Adjustable weight distribution for drone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469394-B2
Application number	US-201514643070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. Various embodiments may include receiving a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone. A weight-distribution balance profile may be determined, based on the weight-distribution input, for determining whether a repositionable weight should be repositioned among a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions on a balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone. The repositionable weight may be repositioned according to the weight-distribution balance profile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weight distribution apparatus for adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:
a first balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone, wherein the first balance track includes a plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions; and
a repositionable weight configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions.

2. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the repositionable weight is slidable along the first balance track between the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions.

3. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first balance track is disposed on an extension arm of the drone, the extension arm extending laterally from the central region, wherein a distal end of the extension arm supports an air propulsion unit.

4. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the repositionable weight wraps around at least a portion of the extension arm using an essential structural shape of the extension arm as the first balance track.

5. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions comprise a series of apertures extending through the extension arm.

6. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the repositionable weight is configured to ride along guide elements included on the first balance track.

7. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the repositionable weight includes an electronic component.

8. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of an energy cell, an actuator, an indicator, a circuit element, a sensor, and a camera.

9. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is fixed to the repositionable weight.

10. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit is remote from the repositionable weight.

11. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a control unit configured to activate the electronic component, wherein the control unit comprises:
a radio frequency transceiver, and
a processor coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to activate a movement of the repositionable weight from a first one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions to a second one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions in response to receiving an activation signal via the radio frequency transceiver.

12. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the repositionable weight is removably secured to at least one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions.

13. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions are evenly distributed along a longitudinal extent of the first balance track.

14. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second balance track extending outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the first balance track.

15. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first axis intersects the second axis at a non-orthogonal angle.

16. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a third balance track extending away from the central region along a third axis that is different from both the first axis and the second axis.

17. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.

18. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second axes are not parallel to extension arms supporting rotors of the drone.

19. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first balance track is configured to change length for changing the repositionable weight from a first one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions to a second one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions.

20. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first balance track is configured to rotate about a vertical central axis of the drone.

21. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drone is a multi-rotor helicopter.

22. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in response to a change in a weight-distribution balance profile of the drone, in which a payload is added to or removed from the drone, the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions are arranged such that repositioning of the repositionable weight to a different one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions restores the weight-distribution balance profile.

23. The weight distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions are arranged such that changing the repositionable weight from a first one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions to a second one of the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions changes the center of mass of the drone.

24. A method of adjusting a center of mass of a drone, comprising:
receiving, in a processor, a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone, wherein a first balance track extends outwardly from a central region of the drone and a first repositionable weight is configured to be secured at any one of a plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions included in the first balance track;
determining, in the processor, a weight-distribution balance profile based on the weight-distribution input;
determining, in the processor, whether the first repositionable weight should be repositioned;
outputting a signal from the processor to an actuator included on the drone, in response to determining that the first repositionable weight should be repositioned, for repositioning the first repositionable weight according to the weight-distribution balance profile; and
changing, by the actuator, a position of the first repositionable weight on the first balance track according to the determined weight-distribution balance profile in response to receiving the signal.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first repositionable weight is an electronic component.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the electronic component is at least one of an energy cell, the actuator, an indicator, a circuit element, a sensor, and a camera.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the weight-distribution input is received from a remote source.

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the signal causes the actuator to release the first repositionable weight for removal from the first balance track in order to conform to the weight-distribution balance profile.

29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the signal causes the actuator to move the first repositionable weight along the first balance track between the plurality of predetermined weight-balance fixation positions.

30. The method of claim 24 , wherein

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Vaughn Brad Lee
• Sweet Iii Charles Wheeler
• Kemler Vincent
• Shivnan Aine Mary
• Gondkar Kaustubh Balkrishna
• Wilson James York
• Taveira Michael Franco
• Hutson Donald

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64C27/08

  with two or more rotors · CPC title

• B64C2201/146

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C17/02 Primary

  by gravity or inertia-actuated apparatus · CPC title

• B64C39/024

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