Multiple environment unmanned vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844990-B2
Application number	US-201715422252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A MEUV that is able to navigate aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial environments through the use of different mission mobility attachments is disclosed. The attachments allow the MEUV to be deployed from the air or through the water prior to any terrestrial navigation. The mobility attachments can be removed or detached by and from the vehicle during a mission.

First claim

We claim:

1. A multiple environment unmanned vehicle, comprising:
a central platform comprising a control unit, drive system, power supply and a payload; and
two or more mobility attachments attached to the central platform;
wherein at least one of the two or more mobility attachments is an aerial configuration kit and wherein at least one other of the two or more mobility attachments is selected from a group consisting of an aquatic configuration kit and a land configuration kit; and
wherein the aerial configuration kit covers at least one other of the two or more mobility attachments and is separable from the at least one other mobility attachments by a separation system; and
wherein the aerial configuration kit configures the multiple environment unmanned vehicle into a delta wing configuration.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the separation system is selected from a group consisting of a mechanical release system, a gas release system, an explosive system, an airbag system and a dissolved materials system.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the aquatic configuration kit comprises one or more propulsion planes.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the land configuration kit comprises one or more wheels.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the payload is selected from a group consisting of a camera, sensor, explosive, additional processor and beacon.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the drive system comprises one or more motors coupled to an output shaft.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the one or more motors provides power to the two or more mobility attachments.

8. A multiple environment unmanned vehicle system, comprising:
a multiple environment unmanned vehicle, comprising:
a central platform comprising a control unit, drive system, power supply and a payload; and
two or more mobility attachments attached to the central platform;
wherein at least one of the two or more mobility attachments is an aerial configuration kit that configures the multiple environment unmanned vehicle into a delta wing configuration and at least one other of the two or more mobility attachments is selected from a group consisting of an aquatic configuration kit and a land configuration kit; and
wherein at least one of the two or more mobility attachments cover at least one other of the two or more mobility attachments and is separable from the one other of the two or more mobility attachments by a separation system; and

a command center comprising a user interface in communication with the multiple environment unmanned vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the separation system is selected from a group consisting of a mechanical release system, a gas release system, an explosive system, an airbag system and a dissolved materials system.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the aquatic configuration kit comprises one or more propulsion planes.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the land configuration kit comprises one or more wheels.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the payload is selected from a group consisting of a camera, sensor, explosive, additional processor and beacon.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the drive system comprises one or more motors coupled to an output shaft.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more motors provides power to the two or more mobility attachments.

Assignees

• Nat Tech & Eng Solutions Sandia Llc

Inventors

• Hobart Clinton G
• Morse William D
• Bickerstaff Robert James

Classifications

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B60F5/02 Primary

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

• B60F3/003

  Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C2211/00

  Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters · CPC title

• B60F3/0007

  Arrangement of propulsion or steering means on amphibious vehicles · CPC title