to the buoyancy generation unit and including:
a rotating unit with a plurality of blades;
a blade control unit configured for adjusting a state of the blades; and

a motor unit engaged to the rotating unit and configured for converting kinetic energy transferred from the rotating unit into electrical energy.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the detecting of the information for control of the aero wind power generation apparatus includes detecting data of a sensor unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus, and information on at least one of a charging amount of a battery of the aero wind power generation apparatus and an amount of energy production of the aero wind power generation apparatus.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the moving of the aero wind power generation apparatus includes detecting a surrounding object of the aero wind power generation apparatus and determining a relative distance between the aero wind power generation apparatus and the surrounding object.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the moving of the aero wind power generation apparatus further includes moving the aero wind power generation apparatus within a range in which the tension is smaller than the preset tension value when the controller concludes that the relative distance is shorter than a preset distance.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including determining, by the controller, whether buoyancy of the aero wind power generation apparatus is lower than a preset buoyancy value.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including landing the aero wind power generation apparatus when the controller concludes that the buoyancy is lower than the preset buoyancy value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the landing of the aero wind power generation apparatus further includes using the drone unit of the aero wind power generation apparatus and a winch of a cable of the aero wind power generation apparatus.

16. A method of controlling an aero wind power generation apparatus, the method comprising:
determining whether the aero wind power generation apparatus has landed;
preparing the aero wind power generation apparatus to land on a housing; and
landing the aero wind power generation apparatus on the housing,
wherein the aero wind power generation apparatus comprises:
a buoyancy generation unit connected to a drone unit and including a side cover configured to open or close and a balloon provided inside the side cover, wherein the buoyancy generation unit is configured to enable injection of gas into or release of the gas from the balloon; and
a power generation unit connected to the buoyancy generation unit and including:
a rotating unit with a plurality of blades;
a blade control unit configured for adjusting a state of the blades; and

a motor unit engaged to the rotating unit and configured for converting kinetic energy transferred from the rotating unit into electrical energy.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the aero wind power generation apparatus has landed includes concluding that the aero wind power generation apparatus is to be landed when at least one of a first condition in which a battery of the aero wind power generation apparatus is fully charged and a second condition in which the aero wind power generation apparatus receives a landing command of a driver is satisfied.

18. The method of claim 16 ,
wherein the gas is helium gas, and
wherein the preparing of the aero wind power generation apparatus to l

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Choi Jung Hun
• Ha Dong Hyun
• Jung Jae Wung

Classifications

• B64D27/24

  using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title

• G05D2105/57

  for producing or harvesting energy · CPC title

• G05D1/678

  for tethered vehicles (positioning towed, pushed or suspended implements G05D1/672) · CPC title

• G05D1/661

  Docking at a base station (delivering or retrieving payloads G05D1/667) · CPC title

• F03D9/322 Primary

  the wind motors being supported in air by airborne structures, e.g. by kites (controlling thereof F03D7/051) · CPC title