IP Library Granted Patent US 10,472,051
Granted Patent B2
US 10,472,051 · App. 15/342,980 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Apparatus and method for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system

Inventors: Donald R. High (Noel, MO); Michael D. Atchley (Springdale, AR); John P. Thompson (Bentonville, AR); Chandrashekar Natarajan (San Ramon, CA)
Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
B64C17/04B64C25/52B64C27/08B64C39/024B64C2025/325B64C2201/027B64C2201/108B64C2201/128B64C2201/18
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,472,051
App. No.
15/342,980
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system. An apparatus for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system comprises a ring member and a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to a multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member. Wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to a multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members hold the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter;

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring and the pair of attachment members are further configured to hold the ring member such that each vertices of the polygonal ring is aligned with a motor, a blade, or a wing of the multicopter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the ring member is equal or greater than a wing span of the multicopter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the attachment members each attaches to a landing gear of the multicopter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the attachment members are coupled to the ring member via hinges.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each attachment member comprises a horizontal bar and the second end of each attachment member comprises two vertical bars extending vertically from the horizontal bar.

8. A method for stabilizing an unmanned aerial system, comprising:

coupling a stabilizer frame to a multicopter, the stabilizer frame comprising:

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to attach to the multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopter,

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring and the pair of attachment members are further configured to hold the ring member such that each vertices of the polygonal ring is aligned with a motor, a blade, or a wing of the multicopter.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the ring member is equal or greater than a wing span of the multicopter.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first end of the attachment members each attaches to a landing gear of the multicopter.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the attachment members are coupled to the ring member via hinges.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first end of each attachment member comprises a horizontal bar and the second end of each attachment member comprises two vertical bars extending vertically from the horizontal bar.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: attaching a package to the multicopter through a center of the ring member.

16. A stabilized unmanned aerial system, comprising:

a multicopter comprising a plurality of motors and at least one blade driven by each of the plurality of motors;

a stabilizer comprising:

a ring member; and

a pair of attachment members each having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the multicopter and a second end being coupled to the ring member;

wherein the pair of attachment members holds the ring member such that a plane of a circumference of the ring member is generally parallel to blades of the multicopters;

wherein the pair of attachment members pivots to raise the ring member when a landing gear of the multicopter is in an up position and pivots to lower the ring member when the landing gear is in a down position.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the ring member comprises a polygonal ring having a number of vertices equal to a number of one or more of motors, blades, and wings of the multicopter.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER 62125147 TO APPLICATION NUMBER 62425147 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045780 FRAME 0612. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2018
From: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 046458/0270 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2018
From: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045780/0612 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2016
From: HIGH, DONALD R.; ATCHLEY, MICHAEL D.; THOMPSON, JOHN P.; NATARAJAN, CHANDRASHEKAR
To: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040218/0083 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62251429 · Nov 5, 2015
Related Publication 20170129591A1 · May 11, 2017