IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,172,777
Granted Patent B2
US 12,172,777 · App. 18/166,129 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Resilient unmanned aerial vehicle landing platforms

Inventors: James Carthew (Ann Arbor, MI); Nelson Alexander Brock (Sebastopol, CA); John Galin (Mill Valley, CA); Siddharthan Selvasekar (Livermore, CA)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B64U70/93B64F1/02B64U70/95G08G5/0069G08G5/025B64U2201/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,172,777
App. No.
18/166,129
Filed
Feb 8, 2023
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3619
USPC
244/110E
Abstract

Resilient unmanned aerial vehicle landing platforms are disclosed herein. An example device includes a base plate having protuberances that are arranged into rows of concentric rings, each of the protuberances being a conical member that extends orthogonally from the base plate, wherein each of the protuberances is resilient and are adapted to arrest and protect the drone during landing.

Claims (14)

1. A device for landing a drone, comprising:

a support structure; and

a plurality of triangular flaps connected to the support structure, wherein the triangular flaps are configured to support a drone and be displaced to allow the drone to be pulled through a lower end of the device when the drone has landed; and

a plurality of protuberances that are arranged on the triangular flaps, wherein each of the protuberances are resilient and configured to arrest and protect the drone during landing.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be position about an opening of a sunroof or moonroof of a vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the protuberances are angled inwardly towards a center of the device.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein an angle of the protuberances that are angled inwardly towards the center of the device increases as the protuberances get closer to the center of the device.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the protuberances at an outer peripheral edge of the support structure extend orthogonally to the triangular flaps.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the protuberances varies along the device such that the protuberances a an outer peripheral edge of the device are taller than the protuberances near a center of the device.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a platform controller configured to control signals output by an active wireless beacon positioned on the device.

8. A device for landing a drone, comprising:

a support; and

a plurality of resilient blades connected to the support and terminal towards a center of the device, wherein the resilient blades are configured to support a drone and be displaced to allow the drone to be pulled through a lower end of the device when the drone has landed.

9. The device according to claim 8 , further comprising protuberances arranged along a length of each of the resilient blades.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2023
From: CARTHEW, JAMES; BROCK, NELSON ALEXANDER; GALIN, JOHN; SELVASEKAR, SIDDHARTHAN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062706/0532 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240262546A1 · Aug 8, 2024
Cited By (15)
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