Docking station for unmanned aerial vehicles

A docking assembly for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The docking assembly includes a dock having a shaft. The present invention further includes UAVs. Each of the UAVs include a slot sized such that the shaft may slidably and linearly engage the slot. The shaft of the dock inserts through the slot of the UAVs, thereby docking the UAVs on the dock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and, more particularly, to a UAV docking station.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a UAV, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. UAVs are becoming ever more present in society for a wide array of applications, such as inspecting infrastructure, search and rescue missions, and aiding in agriculture. Further, every UAV application would almost certainly benefit in some regard from an automated (or semi-automated) UAV station. Clearly, the ideal UAV station must fulfill various responsibilities. Nevertheless, current UAV stations are limited by their UAV docking mechanism. Most, if not all, UAV stations are limited to a capacity of a single UAV.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved UAV docking station that may efficiently secure more than one UAV.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a docking assembly for unmanned aerial vehicles comprises: a dock comprising a shaft; and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a slot, wherein the shaft of the dock inserts through the slot of the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle, thereby docking the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle on the dock.

In another aspect of the present invention, an unmanned aerial vehicle dock comprises: a base comprising an upper surface and a lower surface; a shaft extending from the upper surface of the base, wherein the shaft is configured to insert through a slot of an unmanned aerial vehicle; and a battery charger configured to charge the unmanned aerial vehicle when the shaft is disposed through the slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a docking station for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The docking stations stacks, stabilizes, and charges the UAVs. Stacking UAVs allows for more UAVs to be housed in a smaller surface area. The present invention also eliminates the need for legs on a UAV, thus making both, the UAVs and UAV stations, much smaller and more space efficient than existing solutions.

The present invention may include the following benefits. Firstly, while one UAV is in use the others may be charging which results in the first added benefit, which is continuous UAV usage. Secondly, one may use multiple UAVs at the same time resulting in higher productivity in areas such as agriculture and search and rescue missions as well as more viewing angles for inspections or filming. Lastly, stacking UAVs in a station allows for a higher UAV supply across a network of such stations. This makes the present invention capable of handling more demand and therefore uniquely capable of hosting a network of strategically placed multipurpose drone stations.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention includes docking assembly for unmanned aerial vehicles36(UAVs). The docking assembly includes a dock10,26having a shaft10. The present invention further includes UAVs36. Each of the UAVs36include a slot38sized such that the shaft10may slidably and linearly engage the slot38. The shaft10of the dock10,26inserts through the slot38of the UAVs, thereby docking the UAVs on the dock10,26.

The dock10,26further includes a horizontally disposed base26having an upper surface and a lower surface. The shaft10vertically extends from the upper surface of the base26. The shaft10of the present invention may include a cylindrical shape. The length of the shaft10determines how many UAVs26can be stacked on the dock10,26.

The shaft10may further include a battery charger20,22operable to charge a battery of the UAVs36when the UAVs36are docked. The battery charger20,22may include a positive charge contact ring20and a negative charge contact ring22. In such embodiments, each of the UAVs36may include a positive contact tab42and a negative contact tab44that align with the positive charge contact ring20and the negative charge connect ring22when the unmanned aerial vehicle36is docked.

In certain embodiments, the battery charger20,22includes a plurality of pairs of contact rings, each of the pairs of contact rings including the positive charge contact ring20and the negative charge contact ring22. The plurality of pairs of contact rings are evenly spaced apart along the shaft by spacers16. This allows multiple UAVs36to be stacked on the shaft10and to be charged at the same time. A power source is electrically connected to the positive charge contact rings20and the negative charge contact rings22, allowing the battery charger20,22to provide power to the UAVs36.

The shaft10of the present invention may further include a support12coupled to the upper surface of the base26. A solid inner shaft14extends upward from the support12and provides most of the structural rigidity to the shaft10. The plurality of spacers16and contact mounts18may alternate and stack on the inner shaft14. A cap24secures to the top of the inner shaft14, thereby containing the spacers16and contact mounts18. The positive charge contact rings20and the negative charge contact rings22are coupled to the contact mounts18. The spacers16space the contact mounts18appropriately. Pairs of contact mounts18are evenly spaced apart because each UAV36has the same predetermined height. The spacers16and the inner shaft14may be made of a strong lightweight material, such as carbon fiber and the like.

The dock10,26may further includes wheels30coupled to the base26and extending from the lower surface of the base26. A plurality of feet32may be coupled to and extend from the lower surface of the base26to support the dock10,26in an upright position for landing and deploying of UAVs36. The present invention may further include a handle28coupled to the base10,26. The handle28is extendable and retractable from the base10,26. The handle28may be disposed on an opposing side of the wheels30. Therefore, a user may transport the dock10,26by extending the handle28and rolling the dock10,26by the wheels30.

The UAVs36may each include centrally disposed slots38that fit over the shaft10. For example, the slots38may be formed through the UAVs36near its center of mass. Each of the UAVs36may include charging printed circuit board40(PCB) disposed within the slot38. The charging PCB40includes the positive contact tabs42and the negative contact tabs44. The contact tabs42,44may be spring loaded mechanisms that are designed to push the contacts tabs42,44towards the charging shaft10and onto the positive charge contact ring20and the negative charge contact ring22respectively when the UAV36is docked.

During the docking process, the UAV36uses an embedded camera and a visual cue34on the dock10,26(such as an aruco tag) to localize itself and align itself over the docking shaft10. The UAV36lowers to the lowest available position to end the docking sequence. The undocking process simply involves the top-most UAV36starting its motors and lifting itself off the shaft10. While the UAVs36are docked, the power source supplies power to the shaft10which is then distributed to the UAVs36.

In alternate embodiments, spring loaded contacts42,44in the charging slot38on the UAV36may be rigidly mounted onto the UAV36. Furthermore, there are some design additions that could improve performance, such as, but not limited to, a linear bearing in-line with the charging slot38to decrease friction and increase ease of docking, and a magnet placed at the tip of the charging shaft10and at the base of the UAV slot38to add passive magnetic alignment. This would increase the ease of docking. Alternatively, a set of magnets placed in such a manner where the magnetic field still pulls the docking shaft tip towards the UAV docking slot.

Referring toFIG. 8, the present invention may include an elongated shaft46having contact rings20,22to dock and charge four or more UAVs36. Referring toFIG. 9, an alternative base48may not include the handle28and the wheels30.

The docking mechanism described herein could be used in various larger assembly's and in countless applications. The docking mechanism may be integrated in a fully functional UAV station with capabilities including but not limited to: UAV charging, weather protection, theft protection, and autonomous docking and undocking. Furthermore, the present invention may include an accompanying website or app based interface through which users are able to make use of the UAVs for their various applications. Depending on the application, the user may desire to control the UAV by hand, using a UAV remote control interface, or to have the UAV fly autonomously through a preplanned flight.