IP Library Granted Patent US 11,420,754
Granted Patent B2
US 11,420,754 · App. 16/610,306 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Unmanned flight equipment, alarm device, aerial vehicle, and alarm device release apparatus

Inventor: Kenichi Lee (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
B64D17/80B64D47/00B64D47/02B64D47/06B64C39/024B64C2201/027B64D25/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,420,754
App. No.
16/610,306
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An unmanned flight equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an aerial vehicle capable of flying in an unmanned manner; an abnormality recognition part-configured to recognize an abnormal situation in which a determination is made that it is difficult for the aerial vehicle to continue flight; and an alarm device held on the aerial vehicle and configured to be detached from the aerial vehicle and to warn neighborhood of abnormality when the abnormality recognition part recognizes the abnormal situation.

Claims (31)

1. An unmanned flight equipment comprising:

an aerial vehicle capable of flying in an unmanned manner;

an abnormality recognition part configured to receive a signal during an unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle, and recognize, from the received signal, an abnormal situation in which a determination is made that it is difficult for the aerial vehicle to continue the unmanned flight; and

an alarm device held on the aerial vehicle and configured to be, based on recognition of the abnormal situation by the abnormality recognition part, detached from the aerial vehicle, the alarm device being configured to, based on being detached from the aerial vehicle, descend prior to the aerial vehicle, and activate an alarm mechanism to output warning of abnormality to a neighborhood.

2. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the alarm device includes a parachute.

3. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 2 , wherein

the alarm device further includes a fall controller that is configured to deploy the parachute at a predetermined altitude.

4. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 3 , wherein

the fall controller is configured to acquire an altitude at which the alarm device is detached from the aerial vehicle.

5. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 2 , wherein

the alarm device further includes a fall controller that is configured to deploy the parachute when a predetermined period of time elapses from a moment of detachment of the alarm device from the aerial vehicle.

6. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the alarm device is configured to emit sound, light, and/or smoke.

7. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the aerial vehicle further includes a parachute to be deployed when the aerial vehicle is falling.

8. An alarm device configured to be held on an aerial vehicle that is capable of flying in an unmanned manner,

the alarm device comprising an abnormality recognition part configured to receive a signal during an unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle, and recognize, from the received signal, an abnormal situation in which a determination is made that it is difficult for the aerial vehicle to continue the unmanned flight, wherein

based on recognition of the abnormal situation by the abnormality recognition part, the alarm device is detached from the aerial vehicle, descends prior to the aerial vehicle, and activates an alarm mechanism to output warning of abnormality to a neighborhood.

9. The alarm device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a mounting part attachable to and detachable from the aerial vehicle, wherein

the mounting part is detached when the abnormality recognition part recognizes the abnormal situation.

10. An aerial vehicle capable of flying in an unmanned manner, the aerial vehicle comprising:

an abnormality recognition part configured to receive a signal during an unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle, and recognize, from the received signal, an abnormal situation in which a determination is made that it is difficult to continue the unmanned flight; and

an alarm device release apparatus configured to release an alarm device based on recognition of the abnormal situation by the abnormality recognition part, the alarm device being configured to, based on being released from the aerial vehicle, descend prior to the aerial vehicle, and activate an alarm mechanism to output warning of abnormality to a neighborhood.

11. An alarm device release apparatus mountable to an aerial vehicle that is capable of flying in an unmanned manner, the alarm device release apparatus comprising:

an abnormality recognition part configured to receive a signal during an unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle, and recognize, from the received signal, an abnormal situation in which a determination is made that it is difficult for the aerial vehicle to continue the unmanned flight, wherein

based on recognition of the abnormal situation by the abnormality recognition part, the alarm device release apparatus releases an alarm device, the alarm device being configured to, based on being released from the aerial vehicle, descend prior to the aerial vehicle, and activate an alarm mechanism to output warning of abnormality to a neighborhood.

12. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the abnormality recognition part is configured to receive the signal from an external device, which is used for remotely operating the unmanned flight equipment.

13. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the abnormality recognition part is configured to receive the signal from an aerial vehicle controller, which is included in the aerial vehicle and configured to control the unmanned flight of the aerial vehicle, the signal including information of a remaining battery level of the aerial vehicle.

14. The unmanned flight equipment according to claim 13 , wherein the abnormality recognition part is configured to recognize the abnormal situation based on a battery level being lower than a battery level required for making an emergency landing of the aerial vehicle.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: RAKUTEN INC
To: RAKUTEN GROUP INC
Reel/Frame 056816/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2019
From: LEE, KENICHI
To: RAKUTEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 050915/0463 →