Patent · US9550582B2 · B2 · US

Multi-zone battery exchange system

(11) Publication number

US9550582B2

(21) Application number

15/048,948

(22) Filing date

2016-02-19

(30) Priority date

2014-08-08

(43) Publication date

2017-01-24

(45) Date of grant

2017-01-24

(51) IPC

B64F 1/18; B64F 1/36; B64U 50/37; B64U 80/25; G05D 1/00; B64D 39/00; B64F 1/00

(52) CPC

B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 53/00, 53/51, 53/52, 53/53, 53/80
B64C Aeroplanes; helicopters: 2201/042, 2201/066, 39/024
B64D Equipment for fitting in or to aircraft; flight suits; parachutes; arrangement or mounting of power plants or propulsion transmissions in aircraft: 39/00
B64F Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for use in connection with aircraft; designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for: 1/00, 1/18, 1/20, 1/362, 3/00
B64U Unmanned aerial vehicles [uav]; equipment therefor: 10/14, 50/19, 50/37, 50/39, 70/95, 80/25
G05D Systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables: 1/0011, 1/225, 1/2446, 1/654, 1/6987, 2109/254, 2111/10
G08G Traffic control systems: 5/56
Y02T Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation: 10/70, 10/7072, 50/60, 50/672, 90/12, 90/14

(73) Assignee

SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd

(72) Inventors

Mingyu Wang

(54) Title

Multi-zone battery exchange system

(57) Abstract

A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones may accommodate different UAV types, different battery types, or operate in accordance with different energy provision rules. A marker may be provided on a landing area to aid in guiding the UAV to an appropriate landing area.

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Claims (30)

A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: a first UAV landing area comprising a first visible marker, said first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a first UAV when the first UAV is resting at the station, said first UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the first UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery located at the station while the first UAV is supported by the first UAV landing area; and a second UAV landing area comprising a second visible marker, said second UAV landing area configured to (1) support a second UAV when the second UAV is resting at the station, said second UAV coupled to a second battery configured to power the second UAV, and (2) charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery located at the station while the second UAV is supported by the second UAV landing area, wherein the first visible marker is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is an image and the second visible marker is a different image than the first visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 2, wherein the first visible marker is a bar code or QR code and the second visible marker is a bar code or QR code of a different pattern than the first visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker comprises a pattern of lights and the second visible marker comprises a different pattern of lights from the first visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker and the second visible marker dynamically change over time.
The energy provision station of claim 5, wherein the first UAV is configured to land when the first visible marker becomes apparent, and wherein the second UAV is configured to land when the second visible marker becomes apparent.
The energy provision station of claim 6, wherein the first visible marker remains visible while the first UAV is at the first UAV landing area, and wherein the second visible marker remains visible while the second UAV is at the second UAV landing area.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is indicative of the first landing area for the first UAV of a first type, and the second visible marker is indicative of the second landing area for the second UAV of a second type that is different from the first type.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is indicative of the first landing area using a first set of energy provision rules, and (2) the second visible marker is indicative of the second landing area using a second set of energy provision rules different from the first set of energy provision rules.
The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first UAV and the second UAV are of the same type.
A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: one or more UAV landing areas each comprising at least one visible marker, said UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting at the station, said UAV coupled to a battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the battery or exchange the battery for another battery located at the station while the UAV is supported by the UAV landing area, wherein the visible marker is configured to dynamically change from a first visible marker configuration to a second visible marker configuration, and wherein the first visible marker configuration is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker configuration.
The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the visible marker is an image, and the first visible marker configuration is a first image and the second visible marker configuration is a second image that is different from the first image.
The energy provision station of claim 12, wherein the first image is a bar code or QR code and the second image is a bar code or QR code of a different pattern than the first image.
The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the visible marker comprises a pattern of lights, and the first visible marker configuration comprises a first pattern of lights and the second visible marker configuration comprises a second pattern of lights that is different from the first pattern of lights.
The energy provision station of claim 14, wherein the pattern of lights comprises a change of the lights within a predetermined period, wherein said pattern comprises at least a blinking pattern or a spatial arrangement of the lights.
The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the first visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to receive a first UAV of a first type, and the second visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to receive a second UAV of a second type that is different from the first type.
The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the first visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to operate using a first set of energy provision rules, and the second visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to operate using a second set of energy provision rules different from the first set of energy provision rules.
The energy provision station of claim 1, further comprising one or more processors that are configured to, individually or collectively, (1) receive information about a priority level of missions to be performed by the first UAV and the second UAV, and (2) cause the first visible marker and the second visible marker to indicate the priority level of the missions to be performed by the first UAV and the second UAV.
The energy provision station of claim 18, wherein the first UAV has a higher priority mission than the second UAV, and the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 19, wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area prior to the second UAV landing at the second UAV landing area.
The energy provision station of claim 17, wherein the first UAV requires a faster energy reload than the second UAV, and the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.
The energy provision station of claim 21, wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area prior to the second UAV landing at the second UAV landing area.
The energy provision station of claim 17, wherein the first UAV requires an energy reload by charging the first battery onboard the first UAV, the second UAV requires an energy reload by exchanging the second battery onboard the second UAV for another battery located at the station, and wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.
A method for directing a UAV to a UAV energy provision station, said method comprising: providing the UAV energy provision station, wherein said station comprises one or more UAV landing areas each comprising at least one visible marker, said UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting at the station, said UAV coupled to a battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the battery or exchange the battery for another battery located at the station while the UAV is supported by the UAV landing area, wherein the visible marker is configured to dynamically change from a first visible marker configuration to a second visible marker configuration, and wherein the first visible marker configuration is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker configuration; causing a first UAV to land on the UAV landing area when the visible marker has the first visible marker configuration; and causing a second UAV to land on the UAV landing area when the visible marker has the second visible marker configuration.
The method of claim 24, wherein causing the first UAV to land comprises storing, in a memory of the first UAV, the first visible marker configuration; and detecting, using a sensor of the first UAV, the first visible marker configuration of the visible marker.
The method of claim 24, wherein causing the second UAV to land comprises storing, in a memory of the second UAV, the second visible marker configuration; and detecting, using a sensor of the second UAV, the second visible marker configuration of the visible marker.
The method of claim 24, further comprising sending a signal from the first UAV to the energy provision station, said signal indicative of a power status of the first UAV.
The method of claim 27, wherein the visible marker has the first visible marker configuration in response to the signal from the first UAV.
The method of claim 24, further comprising sending a signal from the second UAV to the energy provision station, said signal indicative of a power status of the second UAV.
The method of claim 24, wherein the visible marker is changed to a second visible marker configuration in response to the signal from the second UAV.

Description

Aerial vehicles such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used for performing surveillance, reconnaissance, and exploration tasks for military and civilian applications. Such aerial vehicles may carry a payload configured to perform a specific function.

In some instances, it may be desirable for aerial vehicles to travel extended distances. However, the distance that an aerial vehicle may be able to travel may be limited by the life of a battery carried by the aerial vehicle.

In some instances, it may be desirable for an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to travel for extended distances. Thus, a need exists for improved UAV powering systems that may permit a UAV to reload battery life, thereby permitting the UAV to travel the extended distances. The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices related to permitting battery life to be re-loaded on a UAV through recharging a battery on the UAV, or exchanging the battery for another battery. A ground station may be provided which may reload battery life for multiple UAVs. The ground station may include multiple zones which may permit multiple UAVs to interact with the ground station simultaneously. In some instances, the ground station may accommodate different types of UAVs or batteries, or different techniques or energy provision rules for reloading energy on a UAV. Communication between the UAV and the battery station may be implemented to ensure robust communications between the battery station and the flying UAV.

Citations (49)

US4700912A
US6688755B2
US6604706B1
US6193190B1
JP3182689B2
US6840480B2
US20040211862A1
US7398946B1
US20120126745A1
US8876057B2
US7714536B1
US20090140095A1
US8164300B2
US20110071705A1
US20110106294A1
US8511606B1
CN102044889A
US20130081245A1
US8725330B2
CN101976731A
WO2012064891A2
CN102064578A
CN202190096U
WO2013055265A1
US20140032034A1
CN202642094U
EP2664539A1
CN202651882U
CN102738890A
CN202929383U
CN102909540A
CN202922160U
US8880241B2
US20140303814A1
EP2799336A1
US20140319272A1
CN203491696U
CN203434741U
KR20130122715A
CN103738503A
CN203698671U
CN203845022U
US9139310B1
US20160039300A1
US20160039540A1
US9284062B2
US20160236582A1
US9434267B2
US9440545B2

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US9550582B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Multi-zone battery exchange system",
  "abstract": "A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones may accommodate different UAV types, different battery types, or operate in accordance with different energy provision rules. A marker may be provided on a landing area to aid in guiding the UAV to an appropriate landing area.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: a first UAV landing area comprising a first visible marker, said first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a first UAV when the first UAV is resting at the station, said first UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the first UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery located at the station while the first UAV is supported by the first UAV landing area; and a second UAV landing area comprising a second visible marker, said second UAV landing area configured to (1) support a second UAV when the second UAV is resting at the station, said second UAV coupled to a second battery configured to power the second UAV, and (2) charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery located at the station while the second UAV is supported by the second UAV landing area, wherein the first visible marker is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker.",
    "2. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is an image and the second visible marker is a different image than the first visible marker.",
    "3. The energy provision station of claim 2, wherein the first visible marker is a bar code or QR code and the second visible marker is a bar code or QR code of a different pattern than the first visible marker.",
    "4. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker comprises a pattern of lights and the second visible marker comprises a different pattern of lights from the first visible marker.",
    "5. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker and the second visible marker dynamically change over time.",
    "6. The energy provision station of claim 5, wherein the first UAV is configured to land when the first visible marker becomes apparent, and wherein the second UAV is configured to land when the second visible marker becomes apparent.",
    "7. The energy provision station of claim 6, wherein the first visible marker remains visible while the first UAV is at the first UAV landing area, and wherein the second visible marker remains visible while the second UAV is at the second UAV landing area.",
    "8. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is indicative of the first landing area for the first UAV of a first type, and the second visible marker is indicative of the second landing area for the second UAV of a second type that is different from the first type.",
    "9. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first visible marker is indicative of the first landing area using a first set of energy provision rules, and (2) the second visible marker is indicative of the second landing area using a second set of energy provision rules different from the first set of energy provision rules.",
    "10. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first UAV and the second UAV are of the same type.",
    "11. A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: one or more UAV landing areas each comprising at least one visible marker, said UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting at the station, said UAV coupled to a battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the battery or exchange the battery for another battery located at the station while the UAV is supported by the UAV landing area, wherein the visible marker is configured to dynamically change from a first visible marker configuration to a second visible marker configuration, and wherein the first visible marker configuration is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker configuration.",
    "12. The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the visible marker is an image, and the first visible marker configuration is a first image and the second visible marker configuration is a second image that is different from the first image.",
    "13. The energy provision station of claim 12, wherein the first image is a bar code or QR code and the second image is a bar code or QR code of a different pattern than the first image.",
    "14. The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the visible marker comprises a pattern of lights, and the first visible marker configuration comprises a first pattern of lights and the second visible marker configuration comprises a second pattern of lights that is different from the first pattern of lights.",
    "15. The energy provision station of claim 14, wherein the pattern of lights comprises a change of the lights within a predetermined period, wherein said pattern comprises at least a blinking pattern or a spatial arrangement of the lights.",
    "16. The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the first visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to receive a first UAV of a first type, and the second visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to receive a second UAV of a second type that is different from the first type.",
    "17. The energy provision station of claim 11, wherein the first visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to operate using a first set of energy provision rules, and the second visible marker configuration is indicative that the landing area is prepared to operate using a second set of energy provision rules different from the first set of energy provision rules.",
    "18. The energy provision station of claim 1, further comprising one or more processors that are configured to, individually or collectively, (1) receive information about a priority level of missions to be performed by the first UAV and the second UAV, and (2) cause the first visible marker and the second visible marker to indicate the priority level of the missions to be performed by the first UAV and the second UAV.",
    "19. The energy provision station of claim 18, wherein the first UAV has a higher priority mission than the second UAV, and the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.",
    "20. The energy provision station of claim 19, wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area prior to the second UAV landing at the second UAV landing area.",
    "21. The energy provision station of claim 17, wherein the first UAV requires a faster energy reload than the second UAV, and the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.",
    "22. The energy provision station of claim 21, wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area prior to the second UAV landing at the second UAV landing area.",
    "23. The energy provision station of claim 17, wherein the first UAV requires an energy reload by charging the first battery onboard the first UAV, the second UAV requires an energy reload by exchanging the second battery onboard the second UAV for another battery located at the station, and wherein the first UAV is directed to land at the first UAV landing area with aid of the first visible marker and the second UAV is directed to land at the second UAV landing area with aid of the second visible marker.",
    "24. A method for directing a UAV to a UAV energy provision station, said method comprising: providing the UAV energy provision station, wherein said station comprises one or more UAV landing areas each comprising at least one visible marker, said UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting at the station, said UAV coupled to a battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the battery or exchange the battery for another battery located at the station while the UAV is supported by the UAV landing area, wherein the visible marker is configured to dynamically change from a first visible marker configuration to a second visible marker configuration, and wherein the first visible marker configuration is visually distinguishable from the second visible marker configuration; causing a first UAV to land on the UAV landing area when the visible marker has the first visible marker configuration; and causing a second UAV to land on the UAV landing area when the visible marker has the second visible marker configuration.",
    "25. The method of claim 24, wherein causing the first UAV to land comprises storing, in a memory of the first UAV, the first visible marker configuration; and detecting, using a sensor of the first UAV, the first visible marker configuration of the visible marker.",
    "26. The method of claim 24, wherein causing the second UAV to land comprises storing, in a memory of the second UAV, the second visible marker configuration; and detecting, using a sensor of the second UAV, the second visible marker configuration of the visible marker.",
    "27. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending a signal from the first UAV to the energy provision station, said signal indicative of a power status of the first UAV.",
    "28. The method of claim 27, wherein the visible marker has the first visible marker configuration in response to the signal from the first UAV.",
    "29. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending a signal from the second UAV to the energy provision station, said signal indicative of a power status of the second UAV.",
    "30. The method of claim 24, wherein the visible marker is changed to a second visible marker configuration in response to the signal from the second UAV."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Aerial vehicles such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used for performing surveillance, reconnaissance, and exploration tasks for military and civilian applications. Such aerial vehicles may carry a payload configured to perform a specific function.\n\nIn some instances, it may be desirable for aerial vehicles to travel extended distances. However, the distance that an aerial vehicle may be able to travel may be limited by the life of a battery carried by the aerial vehicle.\n\nIn some instances, it may be desirable for an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to travel for extended distances. Thus, a need exists for improved UAV powering systems that may permit a UAV to reload battery life, thereby permitting the UAV to travel the extended distances. The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices related to permitting battery life to be re-loaded on a UAV through recharging a battery on the UAV, or exchanging the battery for another battery. A ground station may be provided which may reload battery life for multiple UAVs. The ground station may include multiple zones which may permit multiple UAVs to interact with the ground station simultaneously. In some instances, the ground station may accommodate different types of UAVs or batteries, or different techniques or energy provision rules for reloading energy on a UAV. Communication between the UAV and the battery station may be implemented to ensure robust communications between the battery station and the flying UAV.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60L 53/00",
    "B60L 53/51",
    "B60L 53/52",
    "B60L 53/53",
    "B60L 53/80",
    "B64C 2201/042",
    "B64C 2201/066",
    "B64C 39/024",
    "B64D 39/00",
    "B64F 1/00",
    "B64F 1/18",
    "B64F 1/20",
    "B64F 1/362",
    "B64F 3/00",
    "B64U 10/14",
    "B64U 50/19",
    "B64U 50/37",
    "B64U 50/39",
    "B64U 70/95",
    "B64U 80/25",
    "G05D 1/0011",
    "G05D 1/225",
    "G05D 1/2446",
    "G05D 1/654",
    "G05D 1/6987",
    "G05D 2109/254",
    "G05D 2111/10",
    "G08G 5/56",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072",
    "Y02T 50/60",
    "Y02T 50/672",
    "Y02T 90/12",
    "Y02T 90/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64F 1/18",
    "B64F 1/36",
    "B64U 50/37",
    "B64U 80/25",
    "G05D 1/00",
    "B64D 39/00",
    "B64F 1/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mingyu Wang"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-19",
  "publication_date": "2017-01-24",
  "grant_date": "2017-01-24",
  "priority_date": "2014-08-08",
  "application_number": "US-201615048948-A",
  "family_id": "55263041",
  "cited_by_count": 17,
  "citations": [
    "US4700912A",
    "US6688755B2",
    "US6604706B1",
    "US6193190B1",
    "JP3182689B2",
    "US6840480B2",
    "US20040211862A1",
    "US7398946B1",
    "US20120126745A1",
    "US8876057B2",
    "US7714536B1",
    "US20090140095A1",
    "US8164300B2",
    "US20110071705A1",
    "US20110106294A1",
    "US8511606B1",
    "CN102044889A",
    "US20130081245A1",
    "US8725330B2",
    "CN101976731A",
    "WO2012064891A2",
    "CN102064578A",
    "CN202190096U",
    "WO2013055265A1",
    "US20140032034A1",
    "CN202642094U",
    "EP2664539A1",
    "CN202651882U",
    "CN102738890A",
    "CN202929383U",
    "CN102909540A",
    "CN202922160U",
    "US8880241B2",
    "US20140303814A1",
    "EP2799336A1",
    "US20140319272A1",
    "CN203491696U",
    "CN203434741U",
    "KR20130122715A",
    "CN103738503A",
    "CN203698671U",
    "CN203845022U",
    "US9139310B1",
    "US20160039300A1",
    "US20160039540A1",
    "US9284062B2",
    "US20160236582A1",
    "US9434267B2",
    "US9440545B2"
  ]
}

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