Landing pad with charging and loading functionality for unmanned aerial vehicle
AssigneeWing Aviation LLC
InventorsKyle Liske, André Prager, Nick Renold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The landing pad includes a support structure, a charging pad, and a plurality of movable UAV supports. The charging pad is coupled to the support structure and able to move relative to the support structure. The UAV supports are also coupled to the support structure and configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position. When the UAV supports are in the first position, the charging pad supports the UAV. When the UAV supports are in the second position, the charging pad is lowered and the UAV supports then provide support to the UAV.
Claims19
A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), comprising:
- a support structure;
- a charging pad coupled to the support structure such that at least a portion of the charging pad is configured to move relative to the support structure;
- and
- a plurality of UAV supports coupled to the support structure, wherein the plurality of UAV supports are configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position, wherein when in the first position the plurality of UAV supports provide the UAV access to the charging pad and the charging pad supports the UAV, and wherein when in the second position the plurality of UAV supports support the UAV,
- wherein each of the plurality of UAV supports are force limited such that the plurality of UAV supports are configured to translate along the support structure until the plurality of UAV supports contact the UAV but do not cause the UAV to change position.
A method, comprising:
- supporting an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) above a ground surface by a charging pad of a landing pad;
- moving a plurality of UAV supports across the landing pad towards the UAV, wherein each of the plurality of UAV supports moves in a different direction;
- and
- after moving the plurality of UAV supports towards the UAV, moving the charging pad away from the UAV such that the UAV is no longer supported by the charging pad and the plurality of UAV supports support the UAV above the ground surface.
A payload loading system, comprising:
- an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that comprises a fuselage and a retractable tether, wherein a distal end of the tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus, and a proximate end of the tether is coupled to the UAV;
- and
- a landing pad, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a charging pad coupled to the support structure such that at least a portion of the charging pad is configured to move relative to the support structure;
- and
- a plurality of UAV supports coupled to the support structure, wherein the plurality of UAV supports translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position, wherein when in the first position the plurality of UAV supports provide the UAV access to the charging pad and the charging pad supports the UAV, and wherein when in the second position the plurality of UAV supports are in contact with the fuselage of the UAV
- wherein each of the plurality of UAV supports are force limited such that the plurality of UAV supports are configured to translate along the support structure until the plurality of UAV supports contact the UAV but do not cause the UAV to change position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.