Autonomous aerial vehicle rotor configurations

US12157553B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Skydio, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Benjamin Scott Thompson · San Carlos, US
• Adam Parker Bry · Redwood City, US
• Asher Mendel Robbins-Rothman · Redwood City, US
• Abraham Galton Bachrach · San Francisco, US
• Yevgeniy Kozlenko · Mountain View, US
• Kevin Patrick Smith O'Leary · San Francisco, US
• Patrick Allen Lowe · Palo Alto, US
• Daniel Thomas Adams · Palo Alto, US
• Justin Michael Sadowski · Menlo Park, US
• Zachary Albert West · Mountain View, US
• Josiah Timothy VanderMey · Redwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 21, 2021
• Grant date: Dec 3, 2024
• Expiry date: Sep 10, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2201/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle rotor configurations. In some embodiments, the aerial vehicle includes a central body that extends along a longitudinal axis from a forward end to an aft end including a port side opposite a starboard side. Multiple rotor arms each have a proximal end coupled to the central body and a rotor assembly arranged at a distal end to provide propulsion for the aerial vehicle. The rotor assemblies include a first set of rotor assemblies and a second set of rotor assemblies. The first set of rotor assemblies are arranged in a non-inverted configuration on a top side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes an upward-facing rotor. The second set of rotor assemblies are arranged in an inverted configuration on a bottom side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes a downward-facing rotor.