IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,428,175
Granted Patent B2
US 12,428,175 · App. 18/269,246 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Storage device, unmanned aerial vehicle, and system

Inventors: Daisuke Uchibori (Tokyo, JP); Atsushi Aratake (Tokyo, JP); Yosuke Sakurada (Tokyo, JP); Yujin Hamano (Tokyo, JP); Kazuaki Watanabe (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
B64U80/25B64C25/34B64F1/12E02D29/14B64U10/13B64U2101/26B64U2101/30B64U2101/70B64U2201/10E02D2600/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,428,175
App. No.
18/269,246
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A storage device ( 20 ) according to the present disclosure is a storage device that stores an unmanned aerial vehicle ( 30 ), and includes a main body portion ( 21 ) having a curved surface on which the unmanned aerial vehicle ( 30 ) is movable by bringing its wheels ( 302 ) into contact therewith, and a gripping portion ( 23 ) for gripping the unmanned aerial vehicle ( 30 ).

Claims (24)

1. A storage device for storing an unmanned aerial vehicle, the storage device comprising:

a main body portion having a curved surface on which the unmanned aerial vehicle is movable by bringing a wheel of the unmanned aerial vehicle into contact therewith, wherein the curved surface comprises a center point that protrudes the most upward position of the curved surface; and

a gripping portion for gripping the unmanned aerial vehicle below the curved surface for storage, wherein the gripping portion grips the wheel of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion represents a recess on the curved surface, and the recess includes a space for storing the wheel.

3. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion includes a push-out mechanism that pushes out and starts the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

5. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion includes a push-out mechanism that pushes out and starts the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. A system comprising:

a storage device comprising:

a main body portion having a curved surface wherein the curved surface comprises a center point that protrudes the most upward position of the curved surface; and

a gripping portion; and

an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a main vehicle body portion;

a flying propeller;

a support portion, the support portion extending upward from the main vehicle body portion; and

a wheel at an end portion of the support portion, the wheel at least partially protruding upward from an upper surface of the flying propeller, wherein

the unmanned aerial vehicle is movable by bringing the wheel of the unmanned aerial vehicle into contact with the curved surface; and

the gripping portion grips the unmanned aerial vehicle below the curved surface for storage.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion grips the wheel of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the gripping portion represents a recess on the curved surface, and the recess includes a space for storing the wheel.

9. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the main body portion includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the main body portion includes a push-out mechanism that pushes out and starts the unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the storage device is installed above an upper hole of a utility access hole.

12. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle receives power from a power supply in the main body portion of the storage device for storing the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 1, 2026
From: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
To: NTT, INC.
Reel/Frame 074164/0675 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: UCHIBORI, DAISUKE; ARATAKE, ATSUSHI; SAKURADA, YOSUKE; HAMANO, YUJIN; WATANABE, KAZUAKI
To: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064034/0719 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240051690A1 · Feb 15, 2024
References Cited (6)
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Kenta Tsuchiya (2017) “AIRMADA's Fully Autonomous Drone Station” literature, Jan. 18, 2017 [online] website: https://www.borg.media/airmada-2017-01-18/. [cited by applicant]