IP Library Granted Patent US 12,338,013
Granted Patent B2
US 12,338,013 · App. 18/719,857 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Unmanned aerial vehicle support device and unmanned aerial vehicle support system

Inventor: Kenji Takeda (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
B64U70/50H02M7/5387B64U2201/20H02J3/38H02J2300/20H02J2310/40H02P27/00
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 12,338,013
App. No.
18/719,857
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The consumption of stored energy by an unmanned aerial vehicle is reduced by raising the unmanned aerial vehicle through an unmanned aerial vehicle support device, and accordingly, the cruising distance is increased. An unmanned aerial vehicle support device 10 includes a loading unit 1 and a control unit that controls raising and lowering of the loading unit. The loading unit 1 is raised to a predetermined height to enable the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 to take off. An unmanned aerial vehicle support system includes a server 5 that can communicate with the unmanned aerial vehicle support device 10 and selects a route on which the unmanned aerial vehicle 100 flies and one or more unmanned aerial vehicle support devices 10 on the route based on movement information including at least a departure point and a destination of the unmanned aerial vehicle input from the outside.

Claims (38)

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle support system, comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle support device that includes a loading unit on which an unmanned aerial vehicle is loaded and a control unit that controls raising and lowering of the loading unit and raises the loading unit to a predetermined height to enable the unmanned aerial vehicle to take off;

a server that is able to communicate with the unmanned aerial vehicle support device and selects a route on which the unmanned aerial vehicle flies and one or more unmanned aerial vehicle support devices on the route based on movement information including at least a departure point and a destination of the unmanned aerial vehicle input from an outside; and

a user terminal that is connected to the server through a network to input cargo weight information,

wherein the server calculates net power information consumed for raising the unmanned aerial vehicle based on power information measured inside the control unit and power information measured inside the loading unit,

wherein the server corrects the net power information consumed for raising the unmanned aerial vehicle using the cargo weight information.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the loading unit includes a detection unit that detects the unmanned aerial vehicle loaded on the loading unit, and

wherein the control unit controls raising and lowering of the loading unit based on a detection result of the detection unit.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the control unit raises the loading unit when the detection unit detects landing or loading of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the loading unit.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the control unit lowers the loading unit when the detection unit detects takeoff of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the loading unit.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a storage battery capable of supplying power to the loading unit; and

a means for charging the storage battery.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit includes:

a motor that drives the loading unit up and down; and

an inverter that supplies power to the motor and controls rotation of the motor.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle support device is located at a relay point on the route on which the unmanned aerial vehicle flies.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the loading unit includes a detection unit that detects the unmanned aerial vehicle loaded on the loading unit,

wherein the detection unit detects identification information of the loaded unmanned aerial vehicle,

wherein the movement information includes identification information of the unmanned aerial vehicle reserved for loading onto the loading unit, and

wherein the control unit controls raising and lowering of the loading unit when the identification information of the loaded unmanned aerial vehicle matches the identification information of the unmanned aerial vehicle reserved for loading onto the loading unit.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the server transmits reservation information that is a time to raise and lower the loading unit, and

wherein the control unit controls the loading unit based on the reservation information.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the server transmits a height command to give an instruction for a height to which the loading unit is raised, and

wherein the control unit raises the loading unit based on the height command.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle support device includes a renewable energy generation facility, and

wherein the server calculates a power component supplied from the renewable energy generation facility from power consumption or an amount of power consumption of the unmanned aerial vehicle support device required for raising the loading unit and transmits the calculated power component to the outside.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle support system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the server predicts changes in at least one of an operating rate, a sales balance, and environmental effects of the unmanned aerial vehicle support device when a new unmanned aerial vehicle support device is installed, and outputs candidate locations and a prediction result.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: TAKEDA, KENJI
To: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067727/0060 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-069784 · Apr 20, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250042580A1 · Feb 6, 2025
References Cited (30)
US 9718564B1 · Beckman · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 10112712B1 · Gentry · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10336543B1 · Sills · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11691756B1 · Ludington · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20080226284A1 · Coppola · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20150129716A1 · Yoffe · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180130017A1 · Gupte · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180245365A1 · Wankewycz · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180265295A1 · Beckman · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180265296A1 · Beckman · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190302809A1 · High · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200140121A1 · Kim · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200148374A1 · Kawai · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200349853A1 · Speasl · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210182996A1 · Cella · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210380015A1 · Nakaishi · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220036302A1 · Cella · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220306307A1 · Tsutsumi · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230123322A1 · Cella · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230206172A1 · Kashi · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230249839A1 · Matsumoto · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230278720A1 · Haga · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240037487A1 · Clise · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240419190A1 · Hattori · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20250042580A1 · Takeda · 2025 [cited by examiner]
JP 2018528123A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021160887A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210134148A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019135271A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report PCT/JP2022/043921 dated Jan. 31, 2023. [cited by applicant]