Modular vehicle lift system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457899-B2
Application number	US-201313925305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2013
Priority date	Jun 24, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods provide for a modular vehicle system utilized for lifting and maneuvering payloads. According to aspects of the disclosure, any number of individual lift vehicles may be connected to create a unified lift vehicle. The individual lift vehicles may be placed adjacent to one another according to a determined lifting array formation and coupled together using connection mechanisms. The connection mechanisms rigidly and communicatively connect the individual lift vehicles to create the unified lift vehicle suitable for lifting and maneuvering a payload.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A unified lift vehicle for maneuvering a payload, comprising:
a plurality of individual lift vehicles, each individual lift vehicle operative to perform controlled three-axis flight separately from other individual lift vehicles; and
a plurality of connection mechanisms rigidly and communicatively connecting the plurality of individual lift vehicles in a lifting array formation to create the unified lift vehicle operative to perform three-axis flight, each connection mechanism comprising either a wall-positioned connector configured to mate with an outer surface of a connector junction of an individual lift vehicle or an end connector configured to mate with an end of the connector junction of the individual lift vehicle.

2. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operative to receive control data from a remote control device and to control an individual lift vehicle according to the control data.

3. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each individual lift vehicle comprises:
four drive units rigidly coupled to one another to create a four-rotor configuration, each drive unit comprising a motor and a rotor coupled to the motor, wherein each individual lift vehicle comprises only four drive units such that four rotors provide all thrust for the individual lift vehicle;
a power source coupled to the four drive units; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the four drive units and operative to
receive control data, and
to control each of the four drive units according to the control data.

4. The unified lift vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the four drive units are rigidly coupled to one another in a 2×2 configuration via a frame extending outward from a hub centrally located within the individual lift vehicle between the four drive units.

5. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a speed controller communicatively coupled to each motor and to the controller and operative to receive control data from the controller and alter the speed of the motor according to the control data.

6. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a control and sensor suite operative to autonomously control the unified lift vehicle and a payload along a flight route via at least one waypoint.

7. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit communicatively coupling the plurality of individual lift vehicles via the plurality of connection mechanisms.

8. The unified lift vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each connection mechanism comprises a top half and a bottom half that are identical and interchangeable.

9. The unified lift vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each connection mechanism comprises a plurality of connection apertures defined by the top half and the bottom half when joined together, each connection aperture sized and shaped to receive the connector junction of one individual lift vehicle.

10. The unified lift vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the top half and the bottom half each comprise a signal transfer line extending between the plurality of connection apertures and configured to transfer electrical or data signals between adjacent individual lift vehicles.

11. The unified lift vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the top half and the bottom half each comprise the wall-positioned connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector at the outer surface of the connector junction of the individual lift vehicle and to communicatively couple the signal transfer line to a distribution line of the individual lift vehicle.

12. The unified lift vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the top half and the bottom half each comprise the end connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector at the end of the connector junction of the individual lift vehicle and to communicatively couple the signal transfer line to a distribution line of the individual lift vehicle.

13. The unified lift vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of connection mechanisms comprise a plurality of edge connectors and a central connector, wherein each edge connector is configured to rigidly and communicatively connect two adjacent individual lift vehicles and wherein the central connector is configured to rigidly and communicatively connect more than two adjacent individual lift vehicles.

14. A modular vehicle lift system, comprising:
a plurality of individual lift vehicles positioned adjacent to one another according to a lifting array formation, each individual lift vehicle operative to perform controlled three-axis flight separately from other individual lift vehicles and comprising:
four drive units rigidly coupled to one another to create a four-rotor configuration, each drive unit comprising a motor and a rotor coupled to the motor, wherein each individual lift vehicle comprises only four drive units such that the four drive units provide all thrust for the individual lift vehicle, and
a controller communicatively coupled to the four drive units and operative to receive control data from a remote control device and to control each of the four drive units according to the control data;

a plurality of connection mechanisms rigidly and communicatively connecting the plurality of individual lift vehicles in the lifting array formation to create a unified lift vehicle operative to perform three-axis flight, each connection mechanism comprising either a wall-positioned connector configured to mate with an outer surface of a connector junction of an individual lift vehicle or an end connector configured to mate with an end of the connector junction of the individual lift vehicle; and
the remote control device operative to provide the control data to the controller of each individual lift vehicle and control the unified lift vehicle in three-axis flight.

15. The modular vehicle lift system of claim 14 , wherein each connection mechanism comprises a top half and a bottom half that are identical and interchangeable.

16. The modular vehicle lift system of claim 15 , wherein the top half and the bottom half each comprise a signal transfer line extending between the plurality of connection apertures and configured to transfer electrical or data signals between adjacent individual lift vehicles.

17. The modular vehicle lift system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of connection mechanisms comprise a plurality of edge connectors and a central connector, wherein each edge connector is configured to rigidly and communicatively connect two adjacent individual lift vehicles and wherein the central connector is configured to rigidly and communicatively connect more than two adjacent individual lift vehicles.

18. A method for maneuvering a payload utilizing a modular vehicle lift system, the method comprising:
rigidly and communicatively coupling a plurality of individual lift vehicles with a plurality of connection mechanisms via either a wall-positioned connector of each connection mechanism configured to mate with an outer surface of a connector junction of an individual lift vehicle or an end connector of each connection mechanism configured to mate with an end of the connector junction of the individual lift vehicle to create a unified lift vehicle, wherein each individual lift vehicle is operative to perform controlled three-axis flight separately from other individual lift vehicles;
coupling the payload to the unified lift vehicle; and
providing flight commands to the unified lift vehicle to maneuver the payload in three-axis flight.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein for each adjoi

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Duffy Michael J
• Bouwer Scott H
• Mattero John J

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64C37/02 Primary

  Flying units formed by separate aircraft (towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00) · CPC title

• B64C2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C2201/108

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C2201/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic