Aerial vehicle with frame assemblies
AssigneeSz Dji Technology Co., Ltd.
InventorsTao Wang, Tao Zhao, Hao Du, Mingxi Wang
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Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.
Claims19
A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- a central body;
- at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion;
- and
- a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the UAV;
- wherein each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies are configured to pivot at the proximal portion through a plurality of vertical angles relative to a yaw axis of the central body, the plurality of vertical angles comprising:
- (1) a first vertical angle permitting the distal portion of each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies to be even with the central body during at least a portion of a takeoff phase and a landing phase, (2) a second vertical angle different from the first vertical angle during a flight phase, and (3) a third vertical angle permitting the at least two transformable frame assemblies to support the UAV on a surface when the UAV is in a resting phase.
A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- a central body;
- at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion coupled to the central body;
- an actuation assembly configured to transform, via actuation at the proximal portion, the at least two transformable frame assemblies into a plurality of different configurations;
- and
- a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle;
- wherein the plurality of different configurations comprise (1) a first configuration where the propulsion units are positioned even with the central body during at least a portion of a takeoff phase and a landing phase, (2) a second configuration different from the first configuration during a flight phase, and (3) a third vertical angle permitting the at least two transformable frame assemblies to support the UAV on a surface when the UAV is in a resting phase.
The method for controlling a UAV, said method comprising:
- providing a UAV comprising a central body and at least two transformable frame assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion coupled to the central body;
- operating a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies to move the transformable aerial vehicle;
- and
- driving an actuation assembly mounted on the central body to automatically transform, via actuation at the proximal portion, the at least two transformable frame assemblies into a plurality of different configurations, wherein the plurality of different configurations comprise (1) a first configuration where the propulsion units are positioned even with the central body during at least a portion of a takeoff phase and a landing phase, (2) a second configuration different from the first configuration during a flight phase, and (3) a third vertical angle permitting the at least two transformable frame assemblies to support the UAV on a surface when the UAV is in a resting phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.