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US 10,399,704 B2Granted
Reactive tether spool
OwnerFred Melvelle Briggs, IV, Todd Staveinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reactive tether spool comprises a drum, a signal cable, a drum actuator, a tension sensor, and a controller. The signal cable transports power and a control signal to a UAV. A controller receives a tension measurement from the tension sensor and controls the drum actuator to maintain a determined tension on the signal cable while performing at least one of the following: dispensing the signal cable; holding the signal cable steady; and collecting the signal cable.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a carriage;
- a drum rotatably mounted on the carriage;
- a drum connector disposed on the drum;
- a signal cable configured to transport power and a control signal, the signal cable having:
- a first end of the signal cable configured to connect with the drum connector;
- and
- a UAV connector on a second end of the signal cable, the UAV connector configured to connect with a UAV;
- a drum actuator configured to rotate the drum;
- a cable drum feed configured to align the signal cable to the drum;
- a UAV feed configured to align the signal cable as it exits the device towards the UAV;
- a tension sensor configured to measure the tension of the signal cable;
- and
- a controller comprising:
- at least one processor;
- a tangible medium that is not a transitory propagating signal, the medium comprising instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:
- receive a tension measurement from the tension sensor;
- and
- control the drum actuator to maintain a determined tension on the signal cable while performing at least one of:
- dispensing the signal cable;
- holding the signal cable steady;
- and
- collecting the signal cable.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.