A drone transport and delivery device

Abstract

This invention provides a drone transport and throwing device, including a quick-release mounting base, a main housing, and a gripper assembly. The powered gripper is slidably connected inside a limiting box, and a rotating connecting column is fixedly connected to a connecting block. When the first and second grippers rotate about the rotating connecting column, the hooks formed by the first and second connectors close to form a ring. After the first and second connecting plates are retracted into the limiting box, the ring cannot be opened, allowing the throwing device to carry heavier items, effectively improving its carrying capacity. The powered gripper extends from the bottom of the main housing through a gripper groove, and after extending from the bottom of the main housing, it is within the field of view of the camera. A set of obstruction pads is provided on both sides of the gripper groove's inner wall. Simultaneously, after the throwing device carries a heavy object through the powered gripper, it is retracted into the main housing, bringing the heavy object closer to the bottom of the main housing, thus making the heavy object more stable during drone transport.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of building construction technology, specifically to a drone-based transport and delivery device. Background Technology

[0002] Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, are unmanned aircraft controlled by radio remote control equipment and onboard program control devices, or operated autonomously, either completely or intermittently, by an onboard computer. Modern UAVs are used in various industries and for transporting and dropping goods. To enable dropping capabilities, a dropping device needs to be installed on the UAV. However, current dropping devices still have the following problems.

[0003] 1. Existing throwing devices suspend the thrown object by a hook and a rope. During the flight of the drone, the air resistance experienced by the thrown object and the drone is not the same, resulting in a speed difference between the two. This causes the thrown object to sway during flight, which in turn affects the flight status of the drone.

[0004] 2. The existing projectiles are attached to the hook of the projectile device by a lanyard. The greater the weight of the projectile, the greater its inertia when the flight suddenly stops and changes speed. As a result, the projectile swings more, which can easily cause the lanyard to fall off the hook, making it impossible for the drone to carry too many projectiles at once.

[0005] 3. The existing throwing device is a single unit with no expansion space, which makes it impossible to expand the throwing device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a drone transport and delivery device, comprising a quick-release mount, a main housing, and a gripper assembly. The upper surface of the quick-release mount is provided with a control connection contact point for connecting to the drone, and the control connection contact point is used for electrical connection with the drone's main control unit. The main housing is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the quick-release mount, and the gripper assembly is installed inside the main housing. A camera is installed inside the main housing.

[0008] The main housing includes a connecting housing and a servo housing. The servo housing is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the connecting housing. The bottom of the servo housing is provided with a gripper groove and a camera hole. A set of obstruction pads are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the gripper groove.

[0009] The gripper assembly includes a mounting adapter plate, a hydraulic cylinder, and a limit box. The hydraulic cylinder and the limit box are both fixedly connected to the lower end face of the mounting adapter plate. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to a connecting block via a telescopic rod. A power gripper is slidably connected inside the limit box. The power gripper includes a first gripper and a second gripper. The first gripper and the second gripper are rotatably connected via a rotating connecting column. One end of the first gripper is elastically connected to one end of the second gripper via an elastic connecting member.

[0010] As a further preferred embodiment, the main housing is provided with connecting grooves on both sides, and bolts are provided at the top of the connecting grooves. The main housing is fixedly connected to the quick-release mount and the mount adapter plate by means of bolts.

[0011] As a further preferred option, the entire housing is made of high-performance nylon material, and the servo housing has a cross-section in the shape of a cross.

[0012] As a further preferred embodiment, the two sets of obstruction pads are adjacent to each other and tightly attached, and the working end of the camera corresponds to the position of the camera hole.

[0013] As a further preferred embodiment, the first gripper includes a first connecting plate and a first connector, wherein the first connecting plate is fixedly connected to the first transition bend plate.

[0014] As a further preferred embodiment, the second gripper includes a second connecting plate and a second pair of connectors, the second connecting plate and the second pair of connectors being fixedly connected by two sets of second transition bends.

[0015] As a further preferred embodiment, one end of the rotating connecting column passes through the first transition bend plate and two sets of second transition bend plates, and the rotating connecting column is fixedly connected to the connecting block.

[0016] As a further preferred embodiment, both the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are arc-shaped, and the adjacent side of the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate is concave. When the adjacent ends of the first connector and the second connector are in contact, the maximum distance between the opposite sides of the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate is equal to the length of the inner cavity of the limiting box.

[0017] As a further preferred embodiment, the powered gripper extends from the bottom of the main housing through a gripper groove, and the powered gripper is within the field of view of the camera after extending from the bottom of the main housing.

[0018] (II) Beneficial Effects

[0019] This invention provides a drone transport and delivery device, which has the following advantages:

[0020] 1. The quick-release mounting base, main housing, and gripper assembly of the present invention are all connected together by bolts, which effectively simplifies the disassembly and assembly of the device;

[0021] 2. The overall housing of the present invention is made of high-performance nylon material, and the cross section of the servo housing is "+" shaped, which effectively reduces the weight of the overall housing. Furthermore, the included angle of the "+" shaped main body of the servo housing facilitates external expansion, allowing the throwing device to be extended with more external attachments, further improving the use effect of the throwing device and increasing the convenience of subsequent external expansion.

[0022] 3. The power gripper of the present invention is slidably connected inside the limiting box, and the first gripper and the second gripper are rotatably connected through a rotating connecting column. The rotating connecting column is fixedly connected to the connecting block, so that when the first gripper and the second gripper rotate about the rotating connecting column as the axis, the hooks formed by the first and second joints close to form a ring. After the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are retracted into the limiting box, the ring cannot be opened, so that the throwing device can hang heavier items as much as possible, effectively improving the loading capacity of the throwing device.

[0023] 4. The powered gripper of the present invention extends from the bottom of the main housing through the gripper groove, and the powered gripper is within the field of view of the camera after extending from the bottom of the main housing. Furthermore, a set of obstruction pads are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the gripper groove. At the same time, after the throwing device is loaded with heavy objects through the powered gripper, it will be retracted into the main housing, making the heavy objects closer to the bottom of the main housing, thus making the heavy objects more stable during the transportation process by the drone. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drone transport and delivery device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of the drone transport and delivery device of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall shell structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bottom of the overall housing of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gripper assembly structure of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the power gripper structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the first gripper structure of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the second gripper structure of the present invention.

[0032] In the diagram: 1 Quick-release mount, 2 Main housing, 21 Connecting housing, 22 Connecting slot, 23 Servo housing, 24 Gripper slot, 25 Camera hole, 26 Obstruction pad, 3 Gripper assembly, 31 Mounting adapter plate, 32 Hydraulic cylinder, 33 Telescopic rod, 34 Connecting block, 35 Power gripper, 351 First gripper, 3511 First connecting plate, 3512 First transition bend plate, 3513 First coupling joint, 352 Elastic connector, 353 Second gripper, 3531 Second connecting plate, 3532 Second transition bend plate, 3533 Second coupling joint, 354 Rotating connecting column, 36 Limit box, 4 Camera. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows for communication; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0037] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0038] like Figure 1-6 As shown, this embodiment provides a drone transport and throwing device, including a quick-release mount 1, a main housing 2 and a gripper assembly 3. The upper surface of the quick-release mount 1 is provided with a control connection contact point for connecting to the drone. The control connection contact point is used to connect to the main control power of the drone. The main housing 2 is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the quick-release mount 1. The gripper assembly 3 is installed inside the main housing 2. A camera 4 is installed inside the main housing 2.

[0039] The main housing 2 includes a connecting housing 21 and a servo housing 23. The servo housing 23 is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the connecting housing 21. The bottom of the servo housing 23 is provided with a gripper groove 24 and a camera hole 25. A set of obstruction pads 26 are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the gripper groove 24.

[0040] The gripper assembly 3 includes a mounting adapter plate 31, a hydraulic cylinder 32, and a limit box 36. The hydraulic cylinder 32 and the limit box 36 are both fixedly connected to the lower end face of the mounting adapter plate 31. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder 32 is fixedly connected to a connecting block 34 through a telescopic rod 33. A power gripper 35 is slidably connected inside the limit box 36. The power gripper 35 includes a first gripper 351 and a second gripper 353. The first gripper 351 and the second gripper 353 are rotatably connected through a rotating connecting column 354. One end of the first gripper 351 is elastically connected to one end of the second gripper 353 through an elastic connecting member 352.

[0041] Specifically, the entire process of the throwing device transferring the object to be thrown is monitored by camera 4. Then, a drone flies to the loading point, and the hydraulic cylinder 32 adjusts the power gripper 35 to pick up the object to be thrown, which reduces the difficulty of accurately picking up the object. At the same time, camera 4 can also improve the accuracy of throwing the object.

[0042] It should be noted that a battery and a controller are installed inside the quick-release mount 1. The battery is electrically connected to the controller. The power cables of the hydraulic cylinder 32 and the camera 4 pass through the mount adapter plate 31 and are electrically connected to the controller. The controller can connect the battery to the mount adapter plate 31. The camera 4 has its own power supply. The controller can control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 32 and the camera 4, and can also send the images captured by the camera 4 to the drone's main control unit. The drone's main control unit can wirelessly transmit the received images to the drone's matching control equipment. The specific signal transmission and electrical connection methods are existing technical solutions and will not be described in detail here.

[0043] Furthermore, this invention can deploy emergency supplies and strategic equipment under special circumstances to carry out remote support work.

[0044] Please see Figures 1-3 The main housing 2 has connecting grooves 22 on both sides, and bolts are provided on the top of the connecting grooves 22. The main housing 2 is fixedly connected to the quick-release mount 1 and the mount adapter plate 31 by bolts.

[0045] Specifically, the quick-release mount 1, the main housing 2, and the gripper assembly 3 are all connected together by bolts, which makes it easier to disassemble the quick-release mount 1, the main housing 2, and the gripper assembly 3, simplifying the disassembly of the device.

[0046] Furthermore, the overall housing 2 is made of high-performance nylon material, and the servo housing 23 has a cross-section in the shape of a cross.

[0047] Specifically, the material of the main housing 2 is HP3DHR-PA12. This effectively reduces the weight of the main housing 2 while ensuring sufficient strength. Furthermore, the included angle of the "+" shaped main body of the servo housing 23 facilitates external expansion. The "+" shaped main body allows for better mounting capacity of the mounting points of the expansion components when the servo housing 23 is expanded externally, enabling the throwing device to expand to include more external components. This further improves the effectiveness of the throwing device and increases the convenience of subsequent external expansion.

[0048] Furthermore, the two sets of obstruction pads 26 are placed side by side and tightly attached, and the working end of the camera 4 corresponds to the position of the camera hole 25.

[0049] Please see Figure 7The first gripper 351 includes a first connecting plate 3511 and a first connecting joint 3513. The first connecting plate 3511 is fixedly connected to the first transition bending plate 3512.

[0050] Please see Figure 8 The second gripper 353 includes a second connecting plate 3531 and a second connector 3533. The second connecting plate 3531 and the second connector 3533 are fixedly connected by two sets of second transition bends 3532.

[0051] Furthermore, one end of the rotating connecting column 354 passes through the first transition bend plate 3512 and two sets of second transition bend plates 3532, and the rotating connecting column 354 is fixedly connected to the connecting block 34.

[0052] Specifically, when the first gripper 351 is connected to the second gripper 353, under the action of the elastic connector 352, the first connector 3513 and the second connector 3533 form an open hook. The hydraulic cylinder 32 controls the lifting and lowering of the connecting block 34 through the telescopic rod 33, thereby changing the position of the power gripper 35 inside the limit box 36.

[0053] Furthermore, both the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 are arc-shaped, and the adjacent side of the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 is concave. When the adjacent ends of the first connector 3513 and the second connector 3533 are in contact, the maximum distance between the opposite side of the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 is equal to the length of the inner cavity of the limiting box 36.

[0054] Specifically, when the position of the power gripper 35 changes inside the limiting box 36, the convex sides of the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 will be squeezed against the inner cavity of the limiting box 36, thereby deforming the hydraulic cylinder 32. This causes the first gripper 351 and the second gripper 353 to rotate around the rotating connecting column 354, which in turn causes the hooks formed by the first connector 3513 and the second connector 3533 to close and form a ring. This allows the throwing device to hang heavy objects through the hooks. At the same time, after the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 are retracted into the limiting box 36, the ring cannot be opened, allowing the throwing device to hang heavier items as much as possible, effectively improving the throwing device's hanging capacity.

[0055] Furthermore, the powered gripper 35 extends from the bottom of the main housing 2 through the gripper groove 24, and the powered gripper 35 is within the field of view of the camera 4 after extending from the bottom of the main housing 2.

[0056] After the throwing device loads a heavy object via the power gripper 35, it will be drawn into the main housing 2, bringing the heavy object closer to the bottom of the main housing 2 and making the heavy object more stable during transport by the drone.

[0057] Working Principle: During the throwing operation, the throwing device is mounted on the drone via the quick-release mounting base 1. The drone is controlled by the drone control equipment to take off and move to the target object placement point. The camera 4 determines the specific location of the target object. Then, the power gripper 35 on the throwing device is aligned with the position of the attachment rope on the target object, and a control signal is sent to the drone's main controller. The drone's main controller controls the hydraulic cylinder 32 to work, causing the first pair of connectors 3513 and the second pair of connectors 3533 to close and form a ring that encircles the attachment rope. At the same time, the power gripper 35 is retracted into the main housing 2. At this time, the attachment rope is held by two sets of obstruction pads 26. The drone is controlled to fly to the throwing point, and the hydraulic cylinder 32 is controlled to extend the power gripper 35 out of the main housing 2. The ring formed by the first pair of connectors 3513 and the second pair of connectors 3533 will open, and the attachment rope will fall out through the opening of the hook, completing the throwing operation.

[0058] In summary, the UAV transport and delivery device provided by the present invention has the quick-release mounting base 1, the main housing 2 and the gripper assembly 3 all connected together by bolts, which effectively simplifies the disassembly and assembly of the device.

[0059] Secondly, the overall housing 2 is made of high-performance nylon material, and the cross section of the servo housing 23 is "+" shaped, which effectively reduces the weight of the overall housing 2. In addition, the included angle of the "+" shaped main body of the servo housing 23 is convenient for external expansion, which allows the throwing device to be extended with more external attachments, further improving the use effect of the throwing device and increasing the convenience of subsequent external expansion.

[0060] Furthermore, the power gripper 35 is slidably connected inside the limiting box 36, and the first gripper 351 and the second gripper 353 are rotatably connected by the rotating connecting post 354. The rotating connecting post 354 is fixedly connected to the connecting block 34, so that when the first gripper 351 and the second gripper 353 rotate about the rotating connecting post 354, the hooks formed by the first connector 3513 and the second connector 3533 close to form a ring. After the first connecting plate 3511 and the second connecting plate 3531 are taken into the limiting box 36, the ring cannot be opened, so that the throwing device can hang heavier items as much as possible, effectively improving the throwing device's hanging capacity.

[0061] Furthermore, the powered gripper 35 extends from the bottom of the main housing 2 through the gripper groove 24, and after extending from the bottom of the main housing 2, the powered gripper 35 is within the field of view of the camera 4. A set of obstruction pads 26 are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the gripper groove 24. At the same time, after the throwing device is loaded with heavy objects through the powered gripper 35, it will be retracted into the main housing 2, making the heavy objects closer to the bottom of the main housing 2, and making the heavy objects more stable during the transportation of the drone.

[0062] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle delivery throwing device, characterized by: The device includes a quick-release mount (1), a main housing (2), and a gripper assembly (3). The upper surface of the quick-release mount (1) is provided with a control connection contact point for connecting to the UAV. The control connection contact point is used to connect to the main control power of the UAV. The main housing (2) is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the quick-release mount (1). The gripper assembly (3) is installed inside the main housing (2). A camera (4) is installed inside the main housing (2). The main housing (2) includes a connecting housing (21) and a servo housing (23). The servo housing (23) is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the connecting housing (21). The bottom of the servo housing (23) is provided with a gripper groove (24) and a camera hole (25). A set of obstruction pads (26) are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the gripper groove (24). The gripper assembly (3) includes a mounting adapter plate (31), a hydraulic cylinder (32), and a limiting box (36). The hydraulic cylinder (32) and the limiting box (36) are both fixedly connected to the lower end face of the mounting adapter plate (31). The output end of the hydraulic cylinder (32) is fixedly connected to a connecting block (34) via a telescopic rod (33). A power gripper (35) is slidably connected inside the limiting box (36). The power gripper (35) includes a first gripper (351) and a second gripper (353). The first gripper (351) and the second gripper (353) are rotatably connected via a rotating connecting column (354). One end of the first gripper (351) is elastically connected to one end of the second gripper (353) via an elastic connector (352). The first gripper (351) includes a first connecting plate (3511) and a first connecting joint (3513), wherein the first connecting plate (3511) is fixedly connected to the first transition bend plate (3512); The second gripper (353) includes a second connecting plate (3531) and a second connector (3533), and the second connecting plate (3531) and the second connector (3533) are fixedly connected by two sets of second transition bends (3532); One end of the rotating connecting column (354) passes through the first transition bend plate (3512) and two sets of second transition bend plates (3532), and the rotating connecting column (354) is fixedly connected to the connecting block (34).

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivery throwing device of claim 1, wherein: The main housing (2) has connecting grooves (22) on both sides. Bolts are provided on the top of the connecting grooves (22). The main housing (2) is fixedly connected to the quick-release mount (1) and the mount adapter plate (31) by bolts.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivery and launching device of claim 1, wherein: The overall housing (2) is made of high-performance nylon material, and the servo housing (23) has a cross-section in the shape of a cross.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivery and launching device of claim 1, wherein: The two sets of obstruction pads (26) are adjacent to each other and closely attached, and the working end of the camera (4) corresponds to the position of the camera hole (25).

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivery throwing device of claim 1, wherein: The first connecting plate (3511) and the second connecting plate (3531) are arc-shaped, and the first connecting plate (3511) and the second connecting plate (3531) are concave on one side adjacent to each other, when the first butt joint (3513) and the second butt joint (3533) contact on one end adjacent to each other, the maximum distance of the first connecting plate (3511) and the second connecting plate (3531) away from one side is equal to the length of the inner cavity of the limiting box (36).

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivery throwing device of claim 1, wherein: The power gripper (35) extends out from the bottom of the total shell (2) through the gripper groove (24), and after the power gripper (35) extends out from the bottom of the total shell (2), it is in the field of view range of the camera (4).

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