Base stations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
A method of using a base station to charge an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method includes: docking the UAV with a cradle of the base station; retracting the cradle into an enclosure of the base station via a slide mechanism; and electrically connecting a power source of the UAV to a charging hub connected to the slide mechanism to thereby charge the power source.
1 . A method of using a base station to charge an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
docking the UAV with the base station;
retracting the UAV into an enclosure and towards a charging hub of the base station;
inserting an alignment member carried by an alignment bracket on the charging hub into a receptacle on a power source of the UAV;
inserting a charging member on the charging hub into an opening on the power source;
increasing a preloaded force applied to the alignment bracket by a biasing member positioned within a base of the charging hub, wherein the biasing member is vertically offset from the alignment member; and
inhibiting rotation of the alignment bracket in relation to the base via a cap overlying the charging member.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the preloaded force includes displacing the alignment bracket and the charging member.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein displacing the alignment bracket and the charging member includes compressing the biasing member between the alignment bracket and the base.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein displacing the alignment bracket and the charging member includes moving the alignment bracket and the charging member in unison.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein displacing the alignment bracket and the charging member includes moving the charging member axially within a channel defined by the cap.
6 . A method of using a base station to charge an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
docking the UAV with the base station;
retracting the UAV into an enclosure and towards a charging hub of the base station so as to insert an alignment bracket on the charging hub into a receptacle defined by a power source of the UAV and thereby align a first electrical connector on the charging hub with a second electrical connector on the power source; and
engaging the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to thereby establish an electrical connection between the base station and the UAV and charge the power source.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein retracting the UAV towards the charging hub includes compressing a biasing member positioned between the alignment bracket and a base of the charging hub supporting the alignment bracket.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein compressing the biasing member includes compressing the biasing member within a cavity defined by the base.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein retracting the UAV towards the charging hub includes displacing the alignment bracket to thereby compress the biasing member.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein displacing the alignment bracket includes causing corresponding displacement of a charging member supporting the first electrical connector and connected to the alignment bracket such that the alignment bracket and the charging member move in unison.
11 . A method of using a base station to charge an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
docking the UAV with a cradle of the base station, wherein the cradle is repositionable between an extended position, in which the cradle is positioned externally of an enclosure of the base station, and a retracted position, in which the cradle is positioned within the enclosure;
retracting the cradle into the enclosure via a slide mechanism; and
electrically connecting a power source of the UAV to a charging hub connected to the slide mechanism to thereby charge the power source.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein docking the UAV with the cradle includes guiding the power source into a chamber defined by the cradle via contact between the UAV and tapered side walls of the cradle.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein retracting the cradle includes repositioning the slide mechanism from an extended position into a retracted position.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein repositioning the slide mechanism from the extended position into the retracted position includes telescopically repositioning a movable slide member in relation to a stationary slide member, the charging hub being connected to the stationary slide member.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein retracting the cradle includes aligning a first electrical connector on the charging hub with an opening on the power source to thereby facilitate engagement of the first electrical connector with a second electrical connector on the power source.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein aligning the first electrical connector with the opening on the power source includes inserting an alignment bracket on the charging hub into a receptacle defined by the power source.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein inserting the alignment bracket into the receptacle includes repositioning the alignment bracket from a normal position into a deflected position via movement of the alignment bracket in relation to a base of the charging hub along an axis of movement.
18 . The method of claim 17 , repositioning the alignment bracket from the normal position into the deflected position includes increasing a preloaded force applied to the alignment bracket.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein inserting the alignment bracket into the receptacle includes inserting an alignment member on the alignment bracket into the receptacle, the alignment member extending axially forward of the first electrical connector along the axis of movement.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein repositioning the alignment bracket from the normal position into the deflected position includes inhibiting rotation of the alignment bracket and the first electrical connector in relation to the base via a cap removably connected to the base.