IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,565,343
Granted Patent B2
US 12,565,343 · App. 18/105,982 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Method, apparatus, and system for supplying power during takeoff and landing of UAM aircraft

Inventors: Dong Hyun Ha (Seoul, KR); Jung Hun Choi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jae Wung Jung (Bucheon-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
B64U50/34B60L53/35B60L53/60B60L53/65B64C39/022B64U10/60B64U50/37B64U70/20B64U70/97B64U70/99B64U80/25B64U2101/00B64U2101/25
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,565,343
App. No.
18/105,982
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for supplying power during the takeoff and landing of an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft is disclosed herein. A power supplying method is performed by a power supply system comprising a drone and a hub. The power supplying method includes: determining whether power is required for an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft to land on the hub using battery information of the UAM aircraft when the UAM aircraft is determined to be in a landing mode; moving the drone from the hub to the UAM aircraft using location information of the UAM aircraft when it is determined that power is additionally required for the UAM aircraft to land on the hub; docking the drone to the UAM aircraft to couple with; and supplying power required for the UAM aircraft to land on the hub to the UAM aircraft by the drone.

Claims (41)

1 . A power supplying method performed by a power supply system comprising a drone and a hub, the method comprising:

determining whether an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicle requires power to land on the hub using battery information of the UAM vehicle when the UAM vehicle is determined to be in a landing mode;

moving the drone from the hub to the UAM vehicle using location information of the UAM vehicle based on a determination that the UAM vehicle requires additional power to land on the hub;

docking the drone to the UAM vehicle; and

supplying power required for the UAM vehicle to land on the hub to the UAM vehicle by the drone,

wherein the drone, the UAM vehicle and the hub each include one or more UWB sensors,

wherein battery information of the UAM vehicle is acquired by an UWB-based link formed between the hub and the UAM vehicle,

wherein the location information of the UAM vehicle is acquired by the UWB-based link formed between the hub and the UAM vehicle and a UWB-based link formed between the drone and the UAM vehicle,

wherein the drone is connected to the hub via a cable, and

wherein authentication of the UAM vehicle is performed by the UWB-based link formed between the drone and the UAM vehicle and an ID of the UAM vehicle obtained using the one or more UWB sensors included in the hub.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery information of the UAM vehicle comprises at least one of State of Health (SOH) or State of Charge (SOC) of a battery of the UAM vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drone is moved by adjusting tension of the cable, and

the tension of the cable is adjusted by an electric motor included in the hub.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a charging terminal of the drone has a circular shape, and a charging connector of the UAM vehicle has a recessed shape.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a drain pipe for removing rainwater or foreign substances.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the drone to the hub using location information of the hub in a state where the drone is coupled to the UAM vehicle; and

docking the drone with the hub,

wherein the location information of the hub is acquired based on the UWB-based link formed between the drone and the hub.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

supplying the additional power to the UAM vehicle by the drone, based on that the UAM vehicle is determined to require charging.

8 . A power supply system comprising a memory and a plurality of processors, wherein at least one processor of the plurality of processors is configured to:

determine whether power is required for an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicle to land on a hub using battery information of the UAM vehicle when the UAM vehicle is determined to be in a landing mode;

move a drone from the hub to the UAM vehicle using location information of the UAM vehicle when it is determined that power is additionally required for the UAM vehicle to land on the hub;

dock the drone to the UAM vehicle to couple with; and

supply power required for the UAM vehicle to land on the hub to the UAM vehicle by the drone,

wherein the drone, the UAM vehicle and the hub each include one or more UWB sensors,

wherein battery information of the UAM vehicle is acquired by an UWB-based link formed between the hub and the UAM vehicle,

wherein the location information of the UAM vehicle is acquired by the UWB-based link formed between the hub and the UAM vehicle and a UWB-based link formed between the drone and the UAM vehicle,

wherein the drone is connected to the hub via a cable, and

wherein authentication of the UAM vehicle is performed by the UWB-based link formed between the drone and the UAM vehicle and an ID of the UAM vehicle obtained using the one or more UWB sensors included in the hub.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the battery information of the UAM vehicle comprises at least one of State of Health (SOH) or State of Charge (SOC) of a battery of the UAM vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the drone is moved by adjusting tension of the cable, and

the tension of the cable is adjusted by an electric motor included in the hub.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a charging terminal of the drone has a circular shape, and a charging connector of the UAM vehicle has a recessed shape.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the hub comprises a drain pipe for removing rainwater or foreign substances.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor of the plurality of processors is further configured to:

move the drone to the hub using location information of the hub in a state where the drone is coupled to the UAM vehicle; and

dock the drone with the hub,

wherein the location information of the hub is acquired based on the UWB-based link formed between the drone and the hub.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the drone supplies the additional power to the UAM vehicle based on that the UAM vehicle is determined to require charging.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: HA, DONG HYUN; CHOI, JUNG HUN; JUNG, JAE WUNG
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062611/0291 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0110575 · Sep 1, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240076070A1 · Mar 7, 2024
References Cited (6)
US 20160144982A1 · Sugumaran · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170158354A1 · Bourne · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190047701A1 · Winkle · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210147074A1 · Crowley · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210237606A1 · McNair · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220223056A1 · Dupray · 2022 [cited by examiner]