# US 12,214,895 B2 · Systems and methods for energy transport using an unmanned aerial vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,895 B2 - Document ID: US12214895B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/874,496 - Filed: 2022-07-27 - Published: 2022-11-17 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-13 - Applicants: Kevin Godin - Inventors: Kevin Godin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214895B2 ## CPC - B64D 41/00: Power installations for auxiliary purposes - B64U 50/30: Supply or distribution of electrical power - B64D 1/12: Releasing - B64D 1/16: Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting (jettisoning fuel B64D37/26) - B64D 1/22: Taking-up articles from earth's surface - B64U 50/31: generated by photovoltaics - B64U 50/34: In-flight charging (photovoltaics B64U50/31) - B64D 2041/005: {Fuel cells} - B64D 2221/00: Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft - B64U 2101/45: for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting - B64U 2101/47: for fire fighting - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - 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 An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) system for energy transport includes a UAV having an energy tank configured to transport energy, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, may cause the system to receive a first location for collecting or releasing the energy, determine an energy level of the energy tank, and transport the energy by the UAV to or from the first location based on the determined energy level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) system for energy transport, the UAV system comprising: a UAV including an energy tank configured to transport energy; a processor; and a memory, including instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a first location for collecting or delivering energy; determine an energy level of the energy tank; and transport the energy by the UAV to or from the first location based on the determined energy level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The UAV system of claim 1, wherein the energy tank is a flexible chamber configured to maintain a pressurized payload, and wherein the energy tank is coupled to the UAV. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The UAV system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to: determine if there is any energy left in the energy tank; and based on the determination, fly the UAV to the first location for energy collection or to a second location for energy delivery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The UAV system of claim 3, wherein the energy is hydrogen, and the UAV system further comprises: a connection nozzle operably connected to the energy tank, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to: determine if the UAV is located above the first location for energy collection; and interlock the connection nozzle to a collection site at the first location based on the determination. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The UAV system of claim 4, wherein the connection nozzle includes a male and female interlocking connector to operably connect the connection nozzle to the collection site or a delivery site. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The UAV system of claim 4, wherein the connection nozzle is at least one of a gas connection nozzle, a diffusion nozzle, and a fueling nozzle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The UAV system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to: determine if the UAV is charged to a first pre-determined energy level sufficient to fly to the first location; and deliver the energy to or remove the energy from the first location based on the determination. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The UAV system of claim 1, wherein the energy level of the energy tank is determined relative to a second pre-determined energy level for the energy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The UAV system of claim 4, wherein the energy tank is configured to be interchangeable with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid chamber is comprised of a more rigid material relative to the energy tank. ### Claim 10 A computer-implemented method for energy transport, the method comprising: receiving a first location for collecting energy, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) including an energy tank configured to transport the energy; determining an energy level of the energy in the energy tank; and transporting the energy by the UAV to a second location based on the determined energy level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising: determining if there is any energy left in the energy tank; and based on the determination, flying the UAV to the first location for energy collection or to a second location for energy delivery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method claim 10, wherein the energy tank is a flexible chamber configured to maintain a pressurized payload, and wherein the energy tank is coupled to the UAV. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the energy is hydrogen, and method further comprises: determining if the UAV is located above the first location for energy collection; and interlocking a connection nozzle to a collection site at the first location based on the determination. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein interlocking the connection nozzle to the collection site includes operably connecting a male and female interlocking connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the connection nozzle is at least one of a gas connection nozzle, a diffusion nozzle, and a fueling nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising: determining if the UAV is charged to a first pre-determined energy level sufficient to fly to the first location; and delivering the energy to or removing the energy from the first location based on the determination. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the energy level of the energy tank is determined relative to a second pre-determined energy level for the energy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the energy tank is configured to be interchangeable with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid chamber is comprised of a more rigid material relative to the energy tank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising: using the energy tank as a floatation device at a first location, wherein the energy tank floats about a surface of a body of water while the UAV awaits a second location. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a controller to execute a computer-implemented method for energy transport, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a first location for collecting energy, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) including an energy tank configured to transport the energy; determining an energy level of the energy in the energy tank relative to a pre-determined energy level for the energy; and transporting the energy by the UAV to a second location based on the determined energy level.