Vehicle configuration with motors that rotate between a lifting position and a thrusting position
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorRicky Dean Welsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (also known as an octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a pivot assembly that may rotate about an axis from a lifting position to a thrusting position. The pivot assembly may include two or more offset motors that generate a differential force that will cause the pivot assembly to rotate between the lifting position and the thrusting position without the need for any additional motors or gears.
Claims20
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of lifting motors and corresponding lifting propellers oriented to provide a vertical lift to the UAV when the lifting propellers are rotated by the lifting motors;
- a pivot assembly coupled to the frame of the UAV and configured to rotate from a lifting position to a thrusting position, the pivot assembly including:
- a pivot arm extending from the frame of the UAV and configured to rotate with respect to the frame of the UAV;
- a first pivot motor coupled to the pivot arm;
- a second pivot motor coupled to the pivot arm and offset with respect to the first motor;
- and
- wherein:
- the pivot assembly is configured to rotate to the lifting position when a first force generated by the first pivot motor is greater than a second force generated by the second pivot motor;
- and
- the pivot assembly is configured to rotate to the thrusting position when the second force generated by the second pivot motor is greater than the first force generated by the first pivot motor.
A pivot assembly, comprising:
- a pivot arm configured to rotate about an axis;
- a first motor coupled to the pivot arm and disposed at a first position with respect to the pivot arm;
- a second motor coupled to the pivot arm and disposed at a second position with respect to the pivot arm, wherein the first motor and the second motor are offset with respect to one another;
- a first mechanical stop that inhibits a rotation of the pivot arm in a first direction about the axis;
- a second mechanical stop that inhibits the rotation of the pivot arm in a second direction about the axis;
- wherein:
- when a first force generated by the first motor exceeds a second force generated by the second motor, rotation of the pivot arm in the first direction is inhibited by the first mechanical stop;
- and
- when the second force generated by the second motor exceeds the first force generated by the first motor, rotation of the pivot arm in the second direction is inhibited by the second mechanical stop.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a power module coupled to the frame;
- a pivot assembly coupled to the frame, the pivot assembly comprising:
- a pivot arm configured to rotate about an axis with respect to the frame;
- a first motor coupled to the pivot arm and powered by the power module, wherein the first motor is configured to rotate with the pivot arm;
- a second motor coupled to the pivot arm and offset with respect to the first motor, the second motor powered by the power module, wherein the second motor is configured to rotate with the pivot arm;
- and
- wherein:
- the pivot assembly is in a lifting position when a first force generated by the first motor is greater than a second force generated by the second motor;
- and
- the pivot assembly is in a thrusting position when the second force generated by the second motor is greater than the first force generated by the first motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.