IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,836,484
Granted Patent B2
US 10,836,484 · App. 15/760,094 · Granted Nov 17, 2020

Unmanned aerial robotic vehicle with mounting mechanism

Inventor: Lucio Volpi (Tarzana, CA)
B64C39/024B25J9/06B25J11/00B25J13/02B25J15/00B25J19/023B64D47/00B64C2201/027B64C2201/108B64C2201/12B64C2201/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,836,484
App. No.
15/760,094
Granted
Nov 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An unmanned aerial robotic vehicle (UARV) that can fly to an object such as a palm tree, hover in place adjacent to the object, mount itself securely and releasably to a mounting location on the object using a mounting mechanism, and which uses an incorporated utility system for performing one or more utilitarian functions, such as use of a cutting tool to trim palm tree branches and foliage.

Claims (46)

1. An unmanned aerial robotic vehicle capable of flying and hovering above the ground adjacent to a mounting location on an object, said unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body,

a vehicle thruster, and

an object mounting mechanism comprising a grip arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

said proximal end being attached to said vehicle body;

a plurality of grip segments movably joined together end-to-end between said proximal end and said distal end;

each grip segment having an inner mounting surface on an inner side of said grip arm; and

one or more actuators to shape the grip arm inner side to conform to a surface of a mounting location on an object by said actuators moving said grip segments in relation to one another so as to position inner mounting surfaces of the grip segments closer together or further apart.

2. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said object mounting mechanism comprises two of said grip arms in an opposed jaw configuration.

3. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said actuators position each of said in-line grip segments individually.

4. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a dynamic balance system that shifts the weight of an internal battery during vehicle operations to help maintain the balance of the vehicle.

5. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said arm further comprises a grip enhancer.

6. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a mounting guide post.

7. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a utility system.

8. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 7 where said utility system comprises a multi-segment retractable tool arm having a proximal end attached to said vehicle body and a distal end with an attached tool component.

9. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 8 where said tool component is releasably attached to said distal end.

10. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a debris screen.

11. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said utility system comprises a surveillance system.

12. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said utility system comprises a weapons system.

13. The unmanned aerial robotic vehicle of claim 1 where said utility system comprises a communications system.

14. An unmanned aerial robotic vehicle docking system for mounting an unmanned aerial robotic vehicle onto an object comprising:

a. an unmanned aerial robotic vehicle capable of flying and hovering above the ground adjacent to a mounting location on said object, said unmanned aerial vehicle comprising;

a vehicle body;

a vehicle thruster;

an object mounting mechanism comprising a grip arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

said proximal end being attached to said vehicle body;

a plurality of grip segments movably joined together end-to-end between said proximal end and said distal end;

each grip segment having an inner mounting surface on an inner side of said grip arm;

one or more actuators to shape the grip arm inner side to conform to a surface of a mounting location on an object by said actuators moving said grip segments in relation to one another so as to position inner mounting surfaces of the grip segments closer together or further apart;

a vehicle dock connector; and

b. an object docking port having an object attachment mechanism and where said object docking port is configured to form a releasable coupling connection with said vehicle dock connector.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said vehicle dock connector further comprises a vehicle bus; said object docking port further comprises a dock bus; and said releasable coupling connection further comprises a connection between said vehicle bus and said dock bus.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising an object power station.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising an object communications station.

18. A system for remotely controlling an unmanned aerial robotic vehicle capable of being mounted onto an object comprising:

a. an unmanned aerial robotic vehicle capable of flying and hovering above the ground adjacent to an object, said unmanned aerial robotic vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body,

a vehicle thruster, and

an object mounting mechanism comprising a grip arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

said proximal end being attached to said vehicle body;

a plurality of grip segments movably joined together end-to-end between said proximal end and said distal end;

each grip segment having an inner mounting surface on an inner side of said grip arm;

one or more actuators to shape the grip arm inner side to conform to a surface of a mounting location on an object by said actuators moving said grip segments in relation to one another so as to position inner mounting surfaces of the grip segments closer together or further apart; and

b. a remote controller having an object mounting mechanism control.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a utility system and where said remote controller further comprises a utility system control.

20. The system of claim 18 where said remote controller comprises a device having a visual display for displaying information from said unmanned aerial robotic vehicle, and a wearable unmanned aerial robotic vehicle control mechanism responsive to an operator's physical movements.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62323723 · Apr 17, 2016
Related Publication 20180257774A1 · Sep 13, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,420,399 US 12,704,358