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.
Claims15
A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
- a configuration of motors;
- a body module comprising a flight controller and a body connection member, wherein the body connection member comprises a first releasable cable connection joint;
- a rotor module comprising a first rotor connection member and a rotor connection hub, wherein:
- the first rotor connection member comprises a second releasable cable connection joint,
- the rotor connection hub is configured to accommodate the configuration of motors for the UAV system,
- the body connection member is configured to be removably coupled to the first rotor connection member, and
- the configuration of motors comprises a plurality of arms that removably connects to the rotor connection hub to enable a respective motor of the configuration of motors coupled to each arm of the plurality of arms to be automatically identified and enabled by the flight controller;
- and
- a wing module and a plurality of wings, wherein:
- the wing module comprises a wing connection member comprising a fourth releasable cable connection joint,
- the wing module is configured to accommodate the plurality of wings for the UAV system,
- the rotor module comprises a second rotor connection member comprising a third releasable cable connection joint and the wing connection member is configured to be removably coupled to the second rotor connection member,
- the plurality of wings is configured to removably connect to the wing connection member to enable the plurality of wings to be automatically identified and enabled by the flight controller, and
- the body connection member is configured to be removably coupled to the first rotor connection member and the second rotor connection member is configured to be removably coupled to the wing connection member to connect the first releasable cable connection joint to the second releasable cable connection joint and the third releasable cable connection joint to the fourth releasable cable connection joint to establish communication between the flight controller and the plurality of wings.
A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:
- a configuration of motors
- a body module comprising a flight controller and a body connection member;
- and
- a rotor module comprising a rotor connection member and configured to accommodate the configuration of motors for the UAV system, wherein:
- the body connection member is configured to be coupled to the rotor connection member so that the rotor module is stacked on top of the body module,
- the configuration of motors comprises a plurality of arms that removably connects to the rotor module to enable a respective motor of the configuration of motors coupled to each arm of the plurality of arms to be automatically identified and enabled by the flight controller.
A method of assembling a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, the method comprising:
- connecting a plurality of arms for a configuration of motors to a rotor module of the UAV system;
- coupling a first rotor connection member of the rotor module of the UAV system to a body connection member of a body module of the UAV system to stake the rotor module on top of the body module, wherein:
- the body module comprises a flight controller;
- and
- automatically identifying and enabling, by the flight controller, a respective motor of the configuration of motors coupled to each arm of the plurality of arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.