Aerial robot
US7510142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/202
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An aerial robot is disclosed. The aerial robot may include at least one pair of counter-rotating blades or propellers, which may be contained within a circumferential shroud or a duct. In one embodiment, the aerial robot may have the ability to hover and move indefinitely. Electric power to the robot may be provided by a tether or an on-board power supply. In tethered embodiments, a solid-state, electronic voltage transformer may be used to reduce a high voltage, low current source to lower voltage, higher current source. In one embodiment, secure data communication between a ground unit and the aerial robot is facilitated by impressing high bandwidth serial data onto the high voltage tether wires or a thin optical fiber which is co-aligned with the tether wires. In one embodiment, precise navigational and position controls, even under extreme wind loads, are facilitated by an on-board GPS unit and optical digital signal processors. In one embodiment, if the tether detaches, precision free-flight is possible with on-board batteries.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.