# US 12,214,902 B2 · Landing systems and methods for unmanned aerial vehicles

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- Number: US 12,214,902 B2
- Document ID: US12214902B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/966,559
- Filed: 2022-10-14
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-28
- Assignees: FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems ULC
- Applicants: FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems ULC
- Inventors: James Infanti; Albert Pegg; Tomi Kanninen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214902B2

## CPC

- B64U 70/97: Means for guiding the UAV to a specific location on the platform, e.g. platform structures preventing landing off-centre
- B64C 25/62: Spring shock-absorbers; Springs
- B64C 39/024: {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV}
- B64F 1/007: {Helicopter portable landing pads}
- B64U 60/50: with landing legs
- B64U 70/99: Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets
- B64U 80/10: with means for moving the UAV to a supply or launch location, e.g. robotic arms or carousels
- B64U 80/25: for recharging batteries; for refuelling
- G05D 1/0202: {specially adapted to aircraft}
- G05D 1/46: Control of position or course in three dimensions [3D]
- B64U 70/00: Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
- B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography
- B64U 2201/20: Remote controls
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

Systems and methods related to landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a UAV on a surface of a landing platform. The method may further include operating a positioning device disposed under the surface to locate the UAV. The method may further include operating the positioning device to move the UAV to a location and/or an orientation on the surface. The UAV may comprise landing gear having a plurality of legs, where each leg comprises a shock absorption system. The method may further include operating the shock absorption system during the receiving operation to reduce force received at stress areas of the UAV, and after the receiving operation, operating the shock absorption system to dampen movement by the UAV. Related devices and systems are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a surface of a landing platform;
operating a positioning device disposed under the surface of the landing platform to locate the UAV; and
operating the positioning device disposed under the surface of the landing platform to move the UAV to a location and/or an orientation on the surface;
wherein the operating the positioning device to move the UAV comprises:
using a first magnet to attract the UAV; and
moving the first magnet below the surface to slide the UAV above the surface to the location and/or the orientation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first magnet is an electromagnet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the operating the positioning device to locate the UAV comprises detecting an interaction between a Hall effect sensor and a second magnet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the Hall effect sensor is provided by the positioning device and the second magnet is provided by landing gear of the UAV.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the operating the positioning device to move the UAV comprises translating the UAV to the location on the surface and/or rotating the UAV to the orientation on the surface to secure the UAV at the location and the orientation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the landing platform comprises a raised perimeter adjacent to the surface and configured to guide landing gear of the UAV to the location on the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises landing gear having a plurality of legs, and wherein each leg comprises a shock absorption system, the method further comprising:
operating the shock absorption system during the receiving to reduce force received at stress areas of the UAV; and
operating the shock absorption system after the receiving to dampen movement by the UAV after the receiving.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein each shock absorption system of each leg comprises a spring and/or a visco-elastic material configured to reduce the force and a shock absorber configured to dampen the movement, and wherein the spring and/or the visco-elastic material is configured to bias two portions of the leg relative to each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the shock absorption system of each leg comprises a magnetorheological shock absorber, and wherein the positioning device is configured to attract the magnetorheological shock absorber to locate and/or to move the UAV.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning device is operated by the UAV.

### Claim 11

A system comprising:
a landing platform having a surface and a positioning device disposed under the surface and communicatively coupled to a logic device, wherein the logic device is configured to:
receive an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the surface of the landing platform;
operate the positioning device to locate the UAV; and
operate the positioning device to move the UAV to a location and/or orientation on the surface;
wherein the positioning device comprises a first magnet, and wherein the operating the positioning device to move the UAV comprises:
activating the first magnet to attract the UAV; and
moving the first magnet below the surface to slide the UAV above the surface to the location and/or the orientation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first magnet is an electromagnet.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the operating the positioning device to locate the UAV comprises detecting an interaction between a Hall effect sensor and a second magnet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the Hall effect sensor is provided by the positioning device and the second magnet is provided by landing gear of the UAV.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the operating the positioning device to move the UAV comprises translating the UAV to the location on the surface and/or rotating the UAV to the orientation on the surface to secure the UAV at the location and the orientation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the landing platform comprises a raised perimeter adjacent to the surface and configured to guide landing gear of the UAV to the location on the surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising the UAV, wherein the UAV comprises landing gear having a plurality of legs, wherein each leg comprises a shock absorption system, and wherein the UAV is configured to:
operate the shock absorption system during the receiving to reduce force received at stress areas of the UAV; and
operate the shock absorption system after the receiving to dampen movement by the UAV after the receiving.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein each shock absorption system of each leg comprises a spring and/or a visco-elastic material configured to reduce the force and a shock absorber configured to dampen the movement, and wherein the spring and/or the visco-elastic material is configured to bias two portions of the leg relative to each other.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the shock absorption system of each leg comprises a magnetorheological shock absorber, and wherein the positioning device is configured to attract the magnetorheological shock absorber to locate and/or to move the UAV.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the logic device is disposed on the UAV.