Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing gear system for holding delivery canisters
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorsJulio Gil, Julian Bell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Landing gear, aspects of which are usable by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprises a first leg with a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end, and a second leg with a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end. The first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at an engagement location. A tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location, biasing the first leg landing end in the direction of the second leg landing end. The first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the rotational force when a downward force is applied to the engagement location.
Claims20
Landing gear comprising:
- a first leg comprising a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;
- a second leg comprising a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at a first engagement location;
- a first tensioning member applying a first rotational force about the first engagement location such that the first rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a first direction of the second leg landing end, wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the first rotational force when a downward force is applied to the first engagement location;
- a third leg comprising a third leg landing end and a third leg connection end;
- a fourth leg comprising a fourth leg landing end and a fourth leg connection end, wherein the third leg connection end is directly coupled to the fourth leg connection end at a second engagement location;
- and
- a second tensioning member applying a second rotational force about the second engagement location such that the second rotational force biases the third leg landing end in a second direction of the fourth leg landing end, wherein the third leg and the fourth leg are configured to rotate against the second rotational force when the downward force is applied to the second engagement location.
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- landing gear comprising:
- a first leg comprising a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;
- a second leg comprising a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at an engagement location;
- and
- a tensioning member applying a rotational force about the engagement location such that the rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a direction of the second leg landing end, wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the rotational force when a downward force is applied to the engagement location.
A method comprising:
- positioning an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such that a gap formed from a first leg of a landing gear and a second leg of the landing gear is at a location proximate a canister, wherein:
- the first leg comprises a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;
- the second leg comprises a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is configured to rotationally engage the second leg connection end of the second leg at an engagement location;
- and
- a tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location such that the rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a direction of the second leg landing end when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged;
- securing the canister between the first leg and the second leg by lowering the UAV;
- landing the UAV;
- and
- releasing the canister by placing a rotor into a reverse thrust to generate a downward force that rotates the first leg and the second leg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.