U.S. patent application number 14/614887 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-15 for unmanned aerial vehicles, charging systems for the same and methods of charging the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. The applicant listed for this patent is Joung-Ho Kim, Youngwoo Kim. Invention is credited to Joung-Ho Kim, Youngwoo Kim.
Application Number | 20180044015 14/614887 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55356606 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180044015 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Joung-Ho ; et
al. |
February 15, 2018 |
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES, CHARGING SYSTEMS FOR THE SAME AND METHODS
OF CHARGING THE SAME
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a body portion, a plurality
of driving portions, a plurality of arms and first and second
landing members. The body portion is formed at a center thereof,
and the body portion includes an inner space defined by an upper
plate, a lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames that
connect the upper plate with the lower plate. The plurality of
driving portions generate an impellent force for a flight. Each of
the plurality of arms has one end connected to the body portion and
the other end connected to one of the driving portions.
Inventors: |
Kim; Joung-Ho; (Daejeon,
KR) ; Kim; Youngwoo; (Daejeon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kim; Joung-Ho
Kim; Youngwoo |
Daejeon
Daejeon |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
Daejeon
KR
|
Family ID: |
55356606 |
Appl. No.: |
14/614887 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 27/24 20130101;
Y02T 10/70 20130101; B64C 2025/325 20130101; B64C 2201/145
20130101; B64C 2201/027 20130101; B64C 39/024 20130101; B64C 39/028
20130101; B64C 29/0016 20130101; B64C 2201/066 20130101; Y02T 50/40
20130101; Y02T 50/60 20130101; B64C 25/52 20130101; B64C 2201/042
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B64C 39/02 20060101
B64C039/02; B60L 11/18 20060101 B60L011/18; B64D 27/24 20060101
B64D027/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0098327 |
Claims
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: a body portion formed at
a center thereof, wherein the body portion includes an inner space
defined by an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of
supporting frames that connect the upper plate with the lower
plate; a plurality of driving portions that generate an impellent
force for a flight; a plurality of arms, each having one end
connected to the body portion and the other end connected to one of
the driving portions; and first and second landing members
connected to the lower plate, wherein the first and second landing
members are opposed to each other and support the body portion such
that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a ground with a
predetermined height from the ground, wherein the first landing
member comprises: a first supporting portion connected to the lower
plate, the first supporting portion extending in a first direction;
and a second supporting portion connected to the first supporting
portion, the second supporting portion extending in a second
direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second
landing member comprises: a third supporting portion connected to
the lower plate, the third supporting portion extending in the
first direction; and a fourth supporting portion connected to the
third supporting portion, the fourth supporting portion extending
in the second direction, wherein the second supporting portion
includes first and second leg portions divided with respect to the
first supporting portion and the fourth supporting portion includes
third and fourth leg portions divided with respect to the third
supporting portion, and wherein a first reception coil that charges
a rechargeable battery installed in the body portion is installed
in the first leg portion and a second reception coil that charges
the rechargeable battery is installed in the fourth leg
portion.
2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first
electromagnet is mounted in the second leg portion, a second
electromagnet is mounted in the third leg portion and the first and
second electromagnets support landing of the unmanned aerial
vehicle.
3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inner space
comprises: a converter coupled to the first and second reception
coils; and a charger coupled to the converter, the charge
configured to charge the rechargeable battery.
4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein each of the
driving portions comprises: a motor that receives a power from the
rechargeable battery to generate a driving force; and a propeller
that receives the driving force from the motor and generates the
impellent force.
5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the body portion
comprises: a control module therein, wherein the control module is
coupled to the rechargeable battery and controls a flight operation
of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and a communication module therein,
wherein the communication module is coupled to the rechargeable
battery and communicates with an external control device to
exchange data with the external control device.
6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein one or more
global positioning system (GPS) sensors are installed in at least
some of the arms.
7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6, wherein the GPS sensors
support an alignment operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle when
the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a charging station.
8. A charging system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the charging
system comprising: a charging station in which transmission coils
coupled to a power supply are installed; and an unmanned aerial
vehicle that includes first and second reception coils, the
unmanned aerial vehicle receiving a power from the charging station
through magnetic coupling, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle
comprises: a body portion formed at a center thereof, wherein the
body portion includes an inner space defined by an upper plate, a
lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames that connect the
upper plate with the lower plate; a plurality of driving portions
that generate an impellent force for a flight; a plurality of arms,
each having one end connected to the body portion and the other end
connected to one of the driving portions; and first and second
landing members connected to the lower plate, wherein the first and
second landing members are opposed to each other and support the
body portion such that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a
ground with a predetermined height from the ground, wherein the
first landing member comprises: a first supporting portion
connected to the lower plate, the first supporting portion
extending in a first direction; and a second supporting portion
connected to the first supporting portion, the second supporting
portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first
direction, wherein the second landing member comprises: a third
supporting portion connected to the lower plate, the third
supporting portion extending in the first direction; and a fourth
supporting portion connected to the third supporting portion, the
fourth supporting portion extending in the second direction,
wherein the second supporting portion includes first and second leg
portions divided with respect to the first supporting portion and
the fourth portion includes third and fourth leg portions divided
with respect to the third supporting portion, and wherein the first
reception coil that charges a rechargeable battery installed in the
body portion is installed in the first leg portion and the second
reception coil that charges the rechargeable battery is installed
in the fourth leg portion.
9. The charging system of claim 8, wherein a first electromagnet is
mounted in the second leg portion, a second electromagnet is
mounted in the third leg portion and the first and second
electromagnets support landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the charging station
comprises: a first guiding rail in which a third electromagnet is
mounted, wherein the third electromagnet combines with the first
electromagnet when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the
charging station; a third guiding rail in which a fourth
electromagnet is mounted, wherein the fourth electromagnet combines
with the second electromagnet when the unmanned aerial vehicle
lands on the charging station; a second guiding rail connected to
the first guiding rail, wherein the second guiding rail is in
contact with the first leg portion when the unmanned aerial vehicle
lands on the charging station; and a fourth guiding rail connected
to the third guiding rail, wherein the fourth guiding rail is in
contact with the fourth leg portion when the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station.
11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein a first shell is
installed in the second guiding rail, the first shell has a
cylindrical shape having a cavity therein, the first shell includes
a first transmission coil therein, and the first shell moves toward
the first leg portion to enfold the first reception coil after the
unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the charging station, wherein a
second shell is installed in the fourth guiding rail, the second
shell has a cylindrical shape having a cavity therein, the second
shell includes a second transmission coil therein, and the second
shell moves toward the fourth leg portion to enfold the second
reception coil after the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the
charging station, and wherein the first and second shells move
after the first through fourth electromagnets are deactivated.
12. The charging system of claim 8, wherein one or more first
global positioning system (GPS) sensors are mounted on at least
some of the arms and one or more second GPS sensors communicating
with the first GPS sensors are mounted on the charging station.
13. A method of charging an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method
comprising: aligning the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to a
charging station by using one or more first global positioning
system (GPS) sensors; landing the unmanned aerial vehicle on the
charging station by activating first through fourth electromagnets,
wherein the first and second electromagnets are mounted on the
unmanned aerial vehicle and the third and fourth electromagnets are
mounted on the charging station; deactivating the first through
fourth electromagnets; and moving a transmission coil toward a
reception coil to charge a rechargeable battery in the unmanned
aerial vehicle, wherein the transmission coil is installed in the
charging station and the reception coil is installed in a landing
member that supports the unmanned aerial vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC .sctn.119 to
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0098327, filed on Jul. 31,
2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] Example embodiments relate generally to aerial vehicles, and
more particularly to unmanned aerial vehicles, charging system for
the same and methods of charging the same.
[0003] This application is supported by a first research project
named "magnetic field resonance based wireless energy transmission
technique" having project serial number `2010-0029179`, sponsored
by a Ministry of Education in Korean government and a second
research project named "vehicle power system integration" having
project serial number `2010-0029374`, sponsored by a Ministry of
Education in Korean government.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Recently, the need of an unmanned aerial vehicle in an
environment where a person feels difficult to work has been
increased. The need of an unmanned aerial vehicle in an environment
where the unmanned aerial vehicle has been applied to wide areas,
for example, the aerial vehicle can acquire video images in an
unapproachable disaster area in the air, test power lines, or
provide concealed information of the enemy in a battlefield, or it
can perform a reconnaissance flight or a surveillance flight. In
addition, the unmanned aerial vehicle is employed in delivery
service. However, when the unmanned aerial vehicles are employed in
various fields, moving range and moving time may have limits due to
battery.
SUMMARY
[0005] Some example embodiments provide an unmanned aerial vehicle
capable of reducing limitations of a battery.
[0006] Some example embodiments provide a charging system capable
of wirelessly charging the unmanned aerial vehicle.
[0007] Some example embodiments provide a method of charging an
unmanned aerial vehicle, capable of reducing limitations of a
battery.
[0008] According to example embodiments, an unmanned aerial vehicle
includes a body portion, a plurality of driving portions, a
plurality of arms and first and second landing members. The body
portion is formed at a center thereof, and the body portion
includes an inner space defined by an upper plate, a lower plate
and a plurality of supporting frames that connect the upper plate
with the lower plate. The plurality of driving portions generate an
impellent force for a flight. Each of the plurality of arms has one
end connected to the body portion and the other end connected to
one of the driving portions. The first and second landing members
are connected to the lower plate, and the first and second landing
members are opposed to each other and support the body portion such
that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a ground with a
predetermined height from the ground. The first landing member
includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting
portion. The first supporting portion is connected to the lower
plate and the first supporting portion extends in a first
direction. The second supporting portion is connected to the first
supporting portion, and the second supporting portion extends in a
second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second
landing member includes a third supporting portion and a fourth
supporting portion. The third supporting portion is connected to
the lower plate, and the third supporting portion extends in the
first direction. The fourth supporting portion is connected to the
third supporting portion, the fourth supporting portion extending
in the second direction. A first reception coil that charges a
rechargeable battery installed in the body portion is installed in
the first leg portion and a second reception coil that charges the
rechargeable battery is installed in the fourth leg portion.
[0009] In example embodiments, a first electromagnet may be mounted
in the second leg portion, a second electromagnet may be mounted in
the third leg portion and the first and second electromagnets may
support landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
[0010] The inner space may include a converter coupled to the first
and second reception coils and a charger coupled to the converter.
The charge may charge the rechargeable battery.
[0011] Each of the driving portions may include a motor that
receives a power from the rechargeable battery to generate a
driving force and a propeller that receives the driving force from
the motor and generates the impellent force.
[0012] The body portion may include a control module and a
communication module therein. The control module may be coupled to
the rechargeable battery and may control a flight operation of the
unmanned aerial vehicle. The communication module may be coupled to
the rechargeable battery and may communicate with an external
control device to exchange data with the external control
device.
[0013] In example embodiments, one or more global positioning
system (GPS) sensors are installed in at least some of the
arms.
[0014] The GPS sensors may support an alignment operation of the
unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on a
charging station.
[0015] According to example embodiments, a charging system for an
unmanned aerial vehicle includes a charging station and an unmanned
aerial vehicle. Transmission coils coupled to a power supply may be
installed in the charging station. The unmanned aerial vehicle
includes first and second reception coils, and the unmanned aerial
vehicle receives a power from the charging station through magnetic
coupling. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a body portion, a
plurality of driving portions, a plurality of arms and first and
second landing members. The body portion is formed at a center
thereof, and the body portion includes an inner space defined by an
upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of supporting frames
that connect the upper plate with the lower plate. The plurality of
driving portions generate an impellent force for a flight. Each of
the plurality of arms has one end connected to the body portion and
the other end connected to one of the driving portions. The first
and second landing members are connected to the lower plate, and
the first and second landing members are opposed to each other and
support the body portion such that the unmanned aerial vehicle
lands on a ground with a predetermined height from the ground. The
first landing member includes a first supporting portion and a
second supporting portion. The first supporting portion is
connected to the lower plate and the first supporting portion
extends in a first direction. The second supporting portion is
connected to the first supporting portion, and the second
supporting portion extends in a second direction perpendicular to
the first direction. The second landing member includes a third
supporting portion and a fourth supporting portion. The third
supporting portion is connected to the lower plate, and the third
supporting portion extends in the first direction. The fourth
supporting portion is connected to the third supporting portion,
the fourth supporting portion extending in the second direction.
The first reception coil that charges a rechargeable battery
installed in the body portion is installed in the first leg portion
and the second reception coil that charges the rechargeable battery
is installed in the fourth leg portion.
[0016] In example embodiments, a first electromagnet may be mounted
in the second leg portion, a second electromagnet may be mounted in
the third leg portion and the first and second electromagnets may
be support landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
[0017] The charging station may include a first guiding rail in
which a third electromagnet is mounted, a third guiding rail in
which a fourth electromagnet is mounted, a second guiding rail
connected to the first guiding rail and a fourth guiding rail
connected to the third guiding rail. The third electromagnet may
combine with the first electromagnet when the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station. The fourth electromagnet may
combine with the second electromagnet when the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station. The second guiding rail may
be in contact with the first leg portion when the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station. The fourth guiding rail may
be in contact with the fourth leg portion when the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station.
[0018] A first shell may be installed in the second guiding rail,
the first shell may have a cylindrical shape having a cavity
therein, the first shell may include a first transmission coil
therein, and the first shell may move toward the first leg portion
to enfold the first reception coil after the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the charging station. A second shell may be
installed in the fourth guiding rail, the second shell may have a
cylindrical shape having a cavity therein, the second shell may
include a second transmission coil therein, and the second shell
may move toward the fourth leg portion to enfold the second
reception coil after the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on the
charging station. The first and second shells may move after the
first through fourth electromagnets are deactivated.
[0019] In example embodiments, one or more first global positioning
system (GPS) sensors may be mounted on at least some of the arms
and one or more second GPS sensors communicating with the first GPS
sensors are mounted on the charging station.
[0020] According to example embodiments, a method of charging an
unmanned aerial vehicle includes aligning the unmanned aerial
vehicle with respect to a charging station by using one or more
first global positioning system (GPS) sensors, landing the unmanned
aerial vehicle on the charging station by activating first through
fourth electromagnets, where the first and second electromagnets
are mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle and the third and fourth
electromagnets are mounted on the charging station, deactivating
the first through fourth electromagnets, moving a transmission coil
toward a reception coil to charge a rechargeable battery in the
unmanned aerial vehicle, where the transmission coil is installed
in the charging station and the reception coil is installed in a
landing member that supports the unmanned aerial vehicle.
[0021] Accordingly, according to example embodiments, reception
coils are installed in landing members of an unmanned aerial
vehicle to minimize weight of the reception coils, and the unmanned
aerial vehicle includes electromagnets installed in the landing
members. Therefore, the unmanned aerial vehicle may be charged with
safety and robustness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Illustrative, non-limiting example embodiments will be more
clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unmanned aerial vehicle
according to example embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unmanned aerial vehicle
of FIG. 1 according to example embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the inner space of the body portion in
FIGS. 1 and 2 according to example embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates the first landing member in the unmanned
aerial vehicle of FIG. 2 according to example embodiments
[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable charging and
housing vehicle according to example embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates that the unmanned aerial vehicle lands on
the vehicle of FIG. 5.
[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates the charging station and the unmanned
aerial vehicle in FIG. 6 according to example embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates that the first shell moves toward the
first leg portion in FIG. 7.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of charging an
unmanned aerial vehicle according to example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Various example embodiments will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some example embodiments are shown. The present inventive concept
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the present inventive concept to those skilled in the art.
In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions
may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numerals refer to like
elements throughout.
[0033] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements,
these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms
are used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first
element discussed below could be termed a second element without
departing from the teachings of the present inventive concept. As
used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the associated listed items.
[0034] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be
directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening
elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred
to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words
used to describe the relationship between elements should be
interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly
between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).
[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting of the present inventive concept. As used herein, the
singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the
plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises"
and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the
presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of
one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof
[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that
terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should
be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0037] In the specification, "unmanned aerial vehicle" refers to a
aerial vehicle that can be remotely controlled by a person without
boarding thereon, and in further detail, it includes a tri-rotor
having three propellers, a quad-rotor having four propellers, a
penta-rotor having five propellers, a hexa-rotor having six
propellers, and an octo-rotor having eight propellers. Thus, the
quad-rotor will be exemplarily described for convenience of
description, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and
it may be variously modified according to the number and
configuration of the propellers.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unmanned aerial vehicle and FIG.
2 is a perspective view of the unmanned aerial vehicle of FIG. 1
according to example embodiments.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an unmanned aerial vehicle 10
may include a body portion 100, four arms 200, four driving
portions 300, and first and second landing members 400 and 500. The
driving portions 300 are respectively mounted at one ends of the
respective arms 200 and the other ends of the respective arms 200
are coupled to the body portion 100 in the center of the
vehicle.
[0040] The arms 200 and the body portion 100 may be coupled using a
bolt and a nut, and any fastening elements can be used to fix and
connect the two constituents 100 and 200.
[0041] The body portion 100 may include an inner space 140 defined
by an upper plate 110, a lower plate 120 and a plurality of
supporting frames 130 connecting the upper plate 110 with the lower
plate 120. As will be described with reference to FIG. 3, the body
portion 100 may include a converter 141, a charger 143, a
rechargeable battery 145, a control module 151 and a communication
module 153 which are installed in the inner space 140.
[0042] The upper plate 110 may have a shape such as a square, a
hexagon, a octagon or a circle, and the lower plate 120 may have a
shape corresponding to the upper plate 110.
[0043] Each of the arms 200 may have a long rectangular shape, and
may have one end coupled to the body portion 110 and the other end
at which each of the driving portions 300 is mounted. The other end
of each arm 300 may have a circular shape. One or more global
positioning system (GPS) sensors 210 may be at least some of the
arms 200 and the GPS sensors 210 may support landing of the
unmanned aerial vehicle 10.
[0044] Each of the driving portions 300 may include a motor 310 and
a propeller 320. The motor 310 converts electrical energy to
mechanical energy and the propeller 320 receives driving force of
the motor 310 to generate impellent force of the unmanned aerial
vehicle 10 for a flight. Although not illustrated, each of the
driving portions 300 may further include a safety cover mounted on
the propeller 320. The safety cover may protects the propeller 320
from peripheral obstacles without interfering operation of the
propeller 320 and simultaneously protects people around the
propeller 320.
[0045] The first and second landing members 400 and 500 are
connected to the lower plate 120, and the first and second landing
members 400 and 500 are opposed to each other and support the body
portion 100 such that the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 lands on a
ground with a predetermined height from the ground. The first
landing member 400 may include a first supporting portion 410 and a
second supporting portion 420. The first supporting portion 410 is
connected to the lower plate 120, and the first supporting portion
410 extends in a first direction. The second supporting portion 420
is connected to the first supporting portion 410, and the second
supporting portion 420 extends in a second direction perpendicular
to the first direction. The second landing member 500 may include a
third supporting portion 510 and a fourth supporting portion 520.
The third supporting portion 510 is connected to the lower plate
120, and the third supporting portion 510 extends in the first
direction. The fourth supporting portion 520 is connected to the
third supporting portion 510, and the fourth supporting portion 520
extends in the second direction.
[0046] The second supporting portion 420 includes first and second
leg portions 430 and 440 divided with respect to the first
supporting portion 410 and the fourth supporting portion 520
includes third and fourth leg portions 530 and 540 divided with
respect to the third supporting portion 510. A first reception coil
431 is in the first leg portion 430, a first electromagnet 441 is
mounted on the second leg portion 440, a second electromagnet 531
is mounted on the third leg portion 530 and a second reception coil
541 is installed in the fourth leg portion 540.
[0047] In addition, although not illustrated, a delivery box
housing a delivery article may be coupled to the lower plate 120
between the first and second landing members 400 and 500. In this
case, the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 may be used for delivering
articles to clients.
[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates the inner space of the body portion in
FIGS. 1 and 2 according to example embodiments.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 3, the inner space 140 may include a
converter 141, a charger 143, a rechargeable battery 145, a control
module 151 and a communication module 153 therein.
[0050] The converter 141 is coupled to the first and second
reception coils 431 and 541, and may convert induced voltage to a
direct current (DC) voltage. The charger 143 may charge the
rechargeable battery 145 based on the DC voltage. The rechargeable
battery 145 may provide a power PWR to the control module 151, the
communication module 153 and each of the motors 310 in FIG. 2. The
control module 151 may control a flight operation of the unmanned
aerial vehicle 10. The communication module 153 may communicate
with an external control device to exchange data with the external
control device.
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates the first landing member in the unmanned
aerial vehicle of FIG. 2 according to example embodiments.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, the first landing member 400 includes
the first supporting portion 410 and the second supporting portion
420. The first supporting portion 410 is connected to the lower
plate 120, and the first supporting portion 410 extends in a first
direction D1. The second supporting portion 420 is connected to the
first supporting portion 410, and the second supporting portion 420
extends in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first
direction D1. The second supporting portion 420 includes the first
and second leg portions 430 and 440 divided with respect to the
first supporting portion 410. The first reception coil 431 that
charges the rechargeable battery 145 is in the first leg portion
430 and the first electromagnet 441 that supports landing of the
unmanned aerial vehicle 10 is mounted on the second leg portion
440. The first reception coil 431 may be coupled to the converter
141 in FIG. 3.
[0053] The second landing member 500 in FIG. 2 may have
architecture corresponding to the first landing member 400, and the
second reception coil 541 installed in the fourth leg portion 540
is electrically coupled to the converter 141 in FIG. 3.
[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable charging and
housing vehicle and FIG. 6 illustrates that the unmanned aerial
vehicle lands on the vehicle of FIG. 5.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a charging station 700 and an
opening and closing unit 620 are installed on an upper landing
portion 610 of a portable charging and housing vehicle (or a
container vehicle) 600. The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may land on
the charging station 700 and may be housed and charged in the
charging station 700. The charging station 700 may move the
unmanned aerial vehicle 10 upwards or downwards. A satellite
antenna 630 may be mounted on the upper landing portion 610.
[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates the charging station and the unmanned
aerial vehicle in FIG. 6 according to example embodiments.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 7, the charging station 700 may include a
power supply 770 on the inside and may include GPS sensors 750 and
760, and first through fourth guiding rails 710, 720, 730 and 740
on the surface thereof The first and second guiding rails 710 and
720 are connected to each other and extend in a first direction
D11. The third and fourth guiding rails 730 and 730 are connected
to each other and extend in the first direction D11 spaced apart
from the first and second guiding rails 710 and 720 by a distance
dl in a second direction D12 perpendicular to the first direction
D11.
[0058] A third electromagnet 711 is mounted on the first guiding
rail 710, and a third electromagnet 731 is mounted on the third
guiding rail 730. A first shell 721 is installed in the second
guiding rail 720, the first shell has 723 a cylindrical shape
having a cavity therein, the first shell 721 includes a first
transmission coil 723 therein, and the first shell 721 moves toward
the first leg portion 431 to enfold the first reception coil 431
after the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 lands on the charging station
700. A second shell 741 is installed in the fourth guiding rail
740, the second shell 741 has a cylindrical shape having a cavity
therein, the second shell 741 includes a second transmission coil
743 therein, and the second shell 741 moves toward the fourth leg
portion 540 to enfold the second reception coil 541 after the
unmanned aerial vehicle 10 lands on the charging station 700. The
first and second transmission coils 723 and 743 are electrically
coupled to the power supply 770 and the power supply 770 may apply
a power to the first and second transmission coils 723 and 743
after the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 lands on the charging station
700 and the first through fourth electromagnets 441, 531, 711 and
731 are deactivated.
[0059] When the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 approaches the charging
station 700 for landing, the GPS sensors 210 communicate with the
GPS sensors 750 and 760 such that the second and fourth supporting
portions 420 and 520 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 is aligned
along the first direction D11. After the second and fourth
supporting portions 420 and 520 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10
is aligned along the first direction D11, the first electromagnet
441 interacts with the third electromagnet 711 and the second
electromagnet 531 interacts with the fourth electromagnet 731, and
thus the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 lands on the charging station
700. Therefore, the first leg portion 430 combines with the second
guiding rail 720 and the fourth leg portion 540 combines with the
fourth guiding rail 740. After the first leg portion 430 combines
with the second guiding rail 720 and the fourth leg portion 540
combines with the fourth guiding rail 740, the first through fourth
electromagnets 441, 531, 711 and 731 are deactivated and the first
shell 721 moves toward the first leg portion 430 to enfold the
first reception coil 431 and the second shell 741 moves toward the
fourth leg portion 540 to enfold the second reception coil 541. The
power supply 770 provides the power to the first and second
transmission coils 723 and 743. The first reception coil 431
wireless charges the rechargeable battery 145 through magnetic
coupling with the first transmission coil 723 and the second
reception coil 541 wireless charges the rechargeable battery 145
through magnetic coupling with the second transmission coil
743.
[0060] FIG. 8 illustrates that the first shell moves toward the
first leg portion in FIG. 7.
[0061] After the first and third electromagnets 441 and 711
interact each other and the first and third electromagnets 441 and
711 combine with respect to each other, the first shell 721 having
the first transmission coil 723 therein moves toward the first leg
portion 430 to enfold the first reception coil 431. After the first
shell 721 enfolds the first reception coil 431, the current is
applied to the first transmission coil 723 to charge the
rechargeable battery 145. When the rechargeable battery 145 is
charged according to above-mentioned description, charging
efficiency may increase and leakage of electromagnetic wave may be
prevented because a distance between the first transmission coil
723 and the first reception coil 431 is close to each other. In
addition, the first and third electromagnets 441 and 711 are
deactivated when the rechargeable battery 145 is being charged such
to minimize interference.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of charging an
unmanned aerial vehicle according to example embodiments.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, in a method of charging an
unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 is aligned
along the guiding rails 710, 720, 730 and 740 by using GPS sensors
210, 750 and 760 (S110). The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 is landed
on the charging station 700 by activating first through fourth
electromagnets 441, 531, 711 and 731, where the first and second
electromagnets 441 and 531 are mounted on the landing members 400
and 500 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 and the third and fourth
electromagnets 711 and 731 are mounted on the guiding rails 710 and
730 of the charging station 700 (S120). The first through fourth
electromagnets 441, 531, 711 and 731 are deactivated (S130). The
transmission coils 723 and 743 in the charging station 700 are
moved toward the reception coils in the unmanned aerial vehicle 10
respectively and the current is applied to the transmission coils
723 and 743 to charge the rechargeable battery 145 (S140).
[0064] Example embodiments may be applied to various delivery
system and obtaining information in disaster area, which use
unmanned aerial vehicles.
[0065] The foregoing is illustrative of example embodiments and is
not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few example
embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the
example embodiments without materially departing from the novel
teachings and advantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly,
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of the present disclosure as defined in the claims.
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