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US 2012/0091258 A1Published application
System, floating unit and method for elevating payloads
AssigneeSky Sapience Ltd.
InventorsRonen Keidar, Shay Cohen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system and a floating unit. The floating unit includes a propeller, a frame, a propeller motor that is configured to rotate the propeller about a first axis; wherein the propeller motor is coupled to the frame, a movable steering element; a controller, for controlling at least one of the propeller motor and the movable steering unit to affect at least one of a location and an orientation of the floating unit; and an interfacing module for coupling a payload to the floating unit and for receiving power from a connecting element that couples the floating unit to a ground unit; wherein the power received by the power interface is utilized to power the propeller motor and the controller.
Claims51
A floating unit, comprising:
- a propeller;
- a frame;
- a propeller motor that is configured to rotate the propeller about a first axis;
- wherein the propeller motor is coupled to the frame;
- a movable steering element;
- a controller, for controlling at least one of the propeller motor and the movable steering unit to affect at least one of a location and an orientation of the floating unit;
- and
- an interfacing module for coupling a payload to the floating unit and for receiving power from a connecting element that couples the floating unit to a ground unit;
- wherein the power received by the power interface is utilized to power the propeller motor and the controller.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a connecting element;
- a ground unit, that comprises:
- a power source for providing power to the flexible cable;
- a connecting element manipulator, for altering an effective length of the connecting element;
- wherein the effective length of the connecting element defines a distance between the ground unit and a floating unit of the device;
- a ground unit controller for controlling the connecting element manipulator;
- and
- a floating unit;
- that comprises:
- a propeller;
- a frame;
- a propeller motor that is configured to rotate the propeller about a first axis;
- wherein the propeller motor is coupled to the frame;
- a movable steering element;
- a controller, for controlling at least one of the propeller motor and the movable steering unit to affect at least one of a location and an orientation of the floating unit;
- and
- an interfacing module for coupling a payload to the floating unit and for receiving power from the connecting element;
- wherein the power received by the power interface is utilized to power the propeller motor and the controller.
15 more elements
A floating unit, comprising:
- a frame;
- a propeller;
- a propeller motor that is coupled to the frame and is configured to rotate the propeller at a fixed speed about a first axis;
- a payload interfacing module, for coupling a payload to the floating unit;
- a controller;
- at least one fixed steering element for preventing the floating element from rotating about the first axis as a result of a rotation of the propeller at the fixed speed;
- at least one movable steering element, controlled by the controller, for compensating for fast changes in a location or in a orientation of the floating unit;
- and
- a cable interface for receiving power from a tensed flexible cable that couples the floating unit to a ground unit;
- wherein the power received by the power interface is utilized to power the propeller motor and the controller.
7 more elements
A floating unit, comprising:
- a propeller;
- a propeller motor that is configured to rotate the propeller;
- wherein the propeller motor receives power generated by a ground unit;
- a payload interface, for coupling a payload to the floating unit;
- a movable steering element;
- a controller, for controlling the movable steering unit and for controlling the propeller motor;
- and
- a cable interfacing module for introducing a angular deviation between an upper portion of a tensed flexible cable and the first axis;
- wherein the tensed flexible cable couples the floating unit to a ground unit.
6 more elements
A method for operating a floating unit, the method comprises:
- receiving power from a connecting element that couples the floating unit to a ground unit;
- distributing the power received by the power interface to a propeller motor of the floating unit and to a controller of the floating unit;
- rotating a propeller of the floating unit about a first axis, by the propeller motor;
- and
- controlling, by the controller, at least one movable steering element out of the propeller motor and the movable steering unit to affect at least one of a location and an orientation of the floating unit.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- increasing an effective length of a connecting element that connects a floating unit to a ground unit while a propeller motor of the floating unit rotates a propeller of the floating unit;
- wherein the effective length of the connecting element determines a distance between the floating unit and the ground unit;
- supplying power to the floating unit via the connecting element, while the floating element is in the air;
- reducing the effective length of the connecting element while the propeller motor of the floating unit rotates the propeller of the floating unit.
1 more element
A floating unit, comprising:
- a first propeller;
- a first frame;
- a second frame;
- a counter rotating element;
- a rotation inducing module that is configured to rotate the propeller about a first axis at a first direction and to rotate the counter rotating element at a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- wherein the rotation inducing module is coupled to the first frame;
- a movable steering element coupled to the second frame;
- a controller, for controlling at least one of the rotation inducing module and the movable steering unit to affect at least one of a location and an orientation of the floating unit;
- an interfacing module, coupled to the second frame, for coupling a payload to the floating unit and for receiving power from a connecting element that couples the floating unit to a ground unit;
- wherein the power received by the power interface is utilized to power the propeller motor and the controller;
- and
- a frame connecting module that facilitates a relative movement between the first and second frames.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.