Power and communication interface for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9650133-B2
Application number	US-201615042090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV;
one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang;
a UAV pod comprising a landing surface; and
an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening in the landing surface comprises slanted sides to aid in guiding the tang as the VTOL UAV lands on the landing surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening disposed in the landing surface is at least one of: an orifice, a slot, and a channel.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a locking armature disposed in the opening disposed in the landing surface, wherein the locking armature detachably couples the tang to the UAV pod.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the locking armature slidably engages the tang.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the locking armature rotates the VTOL UAV, via the detachably coupled tang, relative to the UAV pod.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the tang comprises a notch to receive a portion of the locking armature.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the opening disposed in the landing surface comprises one or more metallic contacts, wherein the one or more metallic contacts of the opening are aligned with the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface and the one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface are at least one of: power contacts and data contacts.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more metallic contacts disposed in the landing surface slidably engage the aligned one or more metallic contacts disposed on the exterior surface of the tang.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tang comprises a bulbous end.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Mukherjee Jason Sidharthadev
• Lott William Arden

Classifications

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U80/70 Primary

  in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64F1/005 Primary

  Protective coverings for aircraft not in use · CPC title

• B64C29/02 Primary

  having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded · CPC title

• B64F1/12

  for anchoring aircraft · CPC title