Impulsive release mechanism and method
AssigneeKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology
InventorsUsman Amin Fiaz, Jeff S. Shamma, Mohamed A. Abdelkader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grasp and release mechanism for carrying a load. The grasp and release mechanism includes a frame; a grasp mechanism attached to the frame and including plural permanent magnets configured to magnetically attach to a ferrous load; a release mechanism attached to the frame, wherein the release mechanism includes a drop plate; and an actuator mechanism attached to the frame and configured to apply a force F to the drop plate. The drop plate is configured to suddenly move relative to the frame to apply the force F to the load.
Claims20
A grasp and release mechanism for carrying a load, the grasp and release mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- a grasp mechanism attached to the frame and including plural permanent magnets configured to magnetically attach to the load;
- a release mechanism attached to the frame, wherein the release mechanism includes a drop plate;
- and
- an actuator mechanism attached to the frame and configured to apply a force F to the drop plate,
- wherein the drop plate is configured to suddenly move relative to the frame to apply the force F to the load, and
- wherein the drop plate is positioned around the plural permanent magnets but not between the plural permanent magnets and the load.
An aerial system for carrying a load, the system comprising:
- a drone configured to fly from a location to another location;
- and
- a grasp and release mechanism for carrying the load,
- wherein the grasp and release mechanism comprises:
- a frame,
- a grasp mechanism attached to the frame and including plural permanent magnets configured to magnetically attach to the load,
- a release mechanism attached to the frame, wherein the release mechanism includes a drop plate, and
- an actuator mechanism attached to the frame and configured to apply a force F to the drop plate,
- wherein the drop plate is configured to suddenly move relative to the frame to apply the force F to the load, and
- wherein the drop plate is positioned around the plural permanent magnets but not between the plural permanent magnets and the load.
A method for carrying a load from a first position to a second position, the method comprising:
- flying a drone to the first position;
- grasping the load with a grasp mechanism attached to the drone through a frame, the grasp mechanism including plural permanent magnets configured to magnetically attach to the load;
- flying the drone with the load to the second position;
- and
- dropping the load at the second position with a release mechanism, the release mechanism being attached to the frame and including a drop plate,
- wherein an actuator mechanism, attached to the frame, is configured to apply a force F to the drop plate and the drop plate is configured to suddenly move relative to the frame to apply the force F to the load, and
- wherein the drop plate is positioned around the plural permanent magnets but not between the plural permanent magnets and the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.