Unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016122015-A1
Application number	US-201414526790-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles and methods for providing the same are disclosed. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to a support frame. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations with a continuous track for ground propulsion. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to payload clamps.

First claim

1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a frame portion comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly; two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air; and one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground; wherein the third assembly is disposed between the first assembly and the second assembly; and wherein the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly.

2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the third assembly is substantially perpendicular to the first assembly and the second assembly; and wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are substantially parallel to one another.

3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices is coupled to the first assembly; and wherein at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices is coupled to the second assembly.

4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising:
two or more further air propulsion devices arranged on the second assembly; and the third assembly is coupled to the second assembly at a location between two of the further air propulsion devices.

5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3 ,
wherein the first assembly has at least one annular shape and wherein the two or more air propulsion devices are disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly; and wherein the second assembly has at least one annular shape and wherein the two or more further air propulsion devices are disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the second assembly.

6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the first assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the at least one annular shape of the first assembly; and wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the second assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the at least one annular shape of the second assembly.

7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6 ,
wherein the first assembly is formed in at least a second annular shape on at least the first plane; and wherein the second assembly is formed in at least a second annular shape on at least the second plane.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one annular shape of the first assembly and the at least one annular shape of the second assembly are configured to receive a battery inserted through an opening of the respective annular shape of the first assembly and the annular shape of the second assembly.

11 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the first assembly is attachable to and detachable from the third assembly; and wherein the second assembly is attachable to and detachable from the third assembly.

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the first assembly is formed as a double wall structure; wherein the second assembly is formed as a double wall structure; wherein the first assembly supports wheels of at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices between two walls of the double wall structure of the first assembly; and wherein the second assembly supports wheels of at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices between two walls of the double wall structure of the second assembly.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein component pieces of the frame assembly are from a single sheet of a rigid source material; and wherein the rigid source material is printed circuit board.

20 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 19 ,
wherein one or more of the component pieces of the frame assembly include conductive tracks printed on the pieces; and wherein the conductive tracks provide an electrical connection between at least one of the air propulsion devices and a controller provided as part of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

21 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3 ,
wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the first assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the first assembly; and wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the second assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the second assembly.

22 . A method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
providing a frame portion that comprises a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly; providing one or more air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air; and providing two or more ground propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground; wherein the third assembly is disposed between and coupled to the first assembly and the second assembly, and wherein the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly.

23 . (canceled)

24 . The method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 22 ,
wherein at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices is coupled to the first assembly; wherein at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices is coupled to the second assembly; wherein the first assembly is formed in at least one annular shape on at least a first plane; and wherein the second assembly is formed in at least one annular shape on at least a first plane.

25 . The method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 24 ,
wherein at least one of the air propulsion devices is disposed in an opening of the at least a second annular shape of the first assembly; and wherein at least one of the air propulsion devices is disposed in an opening of the at least a second annular shape of the second assembly.

26 . The method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23 ,
wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the first assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the first assembly; and wherein the at least one of the one or more ground propulsion devices coupled to the second assembly comprises a continuous track disposed around the second assembly.

27 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
frame means comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly; air propulsion means for propelling the frame means through the air; and ground propulsion means for propelling the frame means along the grounds; wherein the third assembly is disposed between and coupled to the first assembly and the second assembly; wherein at least one of the air propulsion means is coupled to the first assembly; and wherein at least one of the air propulsion means is coupled to the second assembly.

28 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the t

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Hutson Donald Bolden

Classifications

• B64U50/14 Primary

  ducted or shrouded · CPC title

• B64C39/024 Primary

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C2201/108

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C2201/162

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60F5/02

  convertible into aircraft (convertible aircraft B64C37/00; convertible unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]-type aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles, B64U10/70) · CPC title