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US 9,688,400 B2Granted
Unmanned aerial vehicle
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorDonald Bolden Hutson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles and methods for providing the same are disclosed. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to a support frame. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations with a continuous track for ground propulsion. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to payload clamps.
Claims29
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a frame portion comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly;
- two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air;
- and
- one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;
- wherein:
- the third assembly is disposed between the first assembly and the second assembly;
- the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly;
- the first assembly comprises a generally rigid frame section that supports the two or more air propulsion devices at a fixed spacing relative to each other;
- the first assembly has at least one annular shape;
- and
- the two or more air propulsion devices are disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly.
8 more elements
A method of manufacturing an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- providing a frame portion that comprises a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly;
- providing two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly configured to propel the frame portion through the air;
- and
- providing one or more ground propulsion devices, the one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;
- wherein:
- the third assembly is disposed between and coupled to the first assembly and the second assembly;
- the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly;
- the first assembly comprises a generally rigid frame section that supports the two or more air propulsion devices at a fixed spacing relative to each other;
- the first assembly has at least one annular shape;
- and
- the two or more air propulsion devices are disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly.
8 more elements
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- frame means comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly;
- air propulsion means comprising two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame means through the air;
- and
- ground propulsion means for propelling the frame means along the ground;
- wherein:
- the third assembly is disposed between the first assembly and the second assembly;
- the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion means on the first assembly;
- the first assembly comprises a generally rigid frame section that supports the two or more air propulsion devices at a fixed spacing relative to each other
- the first assembly has at least one annular shape;
- and
- the two or more air propulsion devices are disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly.
8 more elements
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a frame portion comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly;
- two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air;
- and
- one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;
- wherein:
- the third assembly is disposed between the first assembly and the second assembly;
- the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly
- a first propeller of a first air propulsion device of the two or more air propulsion devices on the first assembly defines a first circular area of rotation;
- a second propeller of a second air propulsion device of the two or more air propulsion devices on the first assembly defines a second circular area of rotation;
- the location at which the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly is between and outside of the first circular area of rotation and the second circular area of rotation
- the first assembly has at least one annular shape;
- and
- at least one of the first circular area of rotation or the second circular area of rotation is disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly.
10 more elements
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a frame portion comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly;
- two or more air propulsion devices arranged on the first assembly, the air propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion through the air;
- and
- one or more ground propulsion devices configured to propel the frame portion along the ground;
- wherein:
- the third assembly is disposed between the first assembly and the second assembly;
- the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly at a location of the first assembly between two of the air propulsion devices on the first assembly
- a first air propulsion device of the two or more air propulsion devices on the first assembly comprises a first propeller guard;
- a second air propulsion device of the two or more air propulsion devices on the first assembly comprises a second propeller guard;
- and
- the location at which the third assembly is coupled to the first assembly is between the first propeller guard and the second propeller guard
- the first assembly has at least one annular shape;
- and
- at least one of the first propeller guard or the second propeller guard is disposed in at least one opening in the at least one annular shape of the first assembly.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.