Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and carrier platforms therefor
AssigneeElbit Systems C4I and Cyber Ltd.
InventorAmi Amos Zango
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for unmanned vehicles and carriers therefor having a propulsion system, anchoring system, anchoring sites and a locking and unlocking mechanism. A carrier having one or more arresting locations. The propulsion system has at least one propeller for each rotor and at least one blade capable of rotating for each rotor. The locking and unlocking mechanism has a switching member such as a rod. The switching member in a standby position is in the path of the rotating propeller blade and upon being displaced into a position not in the path of the rotating blade is in an unlocking position sending a signal to unlock the UAV from the anchoring site.
Claims20
A system comprising one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) detachably associated to an arresting position provided on a UAV docking surface,
- wherein each of the one or more UAVs has a body and a propelling system, said propelling system having at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade;
- and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with one or more arresting location provided on the docking surface;
- a locking/unlocking mechanism on said docking surface, wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism is configured to manipulate the anchoring system of said one or more UAVs between a respective locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in said locked position the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with said arresting location, and in said unlocked position the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location;
- and
- a switching member engaging said locking/unlocking mechanism that is configured to switch between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism;
- whereby rotation of said at least one propeller blade activates said switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
A landing platform for one or more UAV, the landing platform comprises a docking surface comprising one or more arresting locations for detachably engaging with the one or more UAVs via an anchoring system of the UAV, each of the one or more arresting locations comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location,
- said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism;
- whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
A system comprising one or more UAVs and a UAV carrier configured to carry the one or more UAVs from a point of origin to a destination;
- comprising a UAV having a body and a propelling system comprising at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade;
- and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with an arresting location provided on a docking surface;
- the UAV carrier comprises a docking surface and a plurality of arresting locations distributed thereon,
- the docking surface comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location, said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which the switching member generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism;
- whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.