Unmanned aerial vehicle docking system

US10407182B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Board of Trustees of the Univeristy of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville · US

Inventors

• John Alcorn · Griffin, US
• Stewart King · Somerville, US
• Mark William Bales · Madison, US
• David Brian Landrum · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 7, 2016
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2019
• Expiry date: Oct 25, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2201/20
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.