Controller for unmanned aerial vehicles
A controller for an unmanned aerial vehicle may have a top portion configured to interface with a user and a bottom portion on a side opposite the top portion. A device support may be coupled to the controller. The device support may be configured to hold a portable electronic device. The device support may be movable between a closed position in which the device support is received in the bottom portion of the controller and an open position in which the device support extends away from the controller.
1. An assembly, comprising:
a controller for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the controller having a top portion and a bottom portion that defines a cavity;
a device support coupled to the controller, the device support having a lower clamp portion and an upper clamp portion that are configured to hold a portable electronic device, wherein the device support is movable between a closed position, in which the device support is received in the cavity of the bottom portion and located adjacent to, and external from, the bottom portion such that the device support at least partially forms an exterior surface of the bottom portion, and an open position, in which the device support extends away from the controller;
a support stand coupled to the controller, the support stand being configured to support the controller at an angle relative to a surface, wherein the support stand is spring loaded such that the device support pulls the support stand into the cavity of the bottom portion of the controller to position the support stand adjacent to the device support in the cavity of the bottom portion when in the closed position and permits the support stand to automatically extend away from the controller when in the open position; and
antennas for communicating with a UAV, wherein the antennas include a first antenna integrated in the device support and a second antenna integrated in the support stand.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a device support hinge between the controller and the device support, wherein the device support is configured to rotate between the closed position and the open position via the device support hinge.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna is integrated in at least one of the lower clamp portion or the upper clamp portion and the second antenna is integrated in a first leg of the support stand, and wherein the assembly further comprises:
a third antenna integrated in a second leg of the support stand.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a release arranged on the controller, wherein the device support is configured to lock when in the open position, and wherein the release is configured to unlock the device support for moving the device support from the open position to the closed position.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support stand includes a support leg that includes a groove, and wherein a tab of the device support is configured to engage the groove to pull the support leg into the cavity of the bottom portion.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to remain attached to the device support and located in the cavity of the bottom portion when the device support is in the closed position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower clamp portion and the upper clamp portion are configured on a spring loaded telescoping arm.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan arranged in the controller; and
first and second heatsink portions configured to cool first and second components arranged in the controller, respectively, wherein the first and second heatsink portions are arranged adjacent to one another, and wherein the fan is configured to generate an airflow between the first and second heatsink portions.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second heatsink portions configured to cool first and second components arranged in the controller, respectively, wherein the first and second heatsink portions are arranged adjacent to one another, and wherein fins of the first heatsink portion are interleaved with fins of the second heatsink portion with air gaps in between.
10. A system, comprising:
a controller for a UAV, the controller having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the front portion including a port;
a device support coupled to the controller, the device support being configured to hold a portable electronic device for communicating with the UAV, wherein the device support is movable between a closed position, in which the device support is received in a recess of the bottom portion and the device support is positioned external to the bottom portion, and an open position, in which the device support extends away from the controller, and wherein the device support includes a channel that permits access to the port when the device support is in the closed position;
a support stand coupled to the controller and configured to support the controller, wherein the support stand is configured for positioning adjacent to the device support in the recess of the bottom portion of the controller when the device support is in the closed position; and
first and second heatsink portions configured to cool first and second components arranged in the controller, respectively, wherein the first and second heatsink portions are arranged adjacent to one another to permit an airflow between the first and second heatsink portions.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a device support hinge between the controller and the device support, wherein the device support is configured to rotate between the closed position and the open position via the device support hinge.
12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an antenna for communicating with the UAV, wherein the antenna is integrated in the device support.
13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a support stand coupled to the controller, the support stand being configured to support the controller at an angle relative to a surface, wherein the device support causes the support stand to be received in the bottom portion of the controller when in the closed position and the device support permits the support stand to automatically extend away from the controller when in the open position.
14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an antenna for communicating with the UAV; and
a support stand coupled to the controller, the support stand being configured to support the controller at an angle relative to a surface, wherein the antenna is integrated in the support stand.
15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a fan arranged in the controller wherein the fan is configured to generate an airflow between the first and second heatsink portions.
16. A method, comprising:
coupling a device support to a controller for a UAV, the device support being configured to hold a portable electronic device, and the controller having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front portion connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, the front portion having an outlet;
coupling a support stand to the controller, the support stand being configured to support the controller at an angle relative to a surface;
configuring first and second heatsink portions to cool first and second components arranged in the controller, respectively, wherein the first and second heatsink portions are arranged adjacent to one another to permit an airflow between the first and second heatsink portions, the airflow configured to exit the controller through the outlet of the front portion; and
moving the device support between a closed position, in which the device support and the support stand are received in the bottom portion of the controller, the device support and the support stand are located adjacent to one another, and at least a portion of the outlet of the top portion remains unobstructed by the device support, and an open position, in which the device support extends away from the controller, wherein the airflow is generated when the controller is in the open position, and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to remain secured by the device support when the device support is located in the closed position and the open position.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring multiple antennas for communicating with a UAV, wherein the multiple antennas include a first antenna integrated in the device support and a second antenna integrated in the support stand.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring a lower clamp portion and an upper clamp portion on the device support so that the lower clamp portion and the upper clamp portion hold a portable electronic device and so that the lower clamp portion and the upper clamp portion are external to the controller when in the closed position.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring a spring with respect to the support stand, wherein the spring causes the support stand to extend away from the controller when the device support is in the open position.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring a fan in the controller wherein the fan generates the airflow between the first and second heatsink portions.