Automatic supply station for an autonomous aerial vehicle
AssigneeSafran Electronics & Defense
InventorEric Todeschini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for recharging an autonomous aerial vehicle includes a base, a supply boom, a receiving basket, a centering device, and a locking device. The supply boom includes a tip and first recharger. The receiving basket has an inner wall delimiting a cavity that may receive the tip of the supply boom. The receiving basket including a second recharger that is complementary to the first recharger. One of the supply boom and the receiving basket is mounted on the autonomous aerial vehicle while the other is mounted on the base. The centering device centers the tip of the supply boom in the cavity of the receiving basket. The locking device is controlled by a controller and locks the supply boom in the receiving basket.
Claims16
A system for recharging an autonomous aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
- a base,
- a supply boom comprising a tip and first recharging means,
- a receiving basket comprising an inner wall delimiting a cavity configured to receive the tip of the supply boom, said receiving basket comprising second recharging means complementary to the first recharging means,
- one among the supply boom and the receiving basket being mounted on the autonomous aerial vehicle while the other among the supply boom and the basket is mounted on the base,
- centering means for centering the tip of the supply boom in the cavity of the receiving basket, and
- a locking device comprising clamping jaws configured to mechanically lock the supply boom in the receiving basket, said locking device being controlled by a controller.
A system comprising:
- an autonomous aerial vehicle having mounted thereon one among a supply boom and a receiving basket;
- and
- a base having mounted thereon the other one among the supply boom and the receiving basket,
- wherein the supply boom comprises a tip and first electrical connector,
- wherein the receiving basket comprises a second electrical connector and has an inner wall delimiting a cavity for receiving the tip of the supply boom,
- wherein the tip and the inner wall are configured to center the supply boom in the cavity of the receiving basket, and
- wherein the system further comprises:
- a locking device mounted on the supply boom or the receiving basket, the locking device comprising clamping jaws configured to mechanically lock the supply boom in the receiving basket;
- and
- a controller configured to control the locking device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.