Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and carrier platforms therefor
A system for unmanned vehicles and carriers therefor having a propulsion system, anchoring system, anchoring sites and a locking and unlocking mechanism. A carrier having one or more arresting locations. The propulsion system has at least one propeller for each rotor and at least one blade capable of rotating for each rotor. The locking and unlocking mechanism has a switching member such as a rod. The switching member in a standby position is in the path of the rotating propeller blade and upon being displaced into a position not in the path of the rotating blade is in an unlocking position sending a signal to unlock the UAV from the anchoring site.
1 . A system comprising one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) detachably associated to an arresting position provided on a UAV docking surface,
wherein each of the one or more UAVs has a body and a propelling system, said propelling system having at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade; and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with one or more arresting location provided on the docking surface;
a locking/unlocking mechanism on said docking surface, wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism is configured to manipulate the anchoring system of said one or more UAVs between a respective locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in said locked position the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with said arresting location, and in said unlocked position the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location; and
a switching member engaging said locking/unlocking mechanism that is configured to switch between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism;
whereby rotation of said at least one propeller blade activates said switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the UAV docking surface is a stationary surface, or wherein the UAV docking surface is a docking surface of a UAV carrier or mothership.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more UAVs having a chassis, a landing base or landing legs equipped with the anchoring system configured to securely engage with the arresting location provided on the docking surface.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more arresting locations are spaced apart on the docking surface, each being structured, configured and operable to engage with said one or more UAVs through said anchoring system.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more arresting locations is a flat surface or a 3-dimensional member configured to latch onto, to fit into, to physically associate with, or interact with the anchoring system to cause a reversible attachment to the UAV.
6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the UAV anchoring system comprises a mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic or an electric member or surface capable of reversibly interacting with a reciprocal or a matching member or surface provided at the arresting location.
7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the anchoring system or the arresting location further comprises a hook, a latch, a projecting arm, a magnetic surface, or a 3D structure, structured to reversibly interact with a reciprocal element or member or surface on the other of the anchoring system and the arresting location.
8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the anchoring system comprises a locking latch member or a latch-catch member, each being configured to associate with the other.
9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the anchoring system comprises a magnetic attaching assembly.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more propellor blades is configured to rotate and wherein the switching member is an actuator rod, or a rod element, extending from the arresting location or from a region in a vicinity of the arresting location or from a base of the rod to a distance defined by a path of rotation of the one or more of the UAV's propeller blades.
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the switch member being positioned perpendicularly to the surface of the platform or aligned upright, or is tilted such that a portion of the switch member is disposed at the path of rotation.
12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein displacement of the switch member into the unlocking position, upon encountering by the one or more propeller blades, activates a microswitch to generate the unlocking signal.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more arresting locations being in a form of a docking port provided with an altimeter for measuring altitude, a compass, a multi-axis gyroscope for continuously identifying directional motion, orientation and relative spatial position of the UAV.
14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more arresting locations and/or the one or more UAVs incorporate a GPS module for location positioning, with a wireless communication module for cellular and/or satellite communications.
15 . The system according to claim 1 , being a UAV carrier comprising two or more arresting locations configured to associate to two or more same or different UAVs.
16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the UAV carrier is a UAV mothership.
17 . A landing platform for one or more UAV, the landing platform comprises a docking surface comprising one or more arresting locations for detachably engaging with the one or more UAVs via an anchoring system of the UAV, each of the one or more arresting locations comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location,
said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which it generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism;
whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
18 . The platform according to claim 17 , being a UAV carrier in a form of a UAV mothership.
19 . A system comprising one or more UAVs and a UAV carrier configured to carry the one or more UAVs from a point of origin to a destination; comprising a UAV having a body and a propelling system comprising at least one propeller with at least one propeller blade; and an anchoring system configured for detachably engaging with an arresting location provided on a docking surface;
the UAV carrier comprises a docking surface and a plurality of arresting locations distributed thereon,
the docking surface comprising a locking/unlocking mechanism configured for manipulating the anchoring system of the UAV between a respective locked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is engaged with the arresting location, and an unlocked position at which the anchoring system of the UAV is disengaged from the arresting location, said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises a switching member operable between a standby position and an unlocking position at which the switching member generates an unlocking signal to the locking/unlocking mechanism; whereby rotation of the at least one propeller blade activates the switching member into the unlocking position, to thereby unlock the anchoring system.
20 . The system according to claim 19
wherein each arresting location is provided with a locking/unlocking mechanism configured to engage to or disengage UAV carrier from the UAV;
each of the plurality of arresting locations further comprises an actuator rod extending from the surface of each of the arresting locations such that a rod portion is disposed at a path of rotation of the UAV's one or more propeller blades, wherein rotation of the propeller blades entails encountering of the UAV's one or more propeller blades with the rod portion of the actuator rod, to thereby disengage the UAV from the arresting location.