Mechanical release device for unmanned aerial vehicle drop-payload
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mechanical release device includes a quick-release UAV-attachment mechanism to attach the UAV mechanical release device to a UAV and a payload latch mechanism to secure and release a drop-payload from the UAV mechanical release device. A latch actuator is connected to the payload latch mechanism to move the payload latch mechanism between a closed position and an open position to release the drop-payload.
1. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mechanical release device, comprising:
a quick-release UAV-attachment mechanism to attach the UAV mechanical release device to a plurality of lugs of a UAV, the quick-release device includes one or more pins configured for insertion in corresponding holes in the plurality of lugs of the UAV;
a payload latch mechanism to secure and release a drop-payload from the UAV mechanical release device; and
a latch actuator connected to the payload latch mechanism, the latch actuator includes a motor to move the payload latch mechanism between a closed position and an open position to release the drop-payload and a manual switch located on a surface of the mechanical release device, the manual switch configured to manually actuate the motor to move the payload latch mechanism between the closed position and the open position.
2. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit connected to the motor, the control circuit configured to actuate the motor in response to a command received by the control circuit.
3. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 2 , further comprising a cable to connect the control circuit to the UAV, the cable configured to provide power and communication from the UAV to the control circuit.
4. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 1 , wherein the payload latch mechanism further includes a manual engagement device to manually move the payload latch mechanism between the closed position and the open position.
5. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additional payload latch mechanism configured to secure and release an additional drop- payload from the UAV mechanical release device independently of the drop-payload; and
an additional latch actuator connected to the additional payload latch mechanism to move the additional payload latch mechanism between a closed position and an open position.
6. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a control circuit connected to the latch actuator and the additional latch actuator, the control circuit configured to actuate the latch actuator and the additional latch actuator in response to one or more commands received by the control circuit.
7. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is configured to actuate the latch actuator and not the additional latch actuator in response to a first command, actuate the additional latch actuator and not the latch actuator in response to a second command, and actuate both the latch actuator and the additional latch actuator in tandem in response to a third command.
8. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mechanical release device, comprising:
an enclosure;
a UAV-attachment mechanism to attach the UAV mechanical release device to a UAV, the UAV- attachment mechanism including a plurality of captured pins to engage a corresponding plurality of lugs of the UAV, the plurality of captured pins extending through the enclosure, each captured pin having a limited range of lateral motion with respect to the enclosure from a closed position in which the captured pin extends through a corresponding hole in a lug of the UAV and an open position in which the captured pin does not extend through the hole in the lug of the UAV;
a payload latch mechanism to secure and release a drop-payload from the UAV mechanical release device, the payload latch mechanism including two or more engagement features including a first engagement feature at an end of a first arm and a second engagement feature at an end of a second arm, the two or more engagement features configured to engage two or more corresponding lugs of the drop-payload that are located in a predetermined arrangement and a circular gear coupled to the first and second arms, the circular gear is rotatable by the motor to move the first and second arms and first and second engagement features in tandem; and
a motor connected to the payload latch mechanism to move the payload latch mechanism between a closed position in which the two or more engagement features engage the two or more corresponding lugs of the drop-payload and an open position in which the two or more engagement features are disengaged from the corresponding lugs of the drop-payload.
9. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , further comprising a manual engagement device to manually rotate the circular gear and move the payload latch mechanism between the closed position and the open position to manually secure and release the drop-payload.
10. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , further comprising a switch on an exterior surface of the enclosure, the switch configured to control the motor to move the payload latch mechanism between the closed position and the open position.
11. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , further comprising a locking pin to lock the payload latch mechanism in the closed position.
12. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a control circuit configured to actuate the motor in response to a command received by the control circuit; and
a cable to connect the control circuit to the UAV, the cable configured to provide power from the UAV to the control circuit and to carry communication, including the command, between a communication circuit of the UAV and the control circuit.
13. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sensors attached to the enclosure and connected to the control circuit to provide sensed data via the control circuit to the communication circuit of the UAV.
14. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of captured pins are arranged in a predetermined pattern to engage a plurality of lugs of the UAV that extend from a mount plate attached to the UAV.
15. The UAV mechanical release device of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure has a first plurality of openings in an upper surface for the plurality of lugs of the UAV and a second plurality of openings in a lower surface for the two or more lugs of the drop-payload.
16. An apparatus, comprising:
an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that includes a communication circuit for communication with a remote control device, the UAV having a plurality of lugs extending from a surface; and
a UAV Mechanical Release Device (MRD) attached to the UAV, the MRD including:
an enclosure;
a UAV-attachment mechanism including a plurality of captured pins that engage the plurality of lugs of the UAV;
a payload latch mechanism to secure and release a drop-payload from the MRD, the payload latch mechanism including a circular gear coupled to a first arm that has a first engagement feature and a second arm that has a second engagement feature, the circular gear is rotatable to move the first and second arms in tandem between a closed position in which the first and second engagement features engage corresponding lugs of the drop-payload and an open position in which the first and second engagement features do not engage the corresponding lugs of the drop-payload;
a motor connected to the circular gear to move the first and second arms between the closed position and the open position;
a control circuit configured to actuate the motor in response to a command received by the control circuit; and
a cable that connects the control circuit to the UAV to provide power and communication from the UAV to the control circuit, the communication including commands received by the communication circuit of the UAV from the remote control device that are sent to the control circuit.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:
an additional payload latch mechanism to secure and release the drop-payload from the MRD, the additional payload latch mechanism including an additional circular gear coupled to a third arm and a fourth arm, the additional circular gear is rotatable to move the third and fourth arms in tandem between a closed position and an open position; and
an additional motor connected to the additional circular gear to move the third and fourth arms between the closed position and the open position, the additional motor configured to actuate the additional motor in parallel with the motor in response to the command.