Methods for launching and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696725-B2
Application number	US-201314236305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2013
Priority date	Dec 13, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for launching and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including multi-rotor aircrafts. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein utilize positional change of the UAV, visual signal, or other means to effect the launch or landing. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are user friendly, particularly to amateur UAV users lacking practice of operating a UAV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising one or more rotor blades into flight, the method comprising:
detecting, via one or more sensors on-board the UAV, (1) a release of the UAV by a mechanical or human hand, and (2) a positional change of the UAV during the release; and
processing, with aid of one or more processors on-board the UAV, the detected positional change and the detected release to autonomously generate without human intervention one or more command signals to effect a lift and/or thrust through rotation of the one or more rotor blades, thereby causing the UAV to be autonomously launched into flight after the release.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a touch sensor, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor configured to detect the release of the UAV by a grip of the mechanical or human hand.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a visual sensor, an inertial sensor, a GPS receiver, a magnetometer, a compass, and/or an altimeter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UAV automatically hovers after being autonomously launched into flight.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein is the one or more processors are in communication with at least one of the sensors and receive the detected positional change and the detected release from the at least one sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors autonomously generate without human intervention the one or more command signals to effect the lift and/or thrust when at least one of the sensors detect that the UAV is in a freefall motion or state.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors autonomously generate without human intervention the one or more command signals to effect the lift and/or thrust when at least one of the sensors detect that the UAV is in an upward motion after the release.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises a holding member attached thereto, wherein at least one sensor is configured to detect a contact force exerted when the holding member is being held by a hand and a change of the contact force when the holding member is being released by the hand, and wherein the one or more processors on-board the UAV is configured to receive information from the sensor indicative of the change of the contact force when the holding member is being released by the hand to autonomously generate without human intervention the one or more command signals.

9. A system for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising one or more rotor blades into flight, the system comprising:
one or more sensors on-board the UAV, configured to detect (1) a release of a grip on the UAV, and (2) a positional change of the UA during the release; and
one or more processors on-board the UAV configured to process the detected positional change and the release of the grip to autonomously generate without human intervention an actuation signal, wherein the actuation signal is configured to direct the one or more rotor blades of the UAV to generate a lift and/or thrust, thereby causing the UAV to be autonomously launched into flight after the release.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors autonomously generate without human intervention the actuation signal by comparing data from the one or more sensors indicative of the detected positional change and the release of the grip with (1) predetermined threshold values, or (2) data previously obtained by the one or more sensors.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors autonomously generate without human intervention the actuation signal to effect the lift and/or thrust through one or more rotor blades when at least one of the sensors detects that the UAV is in a freefall motion or state.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the positional change of the UAV is detected based on a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation, and/or a change in location of the UAV.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the UAV is configured to be attached to a holding member, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to detect a contact force exerted when the holding member is being held by a hand, and wherein the one or more processors on-board the UAV is configured to receive information from the sensor indicative of the change of the contact force when the holding member is being released by the hand to autonomously generate without human intervention the actuation signal.

14. A method for bringing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising one or more rotor blades to a complete stop, the method comprising:
detecting, via one or more sensors on-board the UAV, (1) a positional change of the UAV and (2) a contact on the UAV with an external surface while the one or more rotor blades are in motion; and
processing, with aid of one or more processors on-board the UAV, the detected positional change and the contact with the external surface, to autonomously generate without human intervention a deceleration signal to bring the one or more rotor blades of the UAV to a complete stop.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises detecting a visual signal generated by an operator of the UAV, with aid of a visual sensor located on-board the UAV.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors autonomously generate without human intervention the deceleration signal by comparing data from the one or more sensors indicative of the detected positional change and the contact with the external surface with (1) predetermined threshold values, or (2) data previously obtained by the one or more sensors.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the positional change of the UAV is detected based on a change in velocity, a change of acceleration, a change in orientation, and/or a change in location of the UAV with respect to a reference object.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the positional change includes a movement in a predetermined pattern.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the UAV comprises a holding member attached thereto, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to detect the external contact when the holding member is being held by a hand, and wherein the one or more processors on-board the UAV is configured to receive information from the at least one sensors indicative of the external contact when the holding member is being held by the hand to autonomously generate without human intervention the deceleration signal.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the at least one sensor is a touch sensor, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Ming-Yu

Classifications

• A63H27/12

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title

• G05D1/0011

  associated with a remote control arrangement · CPC title

• B64C39/024

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

• G05D1/0669 Primary

  specially adapted for vertical take-off · CPC title

• B64C2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic