Unmanned flying object

Abstract

To provide an unmanned flying object capable of installing a luminaire.SOLUTION: There is provided an unmanned flying object 10 configured to attach a luminaire to a luminaire attachment body installed on a ceiling surface. The unmanned flying object 10 comprises an unmanned flying object body 60, an attaching / detaching device 61, a luminaire attaching device 62, and a lifting device 63. The unmanned flying object body 60 enables flying and moving. The attaching / detaching device 61 is disposed on the unmanned flying object body 60, and attachable to / detachable from the luminaire attachment body. The luminaire attaching device 62 is mounted with the luminaire and detachably attaches the luminaire to the luminaire attachment body. The lifting device 63 causes the luminaire attaching device 62 to move up / down with respect to the unmanned flying object body 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE An embodiment of the present invention relates to an unmanned air vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are lighting fixtures that are installed in places with high ceilings. When installing, replacing, or maintaining these lighting fixtures, scaffolding must be constructed or a high-altitude work vehicle must be prepared, and workers must move to high places to install, replace, or maintain the lighting fixtures. Therefore, installing, replacing, or maintaining lighting fixtures takes time and effort. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-166124 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an unmanned aerial vehicle on which lighting fixtures can be installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The embodiment is an unmanned aerial vehicle that attaches a lighting fixture to a fixture mounting body installed on the ceiling side. The unmanned aerial vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle main body, an attachment / detachment device, a fixture mounting device, and a lifting device. The unmanned aerial vehicle main body is capable of flying. The attachment / detachment device is provided on the unmanned aerial vehicle main body and is attachable / detachable to the fixture mounting body. The fixture mounting device carries a lighting fixture and attaches it detachably to the fixture mounting body. The lifting device raises and lowers the fixture mounting device relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle main body. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the embodiment, it is expected that an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of installing lighting fixtures can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view of an unmanned aerial vehicle showing one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the unmanned aerial vehicle. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting member of the same fixture mounting body attached to a pair of suspension bolts. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the above fixture mounting body in an installed state. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the above fixture mounting body in an installed state. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a side view showing another example of the same instrument mounting body. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture to be attached to the fixture mounting body. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of installing a lighting fixture by the unmanned aerial vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] 1 and 2 show an unmanned aerial vehicle 10, FIGS. 3 to 7 show an equipment mounting body 11, and FIG. 8 shows a lighting equipment 12.

[0010] The fixture mounting body 11 is attached to a pair of hanging bolts 13 protruding downward from a ceiling structure (e.g., ceiling surface c) on the ceiling side, and a power line wired to the ceiling side is connected to the fixture mounting body 11. The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 detachably attaches the lighting fixture 12 to the fixture mounting body 11, and power is supplied to the lighting fixture 12 from the fixture mounting body 11.

[0011] First, the fixture mounting body 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 to Fig. 7. The fixture mounting body 11 functions as an adapter for attaching the lighting fixture 12 to a pair of hanging bolts 13 in a detachable and power-supplying manner. The power line supplies AC power from, for example, a commercial AC power source.

[0012] The fixture mounting body 11 comprises a mounting member 15 attached to a pair of suspension bolts 13, a fixture mounting section 16 which houses the pair of suspension bolts 13 to which the mounting member 15 is attached and is attached to the mounting member 15, and which removably mounts the lighting fixture 12, and a power supply section 17 which is disposed between the mounting member 15 and the fixture mounting section 16 and supplies power to the lighting fixture 12 attached to the fixture mounting section 16.

[0013] The mounting member 15 is formed of a metal plate. The mounting member 15 includes a disk-shaped mounting plate portion 20, a pair of mounting pieces 21 for mounting the appliance mounting portion 16 provided at symmetrical positions on the outer periphery of the mounting plate portion 20, and a pair of hook portions 22 provided at positions perpendicular to the pair of mounting pieces 21 on the outer periphery of the mounting plate portion 20.

[0014] The mounting plate 20 is provided with a pair of mounting holes 23 at symmetrical positions on the same circumference for mounting to a pair of suspension bolts 13. One mounting hole 23 is a circular hole, and the other mounting hole is an oblong hole that is long in the circumferential direction. Nuts 25 are screwed via washers 24 to the pair of suspension bolts 13 inserted through the pair of mounting holes 23, and the mounting member 15 is attached to the ceiling side (e.g., the ceiling surface c of the ceiling structure) by tightening the nuts 25. A circular opening 26 is provided in the center of the mounting plate 20, through which wiring such as a power line connected to the power supply unit 17 is inserted.

[0015] The pair of mounting pieces 21 are provided at positions on the circumference of the outer periphery of the mounting plate portion 20 that are perpendicular to the pair of mounting holes 23. The pair of mounting pieces 21 are cut and raised in a substantially L-shape so as to protrude downward from the mounting plate portion 20, allowing the appliance mounting portion 16 to be screwed.

[0016] The pair of hooks 22 are provided at positions on the circumference of the outer periphery of the mounting plate 20 that are aligned radially with the pair of mounting holes 23. The pair of hooks 22 are cut and raised in a substantially L-shape so as to protrude downward from the mounting plate 20, and are provided with hook pieces bent upward at their tips. The hooks 22 are used to hook a wire connected to the lighting fixture 12 to prevent the lighting fixture 12 from falling off the fixture mounting body 11, or to attach the lighting fixture 12 depending on the type of lighting fixture 12.

[0017] The appliance mounting portion 16 is made of, for example, resin and includes a disk-shaped mounting surface portion 29 and a peripheral surface portion 30 rising upward from the periphery of the mounting surface portion 29. The upper surface side of the appliance mounting portion 16 is open, and an accommodation portion 31 is formed in the internal space to accommodate the tip sides of the pair of hanging bolts 13 to which the mounting member 15 is attached, the washers 24 and nuts 25, and the power supply portion 17.

[0018] The mounting surface portion 29 is provided with a pair of recesses 32 at symmetrical positions on the same circumference, and a pair of mounting holes 33 are provided within the pair of recesses 32. A pair of screws 34 are inserted into the recesses 32 and screwed into the mounting piece portion 21 of the mounting member 15 through the mounting holes 33, thereby mounting the instrument mounting portion 16 to the mounting member 15.

[0019] The mounting surface portion 29 is provided with a pair of mounting holes 35 at positions on the same circumference perpendicular to the pair of recesses 32 and the pair of mounting holes 33. A pair of screws 36 are screwed into the power supply portion 17 through the pair of mounting holes 35, thereby fixing and integrating the appliance mounting portion 16 and the power supply portion 17.

[0020] The mounting surface portion 29 is provided with a pair of insertion holes 37 at positions on the same circumference that are aligned radially with the pair of recesses 32 and the pair of mounting holes 33. The pair of insertion holes 37 are elongated holes that are long in the circumferential direction, and are provided with an enlarged portion 38 at one end in the circumferential direction, whose hole width widens toward the inner diameter side.

[0021] Power supply unit 17 has a cylindrical case 41 made of, for example, resin, is housed in housing portion 31 of fixture mounting portion 16, and is fixed to the upper surface of mounting surface portion 29 by a pair of screws 36 to be integrated. Power supply unit 17 is disposed between the pair of suspension bolts 13 so as not to interfere with the pair of suspension bolts 13, washers 24, and nuts 25 housed in fixture mounting portion 16.

[0022] A pair of wire insertion openings for inserting a pair of power lines are provided on the upper surface of the case 41. A pair of mounting holes for attaching a pair of screws 36 for inserting through the appliance mounting part 16 are provided on the lower surface of the case 41, and a pair of connection holes are provided at positions opposite the pair of insertion holes 37 of the appliance mounting part 16.

[0023] A pair of connection terminals to which the power lines inserted into the pair of wire insertion openings are connected, and a pair of power supply terminals arranged along the edges of the pair of connection holes are arranged inside the case 41. The pair of connection terminals and the pair of power supply terminals are electrically connected to each other at the same pole.

[0024] In this way, the fixture attachment section 16 and the power supply section 17 have the same configuration as a ceiling hook body. Note that the power supply section 17 may be provided integrally with the fixture attachment section 16.

[0025] 7 shows another example of the instrument mounting body 11. In the instrument mounting body 11, a groove portion 53 is provided along the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface portion 30 of the instrument mounting part 16. The groove portion 53 is provided in a pair at symmetrical positions on the circumference of the peripheral surface portion 30, or is provided over the entire circumference of the peripheral surface portion 30.

[0026] By providing a groove portion 53 on the peripheral portion 30 of the fixture mounting portion 16, when the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 attaches the lighting fixture 12 to the fixture mounting body 11, the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 can attach the lighting fixture 12 to the fixture mounting body 11 with the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 engaging with the groove portion 53 and being firmly held to the fixture mounting body 11.

[0027] 8 shows an example of a high ceiling lighting fixture that is installed in a place with a high ceiling as lighting fixture 12. Note that lighting fixture 12 is not limited to the example of a high ceiling lighting fixture, and may be other lighting fixtures including, for example, base lights that can be installed on the ceiling side.

[0028] The lighting fixture 12 includes a light source unit 44 having a light source, a power supply unit 45 that converts AC power supplied from the fixture mounting body 11 into a predetermined lighting power and supplies it to the light source, and an arm 46 that supports the light source unit 44 and the power supply unit 45.

[0029] The arm 46 is provided with a mounting unit 47 for mounting to the fixture mounting body 11. The mounting unit 47 has a cylindrical case 48 made of, for example, resin, which is rotatably mounted in a circular unit mounting hole 49 provided in the center of the upper surface of the arm 46. The mounting unit 47 is rotatably mounted to the arm 46 around an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the arm 46, and can support the entire lighting fixture 12 via the arm 46.

[0030] A pair of connecting blades 50, which are a pair of connecting parts bent into a substantially L shape, protrude upward on the same circumference from the upper surface of the case 48. The pair of connecting blades 50 can be inserted vertically through the enlarged parts 38 of the pair of insertion holes 37 of the appliance attachment part 16, and when inserted, move into the pair of insertion holes 37 to be positioned on the pair of power supply terminals of the power supply part 17, electrically connected to the pair of power supply terminals, and mechanically supported.

[0031] The pair of connecting blades 50 of the mounting unit 47 are electrically connected to the power supply unit 45 by, for example, a cable, and AC power supplied from the appliance mounting body 11 is supplied to the power supply unit 45.

[0032] The fixture mounting section 16 of the fixture mounting body 11 may be provided with a wiring duct (wiring rail) structure having a pair of conductors through which current flows, while the mounting unit 47 may be provided with a wiring duct plug structure that is detachably attached to the wiring duct and electrically connected to the pair of conductors. The mounting structure between the fixture mounting section 16 and the mounting unit 47 may use a locking mechanism that locks the mounting unit 47 by pushing it up against the fixture mounting section 16 and releases the lock by pushing it up again.

[0033] Next, the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0034] The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may be remotely controlled by an operator using a remote control operation unit to install or remove the lighting fixture 12, or the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may fly autonomously using automatic control to install or remove the lighting fixture 12.

[0035] The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle main body 60, and an attachment / detachment device 61, an instrument mounting device 62, and a lifting device 63 attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle main body 60.

[0036] The unmanned aerial vehicle main body 60 comprises a main body portion 66 and a plurality of propeller portions 67 arranged around the main body portion 66.

[0037] The main body 66 is formed in a generally U-shape in plan view with an opening 68 at the center through which the fixture mounting body 11 and at least a part of the lighting fixture 12 to be attached to the fixture mounting body 11 can pass. The main body 66 is provided with a pair of straight portions 69 arranged parallel to each other across the opening 68, and one end side of the pair of straight portions 69 is connected by an arc-shaped connecting portion 70. The other end side, i.e., the tip between the pair of straight portions 69, is open. The main body 66 may be provided in a generally U-shape in plan view, or in a circular or polygonal ring shape.

[0038] The propeller section 67 includes a propeller and a motor for rotating the propeller. The propeller section 67 is connected to the main body section 66 at both ends of a pair of straight sections 69. The propeller section 67 is not disposed in a position facing the opening between the tips of the pair of straight sections 69 of the main body section 66.

[0039] The main body 66 is equipped with a camera, a battery for supplying power, and a control device for controlling the attitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 by controlling the multiple propeller units 67 and controlling flight movement. The camera photographs the flight direction, photographs the fixture mounting body 11 installed on the ceiling above, and photographs the mounting points between the fixture mounting body 11 and the mounting units 47 of the lighting fixtures 12. Multiple cameras may be provided and positioned for each shooting direction.

[0040] The attachment / detachment device 61 is detachably attached to the appliance mounting body 11 installed on the ceiling side. The attachment / detachment device 61 has a pair of gripping parts 73 that are attached by gripping the peripheral part 30 of the appliance mounting part 16 of the appliance mounting body 11 from both sides. The pair of gripping parts 73 are disposed inside or on the upper part of the pair of straight parts 69 of the main body part 66 and are disposed so as to face each other across the opening part 68. The pair of gripping parts 73 are movable so as to open and close in an interlocking manner in opposing directions approaching and separating from each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction that is the straight line direction of the pair of straight parts 69, and are driven to open and close by an electric driving means such as a motor.

[0041] Although the pair of gripping portions 73 are provided linearly parallel to the pair of linear portions 69, at least the portions for gripping the instrument mounting body 11 may be provided in an arc shape in accordance with the outer circumferential surface shape of the peripheral surface portion 30 of the instrument mounting portion 16 of the instrument mounting body 11. In the case of the instrument mounting body 11 shown in Fig. 7, the pair of gripping portions 73 engage with the groove portion 53 of the instrument mounting body 11 and are firmly fixed in the gripped state.

[0042] The fixture mounting device 62 is supported by the lifting device 63 on the lower side of the main body 66 so as to be movable up and down. The fixture mounting device 62 includes a mounting section 76 on which the lighting fixture 12 is mounted, a plurality of fixture gripping sections 77 which grip the lighting fixture 12 mounted on the mounting section 76 from, for example, four sides around the lighting fixture 12 and position it at a predetermined mounting position, and a mounting work section 78 which mounts the mounting unit 47, which is a mounting portion of the lighting fixture 12, to the fixture mounting body 11. The plurality of fixture gripping sections 77 may move or rotate in a horizontal direction parallel to the upper surface of the mounting section 76 while gripping the lighting fixture 12. The mounting work section 78 also has, for example, a work arm which attaches and detaches the lighting fixture 12 to and from the fixture mounting body 11. The mounting unit 47 of the lighting fixture 12 is rotated in the mounting direction or removal direction by the work arm, so that the lighting fixture 12 is attached and detached to and from the fixture mounting body 11. Even if the mounting structure between the appliance mounting body 11 and the mounting unit 47 is of another type, the mounting work section 78 may move the mounting unit 47 in accordance with the mounting structure.

[0043] The lifting device 63 is attached to the underside of the main body 66. The lifting device 63 has a plurality of wires 80 and a winding drum 81 that winds and unwinds the wires 80. The tip ends of the plurality of wires 80 pulled out from the winding drum 81 are connected to the tool mounting device 62. The lifting device 63 suspends and supports the tool mounting device 62 by the plurality of wires 80, and lifts and lowers the tool mounting device 62 by winding and unwinding the wires 80 by the winding drum 81.

[0044] Next, the operation of installing lighting fixtures 12 by unmanned aerial vehicle 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 9. It is assumed that a fixture mounting body 11 is attached to the ceiling side. The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may install lighting fixtures 12 by remote control by an operator using a remote control operation unit, or the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may fly autonomously and install lighting fixtures 12 while analyzing images captured by a camera using automatic control.

[0045] The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 rotates the multiple propeller units 67 and flies to the position of the fixture mounting body 11 (step S1). At this time, the lighting fixture 12 is not mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle 10, and the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 can fly regardless of the mass of the lighting fixture 12, and there is no risk of the lighting fixture 12 falling off during flight.

[0046] The unmanned aerial vehicle 10, for example, moves to a position below the equipment mounting body 11 and then rises, causing the equipment mounting body 11 to relatively enter the opening 68 of the main body portion 66, and positions a pair of gripping portions 73 of the attachment / detachment device 61 so as to face each other on either side of the equipment mounting body 11.

[0047] The attachment / detachment device 61 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 causes the pair of gripping parts 73 to grip the tool mounting body 11 from both sides, and fix the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 to the tool mounting body 11 (step S2). Once the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 has been fixed to the tool mounting body 11, the rotation of the propeller part 67 may be stopped.

[0048] The lifting device 63 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 unwinds the wire 80 from the winding drum 81, and the tool mounting device 62 descends to floor level or close to the floor level (step S3).

[0049] The worker places the lighting fixture 12 to be installed on the mounting portion 76 of the fixture mounting device 62 (step S4). The lighting fixture 12 is gripped by the multiple fixture gripping portions 77 from all four sides, for example, and positioned at a predetermined mounting position.

[0050] The lifting device 63 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 winds the wire 80 onto the winding drum 81, and the fixture mounting device 62 rises together with the lighting fixture 12 (step S5).

[0051] While checking the positional relationship between the position of the fixture mounting body 11 and the mounting unit 47 of the lighting fixture 12 using the camera of the unmanned air vehicle 10, the position of the mounting unit 47 is adjusted so that it is attached to the fixture mounting body 11 (step S6). Specifically, while holding the lighting fixture 12 with the multiple fixture holding portions 77 of the fixture mounting device 62, the fixture mounting device 62 is moved horizontally and rotated to adjust the position so that the pair of connecting blades 50 of the mounting unit 47 are inserted into the enlarged portions 38 of the pair of insertion holes 37 of the fixture mounting body 11. Note that the ascent of the fixture mounting device 62 may be temporarily stopped during this position adjustment.

[0052] When the camera of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 confirms that the pair of connecting blades 50 of the mounting unit 47 are inserted into the enlarged portions 38 of the pair of insertion holes 37 of the fixture mounting body 11 and the mounting unit 47 is mounted to the fixture mounting body 11 (step S7), the mounting work section 78 of the fixture mounting device 62 operates, and the mounting work section 78 rotates the mounting unit 47 in the mounting direction (step S8). Note that when the mounting unit 47 is fixed to the lighting fixture 12, the fixture mounting device 62 may rotate the entire lighting fixture 12.

[0053] When the mounting unit 47, which rotates in the mounting direction, is rotated by the mounting work unit 78 to a predetermined mounting position relative to the fixture mounting body 11, the rotation is restricted, and the torque value for rotating the mounting unit 47 by the mounting work unit 78 increases. While the mounting unit 47 is being rotated by the mounting work unit 78, the torque is monitored to see if it has reached a set value or more (step S9). If the torque reaches the set value or more, it is determined that the mounting of the lighting fixture 12 to the fixture mounting body 11 has been completed, and the mounting work unit 78 stops the rotation of the mounting unit 47 and retreats from the mounting unit 47.

[0054] Thereafter, the lighting fixture 12 is released from the fixture gripping portion 77 of the fixture mounting device 62 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10, and then released from the gripping by the pair of gripping portions 73 (step S10). At this time, the propeller portion 67 of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 rotates and is ready for flight.

[0055] The unmanned aerial vehicle 10 moves horizontally so that the fixture mounting body 11 is relatively removed from between the tips of the pair of straight portions 69 of the main body 66 so as not to interfere with the lighting fixtures 12 attached to the fixture mounting body 11, and then the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 begins to fly. The flying unmanned aerial vehicle 10 may move to the position of the next fixture mounting body 11, or may move to a predetermined standby position.

[0056] Furthermore, even when the lighting fixture 12 is maintained or replaced, the lighting fixture 12 can be removed from the fixture mounting body 11 by the unmanned aerial vehicle 10. That is, the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 moves horizontally so that the fixture mounting body 11 relatively enters the opening 68 from between the tips of the pair of straight parts 69 of the main body 66 so as not to interfere with the lighting fixture 12 attached to the fixture mounting body 11, and then the fixture mounting body 11 is gripped by the pair of gripping parts 73. The lighting fixture 12 is gripped by the fixture gripping part 77 of the fixture mounting device 62, and the mounting unit 47 of the lighting fixture 12 is rotated in the removal direction by the mounting work part 78 of the fixture mounting device 62, so that the mounting unit 47 can be removed from the fixture mounting body 11. The lifting device 63 lowers the lighting fixture 12 together with the fixture mounting device 62 to the floor surface or close to the floor surface.

[0057] A worker on the floor performs maintenance on the lighting fixture 12, removes the old lighting fixture 12 from the fixture mounting device 62, and places a new lighting fixture 12 in the fixture mounting device 62.

[0058] After maintenance of the lighting fixture 12 or replacement with a new lighting fixture 12, the lighting fixture 12 is installed in the fixture mounting body 11 as described above.

[0059] As described above, an unmanned aerial vehicle 10 can be provided that allows the installation and removal of lighting fixtures 12.

[0060] Therefore, even when installing, maintaining, replacing, etc. the lighting fixture 12, there is no need to assemble scaffolding or prepare a high-altitude work vehicle, and workers do not need to move to high places to perform the work, so that the installation, maintenance, replacement, etc. of the lighting fixture 12 is not time-consuming and the time required for the work can be reduced.

[0061] Although the installation of the lighting fixture 12 using the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 has been described, it can also be used to install other devices such as cameras and speakers that are installed on the ceiling.

[0062] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 11. Equipment mounting body 12 Lighting equipment 60 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Body 61 Detachable device 62 Instrument mounting device 63 Lifting device 73 Gripping part

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle that attaches a lighting fixture to a fixture mounting body installed on a ceiling side, An unmanned aerial vehicle body capable of flying and moving; an attachment / detachment device provided on the unmanned aerial vehicle body and detachable from the tool mounting body; an equipment mounting device for mounting the lighting equipment thereon and removably mounting the lighting equipment to the equipment mounting body; a lifting device that raises and lowers the tool mounting device relative to the unmanned aerial vehicle body; An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

2. The attachment / detachment device has a pair of openable and closable gripping parts that are adapted to grip and attach the instrument attachment body.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1 .

3. The fixture mounting device rotates at least a part of the lighting fixture relative to the fixture mounting body to mount and remove the lighting fixture.

3. An unmanned aerial vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

Images