KR102543208B1 - Aerial battery replacement device for unmanned aerial vehicle and battery replacement method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for replacing an airborne battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle. In the battery supply aircraft, including a battery loading box for loading the battery charged before replacement, and the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle A battery supplier that ships sequentially; The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and a plurality of battery slots installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein among the battery slots, a battery slot in which an exhausted battery for replacement is mounted is the rail In a state where the module moves to the connected part and is in the correct position, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transported through the rail module, and the charged battery transported through the rail module is removed. Provided is an airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle including a battery supply receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot.
According to the present invention, by replacing the batteries of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air, the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be continued without stopping the flight, as well as the charging process of the exhausted batteries can be omitted. Unnecessary flight time can be greatly reduced. By continuously replacing exhausted batteries and charged batteries through the rail module, the replacement process of exhausted batteries and charged batteries transmitted from the aircraft for supplying batteries to the unmanned aerial vehicle can be greatly reduced, resulting in continuous flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle. activity can be made possible.

Description

Aerial battery replacement device for unmanned aerial vehicle and battery replacement method using the same}

The present invention relates to an aerial battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle and a battery replacement method using the same, and more particularly, by replacing exhausted batteries of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with new charged batteries as an aircraft for battery supply approaches, It relates to an aerial battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of sustaining the flight vehicle and a battery replacement method using the same.

An unmanned air vehicle refers to an air vehicle controlled wirelessly by a remote pilot, and is used for various purposes such as military, weather observation, entertainment, industrial, and environmental monitoring.

It is common for these unmanned aerial vehicles to use a built-in battery as a power source, and is operated by supplying power from the battery to motors of various electronic devices. However, since the driving power of an unmanned aerial vehicle depends on the power charged in the battery, the flight distance possible with a single charge is shorter than that of an aircraft flying with other driving means. Therefore, for long-distance driving, it is necessary to charge the battery exhausted during flight or to replace the exhausted battery.

Accordingly, conventionally, a method in which an unmanned aerial vehicle charges using a charging station installed at a specific point or a method in which an unmanned aerial vehicle uses a replacement station for battery replacement has been proposed, but unnecessary flight to a specific point for battery charging and replacement has been proposed. There was a hassle to do.

Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1837739

An object of the present invention is to provide an aerial battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of replacing a battery consumed during flight and a battery replacement method using the same, so that the flight time or flight distance of the unmanned aerial vehicle is improved.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a battery replacement device for replacing an exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air, for supplying the battery. A battery supplier installed in an aircraft, including a battery loading box for loading a charged battery before being replaced, and sequentially shipping the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle; The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and a plurality of battery slots installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein among the battery slots, a battery slot in which an exhausted battery for replacement is mounted is the rail In a state where the module moves to the connected part and is in the correct position, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transported through the rail module, and the charged battery transported through the rail module is removed. Provided is an airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle including a battery supply receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a battery replacement method in which a depleted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight is replaced in the air with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle, the rail module connecting the aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle; removing the exhausted battery from a battery slot for power supply of the unmanned aerial vehicle by a battery supply/receiver installed in the unmanned aerial vehicle and transferring the battery to the rail module; The step of delivering the charged battery to the rail module by the battery supply installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery from a battery loading box in which the charged battery is loaded; The rail module provides an aerial battery replacement method for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising the steps of transferring the exhausted battery to the aircraft for battery supply, transferring the charged battery to the unmanned aerial vehicle and mounting it in a battery slot of the unmanned aerial vehicle. do.

According to the present invention, there are the following effects.

First, by replacing the batteries of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air, the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be continued without stopping the flight, and the unnecessary flight time of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be omitted because the charging process of exhausted batteries can be omitted. can be greatly reduced.

Second, by continuously replacing exhausted batteries and charged batteries through the rail module, the replacement process of exhausted batteries and charged batteries delivered from the aircraft for battery supply to the unmanned aerial vehicle can be greatly reduced, thereby improving the reliability of the unmanned aerial vehicle. It can enable continuous flight activity.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process in which a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle is replaced in the air by docking an aircraft for battery supply and an unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the approximate configuration of the aerial battery replacement device of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a partial view showing the detailed configuration of the battery supply of Figure 2.
4 is an enlarged view showing a detailed configuration of the battery conveyor of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of main parts showing detailed configurations of the battery loading box and battery collection box of FIG. 3 .
6 is a partial view showing the detailed configuration and basic transfer function of the rail module of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is an operation diagram illustrating the operation of a third rail formed in a direction crossing the first rail and the second rail of the rail module of FIG. 6 .
8 is a partial view showing a detailed configuration of the battery receiver of FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of a detachable means installed in a rail module to explain the battery detachment process of FIG. 8 .
10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for replacing an aerial battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a process in which a battery BT of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) is replaced in the air by docking a battery supply aircraft (BSP) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the airborne battery replacement device (BRD) of the unmanned aerial vehicle of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, the aerial battery replacement device (BRD) of an unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is a battery supply aircraft (BSP) approaches an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) in flight, and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) ) is installed to replace the exhausted battery (EB) with a battery (CB) charged in the air, and includes a battery supplier 100, a rail module 200, and a battery supplier 300.

The battery supplier 100 not only ships the charged battery CB for replacing the battery BT for power supply of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) from the battery box 110, but also collects it along the rail module 200. By storing the exhausted battery (EB) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) in the battery collection box 120, it is installed in the aircraft (BSP) for battery supply.

The rail module 200 transfers the charged battery CB provided from the above-described battery supplier 100 to the unmanned aerial vehicle UAM, and returns the exhausted battery EB of the unmanned aerial vehicle UAM back to the battery supplier 100. ), which is installed in the aircraft for battery supply (BSP) and connects the aircraft for battery supply (BSP) and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) to the above-mentioned transport path of the charged battery (CB) and the exhausted battery (EB) provides At this time, it is preferable to install a structure in which the length extends from the battery supply aircraft (BSP) to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM), that is, a lifting structure such as a ladder extension structure of a ladder car or an extension structure of a boom of a crane. In addition, if the problem of weight increase is ignored, it is obvious that a structure installed in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) and extended to a battery supply aircraft (BSP) is also within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention.

The battery receiver 300 removes the exhausted battery EB of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) and transfers it to the aircraft for battery supply (BSP) through the rail module 200 so that the exhausted battery EB is recovered, By applying power to the unmanned air vehicle (UAM) by mounting the charged battery (CB) that is transported and provided through the rail module 200 again, a plurality of battery slots 310 are moved so that a specific battery slot 310 After the above-mentioned rail module 200 is positioned at the connected part for replacement, the above-described exhausted battery EB and charged battery CB are replaced. At this time, it is preferable that the battery slots 310 are disposed in at least one circular or arcuate row in the battery receiver and rotate or rotate based on the center of the radius of curvature formed according to the circular and arcuate arrangement. .

Below, detailed configurations and functions of the battery supplier 100, the rail module 200, and the battery supplier 300 described in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

3 shows the overall structure of the battery supplier 100, and FIG. 4 shows the details of the battery conveyor 130 that transports the charged battery CB and the exhausted battery EB to the rail module 200, respectively. The configuration is shown, and FIG. 5 shows the approximate shape and structure of the battery mounting box 110 and the battery collection box 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, as described above, the battery supplier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a battery supply aircraft (BSP) to ship a charged battery (CB) and discharges a consumed battery (EB). By re-stocking, it includes a battery loading box 110, a battery collection box 120 and a battery conveyor 130.

Referring to FIG. 5, the battery loading box 110 loads a charged battery (CB) for replacement and ships it to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) through the rail module 200, and the loading box body 111, opening 112, a loading box opening/closing part 113, and a pressing means 114. The loading box main body 111 is formed in a hexahedral shape including a mounting space for loading a battery CB charged therein. The opening 112 forms an open surface of the loading box body 111 connected to the loading space for taking in and out of the charged battery CB loaded in the loading space. The load box opening/closing unit 113 covers the above-described opening 112 to close the mounting space, and is installed in the opening 112 to repeat the opening and closing operation so that the charged batteries CB loaded in the mounting space open and close. It is released as much as the number set by the operation. For example, a plurality of charged batteries CBs may be shipped out one by one sequentially, or a plurality of charged batteries CBs may be shipped out at once to stand by the rail module 200 . Here, the loading box opening and closing part 113 is formed as a sectional door type, and the cover surfaces divided into a plurality of pieces are drawn into the inside along the upper and lower inner circumferential surfaces of the loading box body 111 to reduce the space for opening and closing It is a structure. Since the configuration and function of the sectional door are well-known and well-known technology, a detailed description of the configuration and operation thereof will be omitted. Referring to FIG. 3, the pressurizing means 114 is installed on the inner circumferential surface of the other surface of the loading box main body 111, on which the loading box opening and closing part 113 is installed, and is loaded toward the opening 112 in a stacked structure. By pressurizing the batteries CBs, the charged batteries CBs are pushed out through the openings 112 and released. At this time, it is preferable that the pressing means 114 is formed of an elastic body such as a spring to provide a continuous pressing force. The number of can be adjusted.

Referring back to FIG. 5 , the battery collection box 120 is for loading the spent batteries EB recovered through the rail module 200, and includes a collection box body 121, an opening 122, and a collection box opening/closing portion 123. includes Since the configurations of the collection box main body 121, the opening 122, and the collection box opening/closing portion 123 have the same detailed configuration and function as those of the battery box 110 described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, although the shape and structure of the battery mounting box 110 and the battery collection box 120 have been described as being limited to hexahedrons, they may be formed to correspond to the shapes depending on the restrictions of the installation space and the shape and structure of the battery BT. Of course there is.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the battery conveyor 130 connects the battery loading box 110, the battery collection box 120, and the rail module 200 to each other to transport the charged battery CB shipped from the battery loading box 110. Delivered to the rail module 200 and delivered to the battery collection box 120, the exhausted battery EB transported through the rail module 200 includes a plurality of cells 131 and a rotating body 132 . Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of cells 131 are connected to each other or disposed adjacent to each other between the battery mounting box 110, the battery collection box 120, and the rail module 200, and consumes the charged battery CB. supports the delivery path of the battery EB. At this time, the shape of the cell 131 is preferably a hexagonal structure in plane cross section, but is not limited thereto, and may be a polygonal structure with no gaps in the structure connected to each other. The rotating body 132 is disposed in a structure in which a plurality of cells 131 protrude from the upper surface of the cells 131, and rotates with respect to the center of the axis, so that the charged battery CB seated on the upper surface of the cells 131 by the rotational force or Move the exhausted battery (EB). For example, three rotating bodies 132 are disposed to have an acute angle of 60 ° with each of the adjacent rotating bodies 132 and rotate, thereby providing transfer force in the front, rear, left and right directions to the batteries CB and EB. In addition, by varying the rotational speed of each rotating body 132 through a controller (not shown), a delivery path of the charged battery CB from the battery mounting box 110 to the rail module 200 can be formed. In addition, a delivery path of the exhausted battery EB from the rail module 200 to the battery collection box 120 can be easily formed.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the battery conveyor 130 is installed up to the inside of the battery collection box 120 to arrange and load the exhausted batteries EB loaded inside the battery collection box 120, but at the entrance of the battery collection box 120. Of course, it is possible to align the loading structure by pushing the exhausted batteries (EB), which are formed and loaded only up to EB, one by one.

6 and 7 show the detailed configuration and operation of the rail module 200.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the rail module 200 is used to transfer the charged battery CB and the exhausted battery EB between the battery supplier 100 and the battery supplier 300 as described above. As such, it includes a first rail 210, a second rail 220 and a third rail 230.

The first rail 210 connects the battery supplier 100 and the battery receiver 300 to guide the charged battery CB shipped from the battery supplier 100 to the battery receiver 300 . At this time, it is preferable that a gripping means 211 for fixing the charged battery CB is installed on the first rail 210 . The second rail 220 is disposed parallel to the first rail 210 to connect the battery receiver 300 and the battery supply 100, thereby removing the exhausted battery EB from the battery receiver 300. Guided to the battery supply (100). Also, it is preferable that the same gripping means 221 as the gripping means 211 of the first rail 210 described above is installed on the second rail 220 (see FIG. 6). It is disposed in a direction crossing the extension direction of the first rail 210 and the second rail 220 at the end of the first rail 210, that is, at a position closest to the battery receiver 300, so that the first rail 210 and By connecting the second rail 220 , the charged battery CB of the first rail 210 is guided to the transport path of the second rail 220 . Thereafter, the exhausted battery EB entering the transfer path of the second rail 220 enters the empty battery slot 310 of the battery receiver 300 . Describing the driving operation of the third rail 230 in detail, the third rail 230 rises when the charged battery CB arrives at the set position, and the first rail 210 and the second rail 220 move forward. By forming a transfer path of the third rail 230 in a transverse direction without interference, the above-described charged battery CB can enter the transfer path of the second rail 220 (FIG. 7(a, a, b) Reference) If the above description is described in more detail, the battery slot 310 of the battery receiver 300 to which the exhausted battery EB to be removed is mounted at the end of the second rail 220 or the predetermined When connected to the battery slot 310 at the (specified) position, the exhausted battery EB is transported to the battery supply 100 along the second rail 220, and by the lifting operation of the third rail 230 The charged battery CB waiting on the first rail 210 is guided to the second rail 220 through the transport path of the formed third rail 230, so that the battery charged through the second rail 220 (CB) is mounted in the empty battery slot 310. At this time, it is preferable that the same gripping means 231 as the gripping means 211 and 221 installed on the first rail 210 and the second rail 220 is also installed on the third rail 230 . In addition, the first rail 210 is located in the specified battery slot 310, and the third rail 230 transfers the exhausted battery (EB) slot 310 to the second rail 220 through the first rail 210. ), and the technical configuration in which the charged battery CB of the first rail 210 is directly mounted in the empty battery slot 310 is also within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention.

8 shows a detailed configuration of the battery receiver 300, and FIG. 9 shows a process of removing the exhausted battery EB and mounting the charged battery CB by the detachment means 330.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 , the battery receiver 300 may receive power by installing batteries BT for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM), and may be removed and replaced. To this end, the battery receiver 300 includes a battery slot 310, a slot opening/closing unit 320, and a detachable means 330.

As described above, the battery slot 310 is to receive power by mounting a charged battery CB, and a plurality of them in the battery receiver 300 are arranged in a circular or arcuate shape having one or more rows, but the row It is installed to be movable along the rail module 200 and sequentially or selectively positions the exhausted battery EB at the connected portion so that the exhausted battery EB is recovered along the rail module 200. At this time, on one of the inner circumferential surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the battery slot 310, one, one pair, or a plurality of locking grooves 311 into which the locking protrusions BT10 of the battery BT can be engaged are formed. Here, the charged battery BT is connected to an electrode for applying power in order to be electrically connected to the battery slot 310 to apply power as well as to be mounted in the battery slot 310, and the elastic body BT20 A locking protrusion BT10 capable of protruding or retracting from the body is formed by the elasticity of ).

The slot opening/closing unit 320 closes the front of the battery slot 310 through an opening/closing operation, thereby closing the battery slot 310 and fixing the mounted charged battery CB in the battery slot 310, and is opened to open the battery. The battery EB consumed in the slot 310 is replaced. The slot opening/closing unit 320 is preferably formed and operated in the same structure as the above-described loading box opening/closing unit 113 and collection box opening/closing unit 123, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited thereto. Of course, even if the technical configuration is applied, it is free.

Detachable means 330 is installed on the other side of the battery slot 310 that is symmetrical to one side where the slot opening/closing part 320 is installed, and is protruded or drawn in, thereby removing the mounted consumed battery EB from the battery slot 310. By pushing it to be seated on the second rail 220, gripping the charged battery CB guided to the second rail 220 through the third rail 230 and drawing it into the battery slot 310, The aforementioned locking protrusion BT10 is engaged with the locking groove 311 . At this time, it is preferable that a coupler 331 is installed in the detachable means 330 so that the detachable means 330 and the charged battery CB or the exhausted battery EB are temporarily coupled. Specifically, the coupling structure of the coupler 331 may be a coupling structure by magnetic force or a coupling structure by fitting, but other known technical configurations may be applied. In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, although the detachable means 330 is described and illustrated assuming that it is installed in the battery receiver 300, it is installed in the rail module 200 to reduce the weight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM). Of course, it is possible to make it work.

Hereinafter, a method for replacing an aerial battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10 . However, overlapping parts with those described above will be abbreviated or omitted for convenience of description.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the aerial battery replacement method of the unmanned aerial vehicle of the present invention, the rail module 200 is connected to the battery supply aircraft (BSP) in a state where the battery supply aircraft (BSP) is approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM). The air vehicle (UAM) is connected so that the battery supply aircraft (BSP) and the unmanned air vehicle (UAM) are docked (S1100). and extending its length from to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) (S1110).

Thereafter, the battery receiver 300 installed in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) removes the exhausted battery (EB) from the battery slot 310 for power supply of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) and delivers it to the rail module 200. ( S1200) At this time, in the step of removing and delivering to the rail module 200 (S1200), the battery slots 310 arranged in a circular or arcuate shape rotate or rotate to transfer the exhausted batteries EB to the rail module 200, respectively. Positioning the connected part in place (S1210), and the battery receiver 300 or the detachable means 330 installed on the rail module 200 removes the exhausted battery EB of the battery slot 310 from the rail module 200. ) or pulling the charged battery CB of the rail module 200 into the battery slot 310 (S1220).

Thereafter, the battery supplier 100 installed in the aircraft for battery supply (BSP) ships the charged battery CB from the battery loading box 110 loaded with the charged battery CB and delivers it to the rail module 200. (S1300) At this time, the step of shipping the charged battery (CB) and delivering it to the rail module 200 (S1300) is installed in the loading space for loading the charged battery (CB) of the battery loading box 110 By pressing the charged battery CB loaded with the pressing means 114 including an elastic body, the charged battery CB is connected to the mounting space and the opening 112 is opened for putting in and out of the charged battery CB. ) through (S1310), the loading box opening/closing part 113 repeatedly opens and closes the opening 112, so that the charged batteries (CB) loaded in the loading space are shipped by a set number according to the opening and closing operation Step S1320 and step S1330 of transferring, by the battery conveyor 130, the charged battery CB shipped from the battery loading box 110 to the rail module 200.

Thereafter, the rail module 200 transports and collects the exhausted battery EB to the battery supply aircraft (BSP), and transports the charged battery CB to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) to empty the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM). It is provided and installed in the battery slot 310. (S1400) At this time, the step of recovering the exhausted battery (EB) and providing the charged battery (CB) (S1400) is the second rail 220 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM). ) Transferring the battery (EB) consumed from the battery supply aircraft (BSP) (S1410), the first rail 210 transfers the charged battery (CB) from the battery supply aircraft (BSP) to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) ), and the third rail 230 disposed in a direction crossing the extension direction of the first rail 210 and the second rail 220 is transferred from the first rail 210 to the second rail ( 220) to transfer the charged battery CB or to transfer the exhausted battery EB from the second rail 220 to the first rail 210 (S1430).

Thereafter, the battery supplier 100 puts the spent batteries EB transported through the rail module 200 into the battery collection box 120 that is opened and closed by the sectional door type collection box opening and closing part 123 (S1500). At this time, the step of putting the batteries into the battery collection box 120 (S1510) includes the step of the battery conveyor 130 transferring the spent batteries EB transported through the rail module 200 to the battery collection box 120 (S1520). include

Then, when the replacement of the battery is completed, the rail module 200 is retracted (retracted) to release the docking of the battery supply aircraft (BSP) and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) (S1600).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is only exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

BRD : Aerial battery replacement device for unmanned aerial vehicle
100: battery supply
110: battery mounting box 111: mounting box body
112: opening 113: loading box opening and closing part
114: pressurization means 120: battery collection box
121: collection box body 122: opening
123: collection box opening and closing part 130: battery conveyor
131: cell 132: rotating body
200: rail module
210: first rail 211: grip means
220: second rail 221: grip means
230: third rail 231: grip means
300: battery receiver
310: battery slot 311: locking groove
320: slot opening and closing part 330: detachable means
331: coupler
BT: Battery BT10: Stumbling Block
BT20: elastic body CB: charged battery
EB: exhausted battery BSP: aircraft for battery supply
UAM: unmanned aerial vehicles

Claims (22)

In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The battery supplier,
An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a battery collection box for storing and loading exhausted batteries of the unmanned aerial vehicle transported through the rail module. delete The method of claim 1,
The battery supplier,
The battery loading box, the battery collection box, and the rail module are connected to each other to transfer the charged battery shipped from the battery loading box to the rail module, and to transfer the exhausted battery transferred through the rail module to the battery collection box. An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a battery conveyor that delivers The method of claim 3,
The battery conveyor,
a plurality of flat-type cells supporting a delivery path of the charged battery and the exhausted battery by being connected to each other and disposed between the battery mounting box, the battery collection box, and the rail module; and
It includes a plurality of rotating bodies that rotate while protruding from the upper surfaces of the cells and move the charged battery and the exhausted battery seated on the upper surfaces of the cells,
The plurality of rotating bodies,
It is set to have different rotational speeds, forming a delivery path of the charged battery between the battery mounting box and the rail module, and an unattended battery forming a delivery path of the exhausted battery between the rail module and the battery collection box. Air vehicle battery replacement device. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The battery mounting box,
A mounting box body including a mounting space for loading the charged battery therein and an opening connected to the mounting space for taking in and out of the charged battery from the mounting space;
a pressurizing means installed inside the loading box main body to pressurize the charged battery from the loading space and push it through the opening; and
An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a loading box opening and closing part installed in the opening and repeating the opening and closing operation so that the charged batteries loaded in the loading space are shipped out by a set number according to the opening and closing operation. The method of claim 5,
The pressure means,
An aerial battery replacement device for an unmanned air vehicle, which is an elastic body installed on the inner circumferential surface opposite to the opening of the payload box body. The method of claim 1,
The battery collection box,
a collection box main body including a collection space for loading the exhausted battery therein and an opening connected to the collection space for putting in and out of the battery loaded in the collection space; and
An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle including a collection box opening and closing part installed in the opening and opening and closing to store the exhausted battery. The method of claim 5,
The loading box opening and closing part,
An airborne battery replacement device for unmanned aerial vehicle, which is a sectional door type. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The rail module,
An aerial battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle installed in the aircraft for battery supply and connecting the aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle by extending from the aircraft for battery supply to the unmanned aerial vehicle. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged batteries shipped from the battery loading box are transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is in the correct position, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. Including a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The rail module,
a first rail for transferring the charged battery from the battery supply aircraft to the unmanned aerial vehicle;
a second rail transferring the exhausted battery from the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is disposed in a direction crossing the extension direction of the first rail and the second rail, and transfers the charged battery from the first rail to the second rail, or the consumption from the second rail to the first rail. An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle including a third rail for transporting a battery. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The battery slots,
An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle that is disposed in at least one circular or arcuate row in the battery receiver and rotates or rotates based on a center of a radius of curvature. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The battery receiver or the rail module,
and a battery detachment means for moving the exhausted battery of the battery slot to the rail module or moving the charged battery of the rail module to the battery slot. In the battery replacement device for replacing the exhausted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
It is installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery, and includes a battery loading box for loading the charged battery before replacement, and sequentially releases the charged battery from the battery loading box to replace the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. a battery supplier;
The aircraft for battery supply and the unmanned aerial vehicle are connected so that the aircraft for battery supply is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and the charged battery shipped from the battery box is transferred to the unmanned aerial vehicle, respectively, and again a rail module transferring the exhausted battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply; and
It is installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a plurality of battery slots installed for mounting a battery for supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and among the battery slots, a battery slot in which a battery for replacement is mounted is the rail module. In a state where it moves to the connected part and is positioned in place, the exhausted battery is removed from the battery slot so that the exhausted battery is transferred through the rail module, and the charged battery transferred through the rail module is transferred to the battery slot. It includes a battery receiver in which the exhausted battery is removed and installed in an empty battery slot,
The charged battery and the consumed battery,
It is connected to an electrode for applying power, and each includes a locking protrusion protruding or retracting from the body by elasticity,
The battery slot,
An airborne battery replacement device for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a locking groove formed in a retracted structure on an inner circumferential surface and accommodating the protruding locking protrusion so that power of the charged battery and the exhausted battery is applied to the unmanned aerial vehicle. A battery replacement method for replacing a depleted battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight with a charged new battery of a battery supply aircraft approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle in the air,
A rail module connecting the battery supply aircraft and the unmanned aerial vehicle so that the battery supply aircraft is docked with the unmanned aerial vehicle;
removing the exhausted battery from a battery slot for power supply of the unmanned aerial vehicle by a battery supply/receiver installed in the unmanned aerial vehicle and transferring the battery to the rail module;
The step of delivering the charged battery to the rail module by the battery supply installed in the aircraft for supplying the battery from a battery loading box in which the charged battery is loaded;
and transferring, by the rail module, the exhausted battery to the battery supply aircraft, transferring the charged battery to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and mounting the battery in a battery slot of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method of claim 14,
After the step of the rail module transferring the exhausted battery to the aircraft for battery supply,
The battery supplier,
The aerial battery replacement method of the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprising the step of putting the exhausted battery transported through the rail module into a battery collection box. The method of claim 14,
The rail module connecting the battery supply aircraft and the unmanned aerial vehicle,
and extending the length of the rail module from the aircraft for battery supply to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method of claim 14,
The step of removing the exhausted battery from the battery slot of the unmanned aerial vehicle by the battery receiver and transferring it to the rail module,
Rotating or rotating the battery slots disposed in a circular or arcuate shape to position the exhausted batteries at a portion connected to the rail module, respectively. The method of claim 14,
The step of removing the exhausted battery from the battery slot of the unmanned aerial vehicle by the battery receiver and transferring it to the rail module,
and pushing the exhausted battery in the battery slot to the rail module or pulling the charged battery in the rail module into the battery slot by the battery receiver or a detachable means installed on the rail module. How to replace the air vehicle's battery. The method of claim 14,
The step of the battery supplier shipping the charged battery from the battery box and delivering it to the rail module,
By pressurizing the loaded battery with a pressurizing means including an elastic body installed in the mounting space for loading the charged battery of the battery mounting box, the charged batteries are connected to the mounting space so that the charged battery A step of allowing the product to be shipped through an opening that is open for withdrawal and withdrawal; and
An airborne battery replacement method of an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising the step of repeatedly opening and closing the opening by the opening and closing unit of the loading box so that the set number of charged batteries loaded in the loading space are shipped out according to the opening and closing operation. The method of claim 19
After the step of the rail module transferring the exhausted battery to the aircraft for battery supply,
The battery supplier,
Further comprising the step of putting the spent battery transported through the rail module into a battery collection box that is opened and closed by a collection box opening and closing unit,
The load box opening and closing part and the collection box opening and closing part,
Airborne battery replacement method of unmanned aerial vehicles, each of which is a sectional door type. The method of claim 15
The step of the battery supplier shipping the charged battery from the battery box and delivering it to the rail module,
A battery conveyor transferring the charged battery shipped from the battery box to the rail module,
After the step of the rail module transferring the exhausted battery to the aircraft for battery supply,
and transferring, by the battery conveyor, the exhausted battery transported through the rail module to the battery collection box. The method of claim 14,
The step of the rail module transporting the consumed battery and the charged battery, respectively,
Transferring, by a second rail, the exhausted battery from the unmanned aerial vehicle to the aircraft for battery supply;
Transferring, by a first rail, the charged battery from the battery supply aircraft to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
A third rail disposed in a direction crossing the extension direction of the first rail and the second rail transfers the charged battery from the first rail to the second rail, or from the second rail to the first rail An airborne battery replacement method of an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising the step of transferring the exhausted battery to a.

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