Automated docking of unmanned aerial vehicle
US11873116B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D2111/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Described herein are systems for automated docking of an unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, some systems include an unmanned aerial vehicle including a propulsion mechanism, an image sensor, and processing apparatus; and a dock including a landing surface configured to hold the unmanned aerial vehicle and a fiducial on the landing surface, wherein the processing apparatus is configured to: control the propulsion mechanism to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to a first location in a vicinity of the dock; access one or more images captured using the image sensor; detect the fiducial in at least one of the one or more images; determine a pose of the fiducial based on the one or more images; and control, based on the pose of the fiducial, the propulsion mechanism to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to land on the landing surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.