# US 11,993,385 B2 · Method of controlling drone with airbag and drone with airbag

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- Number: US 11,993,385 B2
- Document ID: US11993385B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/960,055
- Filed: 2018-11-12
- Published: 2021-02-25
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-22
- Assignees: Matsuya R&D Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Matsuya R&D., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hidetaka Goto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993385B2

## CPC

- B64D 25/00: Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for
- B64U 70/83: using parachutes, balloons or the like
- B64D 2201/00: Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
- B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
- B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

To provide a drone with an airbag that can eliminate the danger of the drone injuring a person in the event of the drone crashing mid-flight including during takeoff and landing. The present invention is equipped with an airbag 3 for reducing the impact of a crashed drone 2 colliding with a person. Prior to the drone 2 taking off, the airbag 3 can be inflated by being supplied with gas. Once the drone 2 has taken off and reached a required altitude, the airbag 3 deflates due to the gas being exhausted. When the drone 2 is mid-flight and in danger of crashing, the airbag 2 can be inflated instantly by being supplied with gas. Prior to the drone 2 landing, the airbag 3 can be inflated by being supplied with gas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling a drone with an airbag in which the drone is provided with the airbag for absorbing a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, the method comprising the steps of:
making the airbag be inflated by supplying a gas to the airbag prior to the drone taking off the ground;
making the airbag in a deflated state by discharging the gas in the airbag after the drone reaches the predetermined attitude;
making the airbag be inflated by supplying the gas to the airbag in the deflated state prior to the drone landing on the ground; and
making the airbag be instantaneously inflated by supplying the gas to the airbag in the deflated state when a danger of the drone being crashed is generated during the flight of the drone.

### Claim 2

A drone with an airbag, wherein the drone is provided with an airbag which absorbs a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, and a first inflation control portion and a second inflation control portion which control the inflation of the airbag,
wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device,
wherein motor-driven pump is configured to supply a gas to the airbag and to inflate the airbag on the basis of a control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone taking off from the ground, and further to discharge the gas in the airbag on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion after the drone reaches a predetermined altitude, whereby the airbag is in the deflated state, and the gas is supplied to the airbag in the deflated state on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone landing on the ground, and
wherein during the flight of the drone, the inflator and trigger device are configured to inflate the airbag in the deflated state instantaneously by the gas supply on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion, and the inflation on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion is performed before the drone collides with the object.

### Claim 3

A drone with an airbag, wherein the drone is provided with an airbag which absorbs a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, and a first inflation control portion and a second inflation control portion which control the inflation of the airbag,
wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device,
wherein motor-driven pump is configured to supply a gas to the airbag and to inflate the airbag on the basis of a control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone taking off from the ground, and further to discharge the gas in the airbag on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion after the drone reaches a predetermined altitude, whereby the airbag is in the deflated state, and the gas is supplied to the airbag in the deflated state on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone landing on the ground, and
wherein during the flight of the drone, the inflator and trigger device are configured to inflate the airbag in the deflated state instantaneously by the gas supply on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion, and the inflation on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion is performed before the drone collides with the object,
wherein the drone further comprises a pressure regulating means for regulating a pressure so as to prevent a gas pressure of the airbag from going beyond an allowable value in a case where the second inflation control portion is activated during the period when the first inflation control portion is activated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 2, wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump, and is adapted to make the airbag be inflated on the basis of a gas supply action by the pump and make the airbag be deflated on the basis of a gas discharge action by the pump, and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device, and is adapted to make the airbag in the deflated state be instantaneously inflated on the basis of the gas supply from the inflator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 2, wherein the airbag includes a first airbag which surrounds the drone in a horizontal surface, and a second airbag which surrounds the drone in a vertical surface, the first airbag and the second airbag are inflated simultaneously by the gas supply action on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion or the second inflation control portion, and are deflated simultaneously by the gas discharge action on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion.

### Claim 6

A drone with an airbag, wherein the drone is provided with an airbag which absorbs a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, and a first inflation control portion and a second inflation control portion which control the inflation of the airbag,
wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device,
wherein motor-driven pump is configured to supply a gas to the airbag and to inflate the airbag on the basis of a control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone taking off from the ground, and further to discharge the gas in the airbag on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion after the drone reaches a predetermined altitude, whereby the airbag is in the deflated state, and the gas is supplied to the airbag in the deflated state on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone landing on the ground, and
wherein during the flight of the drone, the inflator and trigger device are configured to inflate the airbag in the deflated state instantaneously by the gas supply on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion, and the inflation on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion is performed before the drone collides with the object, the airbag includes a first airbag which surrounds the drone in a horizontal surface, and a second airbag which surrounds the drone in a vertical surface, the second airbag includes right and left second airbags respectively arranged in each of right and left sides of the drone, and the right and left second airbags are rotatable in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction around a vertical axis.

### Claim 7

A drone with an airbag, wherein the drone is provided with an airbag which absorbs a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, and a first inflation control portion and a second inflation control portion which control the inflation of the airbag,
wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device,
wherein motor-driven pump is configured to supply a gas to the airbag and to inflate the airbag on the basis of a control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone taking off from the ground, and further to discharge the gas in the airbag on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion after the drone reaches a predetermined altitude, whereby the airbag is in the deflated state, and the gas is supplied to the airbag in the deflated state on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone landing on the ground, and
wherein during the flight of the drone, the inflator and trigger device are configured to inflate the airbag in the deflated state instantaneously by the gas supply on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion, and the inflation on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion is performed before the drone collides with the object, the airbag only includes a first airbag which surrounds the drone in a horizontal surface, or includes the first airbag, and the first airbag is arranged in a plurality of stages at intervals in a vertical direction.

### Claim 8

A drone with an airbag, wherein the drone is provided with an airbag which absorbs a shock when the drone crashes or collides with an object, and a first inflation control portion and a second inflation control portion which control the inflation of the airbag,
wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump and the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device,
wherein motor-driven pump is configured to supply a gas to the airbag and to inflate the airbag on the basis of a control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone taking off from the ground, and further to discharge the gas in the airbag on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion after the drone reaches a predetermined altitude, whereby the airbag is in the deflated state, and the gas is supplied to the airbag in the deflated state on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion prior to the drone landing on the ground, and
wherein during the flight of the drone, the inflator and trigger device are configured to inflate the airbag in the deflated state instantaneously by the gas supply on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion, and the inflation on the basis of the control of the second inflation control portion is performed before the drone collides with the object, the airbag only includes a second airbag which surrounds the drone in a vertical surface, or includes the second airbag, and the second airbag is arranged in a plurality of stages at intervals in a horizontal direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 3, wherein the pressure regulating means is adapted to stop the gas supply by the first inflation control portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 3, wherein the pressure regulating means is an automatic relief valve provided in the airbag.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 3, wherein the first inflation control portion includes a motor-driven pump, the pump being adapted to inflate the airbag to prevent injuries or damage if the drone collides with a person or object, and to deflate the airbag upon gas discharge by the pump, and wherein the second inflation control portion includes an inflator and a trigger device, and is adapted to instantaneously inflate the airbag when the airbag is in the deflated state on the basis of the gas supply from the inflator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The drone with the airbag according to claim 3, wherein the airbag includes a first airbag which surrounds the drone in a horizontal surface, and a second airbag which surrounds the drone in a vertical surface, the first airbag and the second airbag are inflated simultaneously by a gas supply action on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion or the second inflation control portion, and are deflated simultaneously by the gas discharge action on the basis of the control of the first inflation control portion.