Modular unmanned aerial vehicle system for adaptable parcel delivery
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorJulio Gil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprises a body module, a rotor module, and a wing module. The body module includes a flight controller and a power distribution device. The body module is releasably attachable to the rotor module or the wing module, and the body module is releasably attachable to the rotor module. The rotor module includes one or more motors and electronic speed controllers (ESCs), while the wing module includes a wing having a flap, elevator, aileron, or rudder. Various UAV configurations can be formed from the body module, the rotor module, and the wing module. Each configuration includes different advantages for flight time, distance, battery life, and payload capacity. A UAV can be configured to a particular configuration to optimize parcel delivery.
Claims20
A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
- a body module comprising a flight controller disposed within a body housing, the body housing having a first body housing side and a second body housing side, a body connection member included on the first body housing side, the body connection member comprising a first aspect of a first track-and-rail locking system;
- a rotor module comprising a rotor connection hub, the rotor connection hub coupled to a plurality of motors, the rotor connection hub having a first hub side and a second hub side, the first hub side having a first rotor connection member, the first rotor connection member comprising a second aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system, and the second hub side having a second rotor connection member, wherein the second aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of the first rotor connection member removably couples to the first aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of the body connection member;
- and
- a wing module comprising a wing having a first wing side and a second wing side, the second wing side including a wing connection member, wherein the wing connection member removably couples to the second rotor connection member.
A method of assembling a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, the method comprising:
- coupling a first rotor connection member of a rotor module to a body connection member of a body module:
- the body module comprising a flight controller disposed within a body housing, the body housing having a first body housing side and a second body housing side, and the body connection member included on the first body housing side, the body connection member comprising a first aspect of a first track-and-rail locking system;
- and
- the rotor module comprising a rotor connection hub, the rotor connection hub coupled to a plurality of motors, the rotor connection hub having a first hub side and a second hub side, the first hub side having the first rotor connection member, the first rotor connection member comprising a second aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system, and the second hub side having a second rotor connection member, wherein the second aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of the first rotor connection member removably couples to the first aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of the body connection member.
A method of parcel delivery using a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, the method comprising:
- coupling a parcel to the modular UAV system, the modular UAV system comprising a wing module, a rotor module, and a body module, the wing module comprising a wing having a first wing side and a second wing side, the second wing side including a wing connection member, the wing connection member comprising a first aspect of a first track-and-rail locking system, wherein the first aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of the wing connection member removably couples to a second aspect of the first track-and-rail locking system of a second rotor connection member of the rotor module;
- navigating the modular UAV system to a delivery location associated with the parcel;
- at an altitude above the delivery location, releasing the wing module from the rotor module and the body module by releasing the wing connection member from the second rotor connection member;
- navigating the wing module away from the delivery location;
- navigating the rotor module and the body module to the delivery location;
- releasing the parcel at the delivery location;
- and
- navigating the rotor module and the body module away from the delivery location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.