Patent ID: 11897632
Assignee: SKYDIO, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 9:
10. A method comprising:
controlling a propulsion mechanism of an unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to a location in a vicinity of a dock that includes a landing surface with a funnel geometry shaped to fit a bottom surface of an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the landing surface includes a plurality of tapered sides forming corners at a base of the landing surface;
controlling the propulsion mechanism to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a final approach to touch down on the landing surface;
while the final approach is being performed, monitoring inertial measurements of the unmanned aerial vehicle to check whether the landing surface has been properly engaged;
responsive to proper engagement of the landing surface, applying a torque to the unmanned aerial vehicle using the propulsion mechanism; and
checking if rotation of the unmanned aerial vehicle responsive to the torque is prevented.