HOVERING AERIAL VEHICLE WITH REMOVABLE ROTOR ARM ASSEMBLIES
The invention provides a hovering aerial vehicle with removable rotor arms and protective shrouds. Removing the shrouds reduces the weight of the vehicle and increases flight time. Removing the rotor arms makes the vehicle easier to transport. Removable rotor arms also simplify field repair or replacement of damaged parts.
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This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/127,638 filed May 15, 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to aerial vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an aerial vehicle with removable arms.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Remote controlled drones with camera capability have been known for many years. These drones are used to provide visual reconnaissance for areas which are typically inaccessible by humans. These types of drones include a hovering aerial vehicle which is lifted and controlled by independently driven rotors or propellers. By varying the thrust generated by each of the rotors, the orientation and speed of the vehicle can be controlled. Various designs have been proposed for such an aerial vehicle, the primary requirement of which is to rigidly mount the rotors at fixed distances from the center of the craft, while minimizing the weight of the structure.
Use of a hovering aerial vehicle is especially effective for providing digital imagery or real-time digital video from aerial vantage points. For instance, first responders to a natural disaster or train derailment can benefit from this aerial vantage point to help determine the imminent danger of the situation. Alternatively, a hovering aerial vehicle can also be used as a security measure to provide a mobile, airborne security system.
In use, these aerial vehicles are typically controlled by a remote control, however, as will be understood, there may be hidden obstacles which can damage the vehicle while in flight. As it is quite expensive to replace one of these vehicles, it is necessary to provide protection to the vehicle.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an aerial vehicle with removable arms.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to an aerial vehicle with removable arms. In another embodiment, the aerial vehicle has protective shrouds. The aerial vehicle includes a central pod from which a set of rotor arm assemblies extend. Each of the rotor arm assemblies include a rotor which provides the necessary thrust to propel the vehicle in desired directions. Surrounding the rotor assemblies is at least one shroud which provides protection for when the vehicle collides with an obstacle. The protection may be provided by a single shroud surrounding each of the rotor arm assemblies or each rotor assembly may be associated with an individual protective shroud.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an aerial vehicle comprising a central pod; a set of rotor arm assemblies, each of the set of rotor arm assemblies connected to and extending the central pod; and a set of shrouds for protecting the set of rotor arm assemblies.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Generally, the present invention provides a novel hovering aerial vehicle. Turning to
In one preferred embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes a mechanism to enable each of the rotor arms 14 to be independently and easily detached from the frame 18. This allows, among other advantages, for convenient storage and transport of the vehicle 10, rapid assembly of the aerial vehicle 10 in the field, or a convenient system for replacing worn or broken components.
In another embodiment, the rotor arm assemblies can be connected via a spring-loaded snap-in mechanism as shown in
Surrounding the rotor arm assembly 14 is the shroud 16 which provides protection to the rotor arm assembly 14 during operation of the vehicle 10. A support rod, or bar, 30 is connected between the motor basket 24 and the shroud 16 to provide further support to the overall vehicle 10. Each shroud 16 includes an interconnect feature, seen as a male protrusion portion, 32 for attachment to, or mating with, a corresponding interconnect feature, seen as a female receiving portion, 39 (as seen in
An advantage of the present invention is that the protective shroud or shrouds 16 are attached to the rotor arm assemblies 14 to protect the individual rotor 27 and rotating blades 26 from contacting objects which can damage the vehicle. Furthermore, the shroud 16 can also shield the user, or operator from being struck by the rotating blades 26 during use.
A printed circuit board 70 in the central pod 52 connects to circuitry inside the vehicle 50 and to the arm circuit board 68 using metal spring pin electrical contacts 72. These electrical contacts can carry both power and data signals to the rotor arm assemblies 58. In a preferred embodiment, an O-ring 74 is used between the rotor arm 56 and the socket 54 to provide an environmentally sealed connection and to reduce vibration of the arm 55 during use.
Retention of the arm 55 in the socket 54 is preferably achieved via spring loaded ball bearing plungers 76. These are mounted on the centre plane of the hemisphere so that the arms are easily removable. The ball bearing mates with corresponding holes in the arm 55 to assist in alignment and retention. When the arm is manufactured from plastic, these holes are preferably reinforced by metal to avoid wear.
Control of the aerial vehicle 10 is preferably via a remote control, such as one of model airplanes. As will be understood, the remote control typically includes at least one joystick for controlling the direction of movement of the vehicle and a second control for controlling the height at which the vehicle hovers. These instructions are transmitted wirelessly between the remove control and the main processor 21 mounted to the central pod 12. Once these instructions are received by the main processor, further instructions are then transmitted to the individual rotor arm assemblies 14 via the central pod rotor arm interface circuit board 40 to rotate the rotor blades 26 in the desired direction in response to the remote control instructions.
Although not shown, the vehicle 10 is powered by a rechargeable battery which can be recharged in any number of ways. In one embodiment, the battery is mounted on the top of the frame 18. It is located outside of the frame 18 so that it is accessible to the user to replace and recharge, when necessary. In the preferred embodiment, the center of mass of the battery should be located directly above the geometric center of the frame to balance the load on each of the rotor arm assemblies 14.
In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus 10 includes a camera or other intelligence gathering payload.
It will be understood that the systems and methods described herein may be embodied in a hardware implementation, mechanical enclosures or some combination thereof. It should also be understood that various modifications can be made to the example embodiments described and illustrated herein, without departing from the general scope of the inventions and associated claims.
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
- a central pod; and
- a set of replaceable rotor arm assemblies, each of the set of rotor arm assemblies connected to and extending the central pod.
2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a set of shrouds for protecting the set of rotor arm assemblies.
3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the number of shrouds equals the number of rotor arm assemblies so that the set of shrouds protect the rotor arm assemblies in a one-to-one relationship.
4. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein there the set of shrouds include at least two shrouds.
5. The aerial vehicle of claim 4 wherein each of the at least two shrouds includes shroud interconnect features for connecting the at least two shrouds together.
6. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the central pod comprises:
- a central pod frame; and
- a set of receptacles for receiving each of the set of rotor arm assemblies.
7. The aerial vehicle of claim 6 wherein each of the set of rotor arm assemblies comprises:
- a retainer ring for mating with one of the set of receptacles;
- a motor;
- a motor basket for housing the motor;
- a rotor arm, having the retainer ring located at one end and connected to the motor basket at the a second end; and
- a set of rotor blades connected to the motor.
8. The aerial vehicle of claim 7 wherein each of the set of rotor arm assemblies further comprises a support arm connecting the rotor arm assembly to a shroud.
9. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further including apparatus for mounting the set of shrouds to the central pod.
10. The aerial vehicle of claim 9 wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a female receiving portion located on the central pod; and
- a complementary male protrusion portion located on each of the set of shrouds.
11. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a processor for communicating with a remote control to receive operational instructions.
12. The aerial vehicle of claim 11 further comprising:
- a central pod rotor arm interface circuit board; and
- a rotor arm circuit board for each of the set of rotor arm assemblies;
- wherein the central pod rotor arm interface circuit transmits instructions to the individual rotor arm circuit boards to communicate the operational instructions.
13. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising landing gear attached to the bottom of the central pod or said set of rotor arm assemblies.
14. The aerial vehicle of claim 1 wherein the rotor arm assemblies are snapped into the central pod.
15. The aerial vehicle of claim 14 wherein the central pod comprises a set of sockets and each of the rotor arm assemblies includes ball plungers for mating with the set of sockets.
16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15 wherein the set of sockets each comprise a set of ball bearings for retaining and aligning the associated rotor arm assembly.
Filed: May 14, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2009
Patent Grant number: 8322648
Applicant: AERYON LABS INC. (Waterloo)
Inventors: David KROETSCH (Kitchener), Mike PEASGOOD (Waterloo), Dale BRUBACHER-CRESSMAN (New Hamburg), Cristian CHERLER (Kitchener), Stephen MARCHETTI (Gatineau)
Application Number: 12/465,912
International Classification: B64C 27/08 (20060101);