SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A TOOL OR A PAYLOAD TO AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

1 . An interface ( 8 ) for attaching a tool or a payload ( 9 ) to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV ( 1 ), comprising:

at least one first connecting element ( 8 a ) for connecting a tool or payload ( 9 ) to the interface ( 8 ) on a tool or payload side thereof;

at least one second connecting element ( 8 b ) for connecting the interface ( 8 ) to an UAV ( 1 ) on a vehicle side of said interface ( 8 );

at least one sensor unit ( 8 c ) configured to measure at least one physical property of the tool or payload ( 9 ), upon said tool or payload ( 9 ) being connected to the interface ( 8 );

at least one control unit ( 8 d ) in operative connection with said at least one sensor unit ( 8 c ) and with at least one data communication element ( 8 g ), said control unit ( 8 d ) is configured to communicate with a flight control unit ( 6 ) of the UAV ( 1 ) for providing said flight control unit ( 6 ) with data related to said measured at least one physical property via said at least one data communication element ( 8 g ).

2 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one sensor unit ( 8 c ) comprises at least one of a force sensor or a load cell.

3 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one second connecting element ( 8 b ) comprises a pin or bolt type connector.

4 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one control unit ( 8 d ) comprises power electronics ( 8 da ), said power electronics ( 8 da ) are configured to adapt a power characteristic of the control unit ( 8 d ) to at least one of a power characteristic of the UAV ( 1 ) or a power characteristic of the tool or payload ( 9 ).

5 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one control unit ( 8 db ) comprises a logical interface unit ( 8 db ) configures to provide data related to said measured at least one physical property to the UAV ( 1 ) to trigger at least one tool or payload related function.

6 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one control unit ( 8 d ) comprises a computational unit ( 8 db ), said computational unit ( 8 db ) is configured with a communication protocol enabling an exchange status information between the UAV ( 1 ) and the tool or payload ( 9 ).

7 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one electrical energy supply unit ( 8 e ) configured to supply electrical energy to any electrical energy consuming unit comprised in at least one of the interface ( 8 ) or to the tool or payload ( 9 ).

8 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one of a data communication element ( 8 f ) in operative connection with said control unit ( 8 d ) and configured to at least receive status data from the tool or payload ( 9 ) connected to the interface ( 8 ) or a data communication element ( 8 g ) in operative connection with said control unit ( 8 d ) and configured to communicate with a flight control unit ( 6 ) of an UAV ( 1 ) for providing said flight control unit ( 6 ) with data related to said measured at least one physical property.

9 . The interface ( 8 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

a human machine interface on the interface ( 8 ) in connection with a database for choosing, from said database, payload- or tool-specific data for transmission to a flight control unit ( 6 ) of an UAV ( 1 ), wherein the human machine interface comprises a touchpad or display with an input configured to allow at least one of an input or selection, from said database, tool/payload data including at least one of a weight or dimensions, displaying a status of an electrical energy supply unit of the tool or payload or the interface, or for triggering a functionality of the tool for test before flight.

10 . An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV ( 1 ), comprising:

a main airframe ( 2 );

at least one propulsion unit ( 3 ) configured for moving the UAV ( 1 ) and attached to said main airframe ( 2 );

at least one flight control unit ( 6 ) configured to control said at least one propulsion unit ( 3 ) and optionally an additional steering unit ( 11 ) for controlling a movement of the UAV ( 1 );

at least one tool or payload connecting element ( 7 ) attached to said main airframe ( 2 ), said tool or payload connecting element ( 7 ) being configured to connect with the interface ( 8 ) according to claim 1 on the vehicle side thereof;

at least one data communication element ( 10 ) configured for at least inputting input data received from said interface ( 8 ) into said least one flight control unit ( 6 ).

11 . The UAV ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein

said least one flight control unit ( 6 ) is configured to control said at least one propulsion unit ( 3 ) and optionally an additional steering unit ( 11 ) for controlling a movement of the UAV ( 1 ) based on said input data.

12 . A tool or payload ( 9 ) for use with an with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV ( 1 ), the tool or payload comprising:

a tool or payload body ( 9 a );

at least one interface connecting element ( 9 c ) attached to said tool or payload body ( 9 a ), said interface connecting element ( 9 c ) being configured to connect with the interface ( 8 ) according to claim 1 on the tool or payload side thereof.

13 . The tool or payload ( 9 ) of claim 12 , further comprising:

at least one data communication element ( 9 b ) configured to provide an operative connection with said control unit ( 8 d ) of the interface ( 8 ) for at least relaying status data from the tool or payload ( 8 ) to the interface ( 8 ) in a connected state.

14 . A system of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV ( 1 ), and the interface ( 8 ) according to claim 1 for attaching a tool or a payload ( 9 ) to said UAV ( 1 ), wherein:

said UAV ( 1 ) including a main airframe ( 2 ), at least one propulsion unit ( 3 ) configured for moving the UAV ( 1 ) and attached to said main airframe ( 2 ), at least one flight control unit ( 6 ) configured to control said at least one propulsion unit ( 3 ) and optionally an additional steering unit ( 11 ) for controlling a movement of the UAV ( 1 ), at least one tool or payload connecting element ( 7 ) attached to said main airframe ( 2 ), said tool or payload connecting element ( 7 ) being configured to connect with the interface ( 8 ) on the vehicle side thereof, and at least one data communication element ( 10 ) configured for at least inputting input data received from said interface ( 8 ) into said least one flight control unit ( 6 );

wherein said interface ( 8 ) is mechanically fastened or fastenable to said UAV ( 1 ); and

wherein said interface ( 8 ) and said UAV ( 1 ) are operatively connected or connectable via said at least one data communication element ( 10 ) of the UAV ( 1 ) and said at least one data communication element ( 8 g ) of the interface ( 8 ).

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a tool or payload ( 9 ) including a tool or payload body ( 9 a ), and at least one interface connecting element ( 9 c ) attached to said tool or payload body ( 9 a ), said interface connecting element ( 9 c ) being configured to connect with the interface ( 8 ) on the tool or payload side thereof, said interface connecting element ( 9 c ) of the tool or payload ( 9 ) being mechanically fastened or fastenable to said interface ( 8 ) on said tool or payload side thereof;

wherein the interface ( 8 ) and the tool or payload ( 9 ) are operatively connected or connectable via at least one data communication element ( 9 b ) of the tool or payload ( 9 ).

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein

said least one flight control unit ( 6 ) is configured to provide a signal for changing a connecting state of said tool or payload ( 9 ) between a first connecting state, in which first connecting state said tool or payload ( 9 ) is fastened or fastenable to the interface ( 8 ), and a second connecting state, in which second connecting state said tool or payload ( 9 ) is detached or detachable from the interface ( 8 ).

17 . A method of operating an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV ( 1 ), as claimed in claim 10 , comprising:

connecting a tool or payload ( 9 ) to the UAV ( 1 ), using the interface ( 8 );

providing the UAV ( 1 ) during operation via said interface ( 8 ) with at least one of status data from said tool or payload ( 9 ) connected to the interface or data from said interface ( 8 ); and

using the at least one of said status data or said data in at least one flight control unit ( 6 ) of the UAV ( 1 ) for at least one of controlling an operation of the UAV ( 1 ) or controlling a connecting state of the tool or payload ( 9 ).