US 9,550,577 B1Granted

Electricity generation in automated aerial vehicles

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsBrian C. Beckman, Amir Navot, Daniel Buchmueller, Gur Kimchi, Fabian Hensel, Scott A. Green, Brandon William Porter, Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

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Abstract

This disclosure describes a system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle wherein the battery life may be extended by performing one or more electricity generation procedures on the way to a destination (e.g., a delivery location for an item). In various implementations, the electricity generation procedure may include utilizing an airflow to rotate one or more of the propellers of the automated aerial vehicle so that the associated propeller motors will generate electricity (e.g., which can be utilized to recharge the battery, power one or more sensors of the automated aerial vehicle, etc.). In various implementations, the airflow may consist of a wind, or may be created by the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air (e.g., as part of a normal flight path and/or as part of an aerial maneuver).

Claims21

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for operating an automated aerial vehicle, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,
controlling a plurality of propeller motors to navigate the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path related to a delivery of an item, each of the propeller motors receiving electricity as supplied from a power supply for powering the propeller motor to rotate a respective propeller, wherein the power supply comprises a battery;
and
executing an electricity generation procedure, comprising:
ceasing to supply electricity from the power supply to at least one of the propeller motors;
adjusting an orientation of the respective propeller of the at least one propeller motor relative to an airflow that is able to rotate the respective propeller and correspondingly cause the at least one propeller motor to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that is able to rotate the respective propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air;
and
utilizing the electricity that is generated from the at least one propeller motor to at least one of recharge the battery of the power supply or power a sensor of the automated aerial vehicle;
and
controlling one or more of the plurality of propeller motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

7 more elements

A computer-implemented method for operating an automated aerial vehicle that includes a plurality of propeller motors and a power supply, the computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,
controlling the plurality of propeller motors to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path, wherein each of the propeller motors is configured to rotate a respective propeller;
adjusting an orientation of a respective propeller of a propeller motor relative to an airflow as part of an electricity generation procedure during which the airflow rotates the respective propeller and correspondingly causes the propeller motor to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that rotates the respective propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as the automated aerial vehicle moves through the air;
and
controlling one or more of the plurality of propeller motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

2 more elements

A system for transporting items, the system comprising:

an automated aerial vehicle, including:
a plurality of motors, each motor coupled to a propeller and configured to rotate the propeller;
a power supply connected to the plurality of motors and configured to provide electricity to the plurality of motors;
and
an inventory engagement mechanism for engagement and transport of items;
and
a computing system, including:
one or more processors;
and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least:
control the plurality of motors to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a flight path;
adjust an orientation of at least one propeller relative to an airflow as part of an electricity generation procedure during which the airflow rotates the at least one propeller to generate electricity, wherein the airflow that rotates the at least one propeller is provided at least in part by kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as the automated aerial vehicle moves through the air;
and
control one or more of the plurality of motors as powered by the power supply to fly the automated aerial vehicle along a remaining portion of the flight path after the electricity generation procedure is initiated and before a landing of the automated aerial vehicle.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.