# US 2021/0276732 A1 · Pod cover system for a vertical take-off and landing (vtol) unmanned aerial vehicle (uav)

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- Number: US 2021/0276732 A1
- Document ID: US20210276732A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/083,092
- Filed: 2020-10-28
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-11
- Assignees: AeroVironment, Inc.
- Applicants: AeroVironment, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher; Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee; William Arden Lott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276732A1

## CPC

- B64F 1/005: {Protective coverings for aircraft not in use}
- B64C 29/02: having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
- B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20)
- B64U 70/80: Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets (rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20)
- B64U 80/70: in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence)
- B64U 10/20: Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17)
- B64U 70/92: Portable platforms
- B64U 70/99: Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets
- B64U 80/25: for recharging batteries; for refuelling
- B64U 80/30: with arrangements for data transmission
- B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system includes a UAV pod having an open position and a closed position, the closed position establishing an interior that is weather resistant to an environment external to the UAV pod and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod so that the UAV pod in the closed position provides a weather resistant interior for the VTOL UAV.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, comprising:
a UAV pod having an open position and a closed position, the closed position establishing an interior; and
a UAV pod processor having addressable memory;
a UAV landing surface in communication with the UAV pod processor, wherein the UAV landing surface is oriented to account for crosswind during a launch to provide an advantageous orientation for the launch in the crosswind, and wherein the UAV landing surface rotated after a landing of the UAV on the UAV landing surface to better position the UAV for receipt into the interior of the UAV pod; and
a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises wings to provide the primary source of lift during horizontal flight, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises rotors to provide the primary source of lift during vertical flight, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate to position the VTOL UAV to provide the advantageous orientation for the launch in the crosswind, and wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV do not impinge on the UAV pod during rotation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1 further comprising solar panels on at least one exterior surface, wherein the solar panels charge a UAV pod battery.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1 wherein the UAV pod further comprises a two-part hinged cover, wherein the two-part hinged cover is positioned closed after the UAV is launched by a cover motor and is returned to the open position before the UAV lands by a cover motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1 wherein the interior of the UAV pod is weather resistant to an environment external to the UAV pod in the closed position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1, further comprising:
a weather sensor in communication with the UAV pod processor, wherein the weather sensor is configured to provide measurement of a prevailing wind, wherein the UAV landing surface is rotatable, and wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV are aligned with the prevailing wind in the advantageous orientation of the UAV landing surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to translate up from the interior of the UAV pod to a top opening of the UAV pod prior to the launch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The UAV storage and launch system of claim 1, wherein the UAV landing surface is oriented to account for crosswind during landing of the VTOL UAV to provide the advantageous orientation for landing in the crosswind, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate after landing of the VTOL UAV to position the VTOL UAV for receipt into the interior of the UAV pod such that the wings of the VTOL UAV do not impinge on the UAV pod, and wherein the UAV landing surface is further configured to translate down into the interior of the UAV pod after rotation.

### Claim 8

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, comprising:
a UAV pod having an interior volume and a top opening;
a UAV pod processor having addressable memory;
a UAV landing surface in communication with the UAV pod processor, wherein the UAV landing surface is rotatable to account for crosswind, wherein the UAV landing surface is translatable between the interior volume of the UAV pod and a top opening of the UAV pod, and wherein the UAV landing surface rotated after a landing of a UAV on the UAV landing surface to better position the UAV for receipt into the interior of the UAV pod; and
a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises wings to provide the primary source of lift during horizontal flight, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises rotors to provide the primary source of lift during vertical flight, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate to position the VTOL UAV to provide the advantageous orientation for the launch in the crosswind, and wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV do not impinge on the UAV pod during rotation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The UAV system of claim 8, further comprising:
at least one weather sensor in communication with the UAV pod processor, wherein the weather sensor is configured to measure the external environment, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate to align the wing of the VTOL UAV disposed on the UAV landing surface such that the wing of the VTOL UAV is aligned with a prevailing wind of the measured external environment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The UAV system of claim 8, wherein the VTOL UAV is configured to launch and land on the UAV landing surface, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises wings to provide the primary source of lift during horizontal flight.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the VTOL UAV comprises rotors to provide the primary source of lift during vertical flight.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the UAV landing surface is rotated to provide an advantageous orientation for the launch of the VTOL UAV in the crosswind, and wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV are aligned with a prevailing wind in the advantageous orientation of the UAV landing surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to translate up from the interior volume of the UAV pod to the top opening of the UAV pod prior to the launch of the VTOL UAV, and wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate after translating up to the top opening of the UAV pod to position the VTOL UAV to provide an advantageous orientation for the launch in the crosswind.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the UAV landing surface is rotated to provide an advantageous orientation for the landing of the VTOL UAV in the crosswind, and wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV are aligned with a prevailing wind after landing on the UAV landing surface in the advantageous orientation of the UAV landing surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The UAV system of claim 14, wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to rotate after landing of the VTOL UAV to position the VTOL UAV for receipt into the interior volume of the UAV pod, wherein the wings of the VTOL UAV do not impinge on the UAV pod during rotation of the UAV landing surface after landing of the VTOL UAV, and wherein the UAV landing surface is configured to translate down into the interior volume of the UAV pod from the top opening of the UAV pod after landing of the VTOL UAV and rotation of the UAV landing surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the UAV pod has a rectangular cross-section complementary to an exterior shape of the VTOL UAV.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10, wherein the UAV pod has a dome shape complementary to an exterior shape of the VTOL UAV.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The UAV system of claim 8 further comprising solar panels on at least one exterior surface of the UAV pod, wherein the solar panels charge a UAV pod battery.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The UAV system of claim 10 further comprising a UAV pod cover configured to cover the top opening of the UAV pod.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The UAV system of claim 19, wherein the UAV pod cover is positioned closed by a cover motor after the launch of the VTOL UAV, wherein the UAV pod cover is positioned open by the cover motor before the landing of the VTOL UAV, wherein the UAV pod cover is positioned closed by the cover motor after the landing of the VTOL UAV, and wherein the VTOL UAV is disposed in the interior volume of the UAV pod when the UAV pod cover is positioned closed after landing of the VTOL UAV.