US 2017/0282734 A1 · UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SELF-ALIGNING BATTERY ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for inserting and removing a battery assembly from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and/or a UAV ground station (UAVGS). For example, systems and methods described herein enable convenient installation of a battery assembly within a UAV. The battery assembly and UAV further include features that facilitate secure connection of the battery assembly within the UAV and which prevents wear due to frequent installation and removal of the battery assembly within a receiving slot of the UAV. In one or more embodiments, the battery assembly includes a housing and one or more connectors having one or more features that cause the battery assembly to self-align when the battery assembly is inserted within the receiving slot of the UAV.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A self-aligning battery assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing being sized to fit into a receiving slot of the UAV, wherein the housing has a shape that causes the housing to self-align within the receiving slot within a first tolerance level when the housing is inserted into the receiving slot;
a power connector positioned at a first end of the housing, the power connector sized to engage with a corresponding power contact within the receiving slot of the UAV, wherein the power connector has a shape that causes the housing to self-align from the first tolerance level to a second tolerance level when the power connector engages the corresponding power contact when the housing is inserted into the receiving slot;
and
a data connector positioned at the first end of the housing, the data connector sized to engage a corresponding data contact within the receiving slot of the UAV, wherein the data connector is positioned to engage the corresponding data contact when the housing self-aligns within the second tolerance level when the housing is inserted into the receiving slot.

1 more element

A method for replacing a dual-connector battery assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

engaging an end of a battery assembly, the battery assembly comprising a power connector and a data connector positioned on a first end of the battery assembly;
placing the battery assembly into an opening of a receiving slot, the receiving slot having a power contact corresponding to the power connector and a data contact corresponding to the data connector, wherein the receiving slot is sized to receive the housing of the battery assembly;
inserting the battery assembly into the receiving slot, wherein a shape of the housing causes the battery assembly to self-align within a first tolerance level as the battery assembly is inserted within the receiving slot;
and
when the battery assembly is aligned within the first tolerance level, connecting the power connector to the corresponding power contact, wherein connecting the power connector to the corresponding power contacts causes the battery assembly to further self-align from within the first tolerance level to within a second tolerance level;
when the battery assembly is aligned within the second tolerance level, connecting the data connector to the corresponding data contact.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Unmanned aerial vehicle self-aligning battery assembly

Life of this patent

Unmanned aerial vehicle self-aligning battery assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20