Unmanned aerial vehicle centering device, hangar and automobile

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle centering device (100), comprising a parking apron (10), a driving member (20), a transmission member (30), and centering members (40). The parking apron is used for parking an unmanned aerial vehicle; the transmission member is in transmission fit with the driving member; the driving member drives the transmission member to rotate; the centering members are movably arranged on the parking apron and are transmittingly connected to the transmission member; a plurality of centering members are provided; the plurality of centering members are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer side of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and the transmission member rotates to drive the plurality of centering members to get close to or away from each other. Also provided are a hangar comprising the centering device and an automobile comprising the hangar. The centering device has a simple and reliable structure, requires low cost, and occupies a small space.

Description

UAV relocation devices, hangars and vehicles

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent application number 202410059542.X, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 15, 2024, entitled “UAV centering device, hangar and vehicle,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and in particular to a centering device, hangar, and vehicle for UAVs. Background Art

[0004] With the technological advancements in the drone industry, the types and applications of drone operations are becoming increasingly diverse. Currently, drones are often paired with work vehicles to perform complex field operations. During and after operations, the drone must be landed on a landing platform. Due to the limitations of drones' self-determination accuracy, drones cannot accurately land at the center of the designated landing platform, necessitating the use of a drone centering device.

[0005] In related technologies, there are various types of drone centering devices, but their structures are relatively complex and have a large number of parts. They not only take up a large hangar space, but also have problems such as manufacturing difficulties, high manufacturing costs, and low installation efficiency.

[0006] Public content

[0007] The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a centering device for a drone, which has a simpler and more reliable structure, lower cost, and occupies less space.

[0008] The present disclosure further provides a hangar.

[0009] The present disclosure further provides a vehicle.

[0010] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the centering device of the drone includes: a helipad, which is used to park the drone; a driving member; a transmission member, which is in transmission cooperation with the driving member, and the driving member drives the transmission member to rotate; a centering member, which is movably arranged on the helipad and is transmission-connected to the transmission member, and there are multiple centering members, and the multiple centering members are used to be arranged at circumferential intervals on the outer side of the drone, and the transmission member drives the multiple centering members to move closer to or away from each other through rotation.

[0011] Therefore, by making the driving member drive the transmission member to rotate, the centering member is movably set on the apron and connected to the transmission member, so that the transmission member drives multiple centering members to move closer to or away from each other through rotation. In this way, multiple centering members can be driven simultaneously by one driving member, which not only ensures the centering effect of the drone, but also has a simpler and more reliable structure, lower manufacturing cost, and occupies less space.

[0012] In some examples of the present disclosure, the transmission member is provided with a transmission thread, and the centering member is provided with a transmission groove, and the transmission thread extends into the transmission groove and cooperates with the transmission groove in transmission.

[0013] In some examples of the present disclosure, the transmission thread is spiral, and the center of the transmission thread coincides with the rotation center of the transmission member.

[0014] In some examples of the present disclosure, a slide is provided on the apron, and the centering piece can be slidably provided in the slide. There are multiple slides, and the multiple centering pieces correspond one to one with the multiple slides.

[0015] In some examples of the present disclosure, slide rails are respectively provided on both sides of the centering member, and side walls on both sides of the slide groove respectively extend into the slide rails and slideably cooperate with the slide rails.

[0016] In some examples of the present disclosure, there are at least three centering pieces, and the at least three centering pieces are evenly spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the outer side of the drone.

[0017] In some examples of the present disclosure, the driving member is a driving motor, the transmission member is a turntable, and the turntable is in transmission cooperation with the plurality of the centering members.

[0018] In some examples of the present disclosure, a transmission protrusion is provided on the drive motor, a transmission groove is provided on the turntable, and the transmission protrusion is limitedly engaged with the transmission groove; and / or a first gear is provided on the drive motor, a second gear is provided on the turntable, and the first gear and the second gear are meshed.

[0019] In some examples of the present disclosure, the centering device of the drone further includes: a base, which is arranged between the driving member and the transmission member, and a through hole is provided on the base, and the driving motor passes through the through hole and cooperates with the transmission member for transmission.

[0020] The hangar according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the above-mentioned drone centering device.

[0021] A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the hangar described above.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be given in part in the description that follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description that follows, or will be learned through practice of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a centering device for a drone and the drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a centering device of a drone and another perspective of the drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a centering device of a drone and another perspective of the drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a centering device for a drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG5 is an exploded view of a centering device of a UAV according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a first gear on a driving motor of a drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG7 is a partial schematic diagram of a centering device for a UAV according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a second gear on a turntable of a drone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a first gear and a second gear of a drone meshing with each other according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a centering device of a UAV along the AA direction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG11 is a schematic block diagram of a hangar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG12 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure numerals: 100, centering device; 10, apron; 11, slide; 20, driving member; 21, transmission protrusion; 30, transmission member; 31, transmission thread; 32, transmission groove; 40, centering member; 41, transmission groove; 42, slide rail; 50, base; 51, through hole; 61, first gear; 62, second gear; 200, UAV; 300, hangar, 400, vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, and the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary.

[0038] The following describes a centering device 100 for a drone 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to FIG1 to FIG10 . The centering device 100 for the drone 200 can be applied to a hangar, and the hangar can be applied to a vehicle.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1-10 , the centering device 100 for a drone 200 according to the present disclosure may primarily include: a landing pad 10, a drive member 20, a transmission member 30, and a centering member 40. The landing pad 10 is used to park the drone 200. The transmission member 30 is in transmission engagement with the drive member 20, which drives the transmission member 30 to rotate. The centering member 40 is movably disposed on the landing pad 10 and is in transmission connection with the transmission member 30. There are multiple centering members 40, each of which is arranged circumferentially spaced apart on the outside of the drone 200. The transmission member 30 drives the multiple centering members 40 toward or away from each other through rotation.

[0040] Specifically, during operation, the drone 200 needs to land on the helipad 10 for operations such as charging. After completing its operation, the drone 200 needs to land on the helipad 10 for storage. Therefore, to ensure the normal operation of the drone 200 and prevent the drone's rotor from colliding with the edge of the vehicle's sunroof when the centering device 100 on the roof retracts the drone 200 into the vehicle, the accuracy of the drone's 200 landing position must be ensured.

[0041] By enabling the driving member 20 and the transmission member 30 to engage in transmission, the centering member 40 is movably disposed on the apron 10. The centering member 40 is in transmission connection with the transmission member 30, so that power can be transmitted to the centering member 40 through the transmission member 30, driving the centering member 40 to move on the apron 10. Furthermore, by enabling the driving member 20 to rotate the transmission member 30, and by enabling multiple centering members 40 to engage in transmission with the transmission member 30, the transmission member 30 drives the multiple centering members 40 toward or away from each other through rotation, thereby achieving the centering and release of the drone 200.

[0042] Specifically, when the drone 200 needs to be shipped out of the warehouse, the multiple return pieces 40 can be moved away from each other, so that the drone 200 can be released.

[0043] When the drone 200 stops and lands between the multiple centering parts 40, the multiple centering parts 40 can approach each other and push the drone 200 to the preset parking position on the apron 10. Under the premise of being able to center the drone 200 and facilitating the charging or recovery of the drone 200, one driving part 20 can simultaneously drive multiple centering parts 40. This not only simplifies the structure of the centering device 100 of the drone 200 and reduces the number of parts of the centering device 100 of the drone 200, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the centering device 100 of the drone 200, but also makes the layout position of the centering device 100 of the drone 200 more centralized, which can more effectively save hangar space. In addition, after the multiple centering parts 40 complete the centering of the drone 200, the multiple centering parts 40 can clamp the drone 200, thereby improving the stability of the drone 200 on the apron 10 and preventing the drone 200 from moving unintentionally by the user.

[0044] Therefore, by making the driving member 20 drive the transmission member 30 to rotate, the centering member 40 is movably set on the apron 10 and is connected to the transmission member 30, so that the transmission member 30 drives multiple centering members 40 to move closer to or away from each other through rotation. In this way, multiple centering members 40 can be driven by one driving member 20 at the same time to achieve the centering and release of the drone 200, which not only ensures the centering effect of the drone 200, but also has a simpler and more reliable structure, lower manufacturing cost, and smaller space occupation.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3 and 5-10 , the transmission member 30 is provided with a transmission thread 31, and the centering member 40 is provided with a transmission groove 41. The transmission thread 31 extends into the transmission groove 41 and engages with the transmission groove 41. Specifically, by providing the transmission thread 31 on the transmission member 30 and the transmission groove 41 on the centering member 40, when the centering device 100 of the drone 200 is assembled, the transmission thread 31 can be inserted into the transmission groove 41, forming a threaded engagement between the transmission member 30 and the centering member 40. When the transmission member 30 rotates, the transmission groove 41 screws in or out relative to the transmission thread 31. This not only allows the multiple centering members 40 to move closer or further away from each other, ensuring the normal operation of the centering device 100 of the drone 200, but also makes the transmission engagement between the transmission member 30 and the centering member 40 simpler and more stable, improving the structural stability of the centering device 100 of the drone 200 and reducing the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the centering device 100 of the drone 200.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 10 , the transmission thread 31 is spirally shaped, and the center of the transmission thread 31 coincides with the rotation center of the transmission member 30. Specifically, by setting the transmission thread 31 in a spiral shape and coinciding the center of the transmission thread 31 with the rotation center of the transmission member 30, when the driving member 20 drives the transmission member 30 to rotate, the multiple centering members 40 can be moved radially relative to the transmission member 30, so that the multiple centering members 40 are simultaneously close to the center of the transmission thread 31, or simultaneously away from the center of the transmission thread 31, thereby achieving the multiple centering members 40 approaching or moving away from each other, thereby achieving the centering of the drone.

[0047] In a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 7, the transmission thread 31 rotates clockwise. When the driving member 20 drives the transmission member 30 to rotate clockwise, it can simultaneously drive multiple centering members 40 to approach each other, thereby realizing the centering and clamping of the drone 200. When the driving member 20 drives the transmission member 30 to rotate counterclockwise, it can simultaneously drive multiple centering members 40 to move away from each other, thereby realizing the loosening of the drone 200.

[0048] In another specific embodiment of the present disclosure, the transmission thread 31 rotates counterclockwise. When the driving member 20 drives the transmission member 30 to rotate counterclockwise, it can simultaneously drive multiple centering members 40 to approach each other, thereby realizing the centering and clamping of the drone 200. When the driving member 20 drives the transmission member 30 to rotate clockwise, it can simultaneously drive multiple centering members 40 to move away from each other, thereby realizing the loosening of the drone 200.

[0049] As shown in Figures 1 to 10 , a chute 11 is provided on the apron 10, and a centering member 40 is slidably disposed within the chute 11. There are multiple chute 11s, and the multiple centering members 40 correspond one to one with the multiple chute 11. With this arrangement, when power is transmitted to the centering member 40 through the transmission member 30, the multiple centering members 40 can slide in the corresponding chute 11. The chute 11 can limit the movement direction of the centering member 40, allowing the multiple centering members 40 to slide in a direction toward or away from each other, thereby ensuring that the transmission member 30 can drive the multiple centering members 40 toward or away from each other, ensuring the normal operation of the centering device 100 of the drone 200.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 10 , slide rails 42 are provided on both sides of the centering member 40, and the side walls of the chute 11 extend into the slide rails 42 and slide in cooperation with the slide rails 42. Specifically, by providing the slide rails 42 on both sides of the centering member 40 and extending the side walls of the chute 11 into the slide rails 42, when power is transmitted to the centering member 40 through the transmission member 30, the chute 11 can slide in cooperation with the slide rails 42, thereby not only limiting the movement direction of the centering member 40 relative to the apron 10, but also making the movement of the centering member 40 relative to the apron 10 more stable and smooth, thereby optimizing the structural design of the centering device 100 of the drone 200 and making the centering device 100 of the drone 200 more stable and reliable.

[0051] As shown in Figures 1-10 , there are at least three centering components 40, which are evenly spaced around the outer circumference of the drone 200. Specifically, by providing at least three centering components 40 and evenly spacing them around the outer circumference of the drone 200, when the transmission member 30 drives the at least three centering components 40 to move and bring them closer together, at least one centering component 40 can contact the outer side of the drone 200, pushing the drone 200 toward a predetermined position. Ultimately, all three centering components 40 contact the outer side of the drone 200, thus centering the drone 200 and ensuring the normal operation of the centering device 100 of the drone 200.

[0052] In a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 7, there are four centering pieces 40, and the angle between two adjacent centering pieces 40 is 90°. The four centering pieces 40 can be brought close to each other to center the drone 200 in four directions, thereby meeting the centering requirements of the drone 200 in production practice and improving the centering effect of the drone 200.

[0053] As shown in FIG3 and FIG5-10, the driving member 20 is a driving motor, and the transmission member 30 is a turntable, which is in transmission cooperation with multiple centering members 40. Specifically, by setting the driving member 20 as a driving motor and the transmission member 30 as a turntable, the rotation of the driving motor can drive the turntable to rotate, thereby causing the driving member 20 to drive the transmission member 30 to rotate, and by coupling the turntable with the multiple centering members 40, it is only necessary to selectively rotate the driving motor forward or reverse, so that the multiple centering members 40 can be moved closer to or away from each other under the rotation of the turntable, making the structure of the centering device 100 of the drone 200 simpler and more controllable.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in conjunction with Figures 5 and 7, a transmission protrusion 21 is provided on the drive motor, and a transmission groove 32 is provided on the turntable, and the transmission protrusion 21 is limitedly engaged with the transmission groove 32. Specifically, by providing the transmission protrusion 21 on the drive motor and the transmission groove 32 on the turntable, it is only necessary to extend the transmission protrusion 21 into the transmission groove 32, so that the transmission protrusion 21 and the transmission groove 32 can be mutually limitedly engaged, and the drive motor can drive the turntable to rotate, thereby realizing transmission cooperation between the drive motor and the turntable, which can make the transmission cooperation between the drive motor and the turntable more simple.

[0055] In other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9, a first gear 61 is provided on the drive motor, and a second gear 62 is provided on the turntable, and the first gear 61 and the second gear 62 are meshed. Specifically, the drive motor is provided with the first gear 61, and the turntable is provided with the second gear 62. In this way, only the first gear 61 and the second gear 62 need to be meshed, and a gear transmission can be formed between the first gear 61 and the second gear 62. The drive motor can drive the turntable to rotate, thereby realizing transmission coordination between the drive motor and the turntable, and making the transmission coordination between the drive motor and the turntable more stable and reliable.

[0056] It should be noted that the transmission method between the drive motor and the turntable can also be other methods, which are not specifically limited here.

[0057] As shown in Figures 3, 5, and 10, the centering device 100 of the drone 200 may further include a base 50, which is disposed between the driver 20 and the transmission member 30. The base 50 is provided with a through hole 51, through which the drive motor passes and in transmission engagement with the transmission member 30. This arrangement ensures transmission engagement between the driver 20 and the transmission member 30 and the proper operation of the centering device 100 of the drone 200, while also providing a certain degree of protection for the transmission member 30, further enhancing the structural reliability of the centering device 100 of the drone 200.

[0058] According to the hangar 300 disclosed in the present invention, as shown in FIG11 , it can mainly include: a centering device 100 for the drone 200 of any of the above-mentioned embodiments. Specifically, by applying the centering device 100 for the drone 200 to the hangar 300, it can ensure that the drone 200 is accurately parked at a preset position, which not only meets the round-trip parking requirements of the drone 200 during operation, but also prevents the drone 200 rotor from colliding with the outside world when recovering the drone 200, thereby preventing the drone 200 from being damaged. This can optimize the structural design of the hangar 300 and improve the reliability of the hangar. In addition, since the arrangement position of the centering device 100 for the drone 200 is more centralized, this can more effectively save space in the hangar 300 and achieve miniaturization of the hangar 300.

[0059] Vehicle 400 according to the present disclosure, as shown in FIG12 , may primarily include the aforementioned hangar 300. Specifically, by incorporating hangar 300 into vehicle 400, not only can vehicle 400 be guaranteed to cooperate with drone 200 operations, thus ensuring the structural reliability of drone 200, but hangar 300 can also be prevented from occupying excessive space within vehicle 400, thereby improving space utilization within vehicle 400. This can thereby enhance the reliability of vehicle 400, improve the product competitiveness of vehicle 400, and enhance the user experience.

[0060] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation to the present disclosure.

[0061] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

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

Claims

1. A centering device (100) for a drone (200), characterized in that, Comprising: A landing pad (10) for parking a drone (200); A driving member (20); A transmission member (30) which is in transmission cooperation with the driving member (20), and the driving member (20) drives the transmission member (30) to rotate; and A centering member (40) which is movably arranged on the landing pad (10) and is in transmission connection with the transmission member (30). There are a plurality of the centering members (40), and the plurality of centering members (40) are circumferentially arranged at intervals outside the drone (200). The transmission member (30) drives the plurality of centering members (40) to approach or move away from each other by rotation.

2. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission member (30) is provided with a transmission thread (31), and the centering member (40) is provided with a transmission groove (41). The transmission thread (31) extends into the transmission groove (41) and is in transmission cooperation with the transmission groove (41).

3. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission thread (31) is helical, and the center of the transmission thread (31) coincides with the rotation center of the transmission member (30).

4. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, A sliding groove (11) is arranged on the landing pad (10), and the centering member (40) is slidably arranged in the sliding groove (11). There are a plurality of the sliding grooves (11), and the plurality of centering members (40) correspond to the plurality of sliding grooves (11) one by one.

5. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Sliding rails (42) are respectively arranged on both sides of the centering member (40), and the side walls on both sides of the sliding groove (11) respectively extend into the sliding rails (42) and are in sliding cooperation with the sliding rails (42).

6. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, There are at least three centering members (40), and at least three centering members (40) are circumferentially and evenly arranged at intervals outside the drone (200).

7. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The driving member (20) is a driving motor, the transmission member (30) is a turntable, and the turntable is in transmission cooperation with the plurality of centering members (40).

8. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that, A transmission protrusion (21) is arranged on the driving motor, a transmission groove (32) is arranged on the turntable, and the transmission protrusion (21) is in limit cooperation with the transmission groove (32); and / or A first gear (61) is arranged on the driving motor, a second gear (62) is arranged on the turntable, and the first gear (61) and the second gear (62) are meshed with each other.

9. The centering device (100) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (200) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Further comprising: A base (50) which is arranged between the driving member (20) and the transmission member (30). A through hole (51) is arranged on the base (50), and the driving motor passes through the through hole (51) and is in transmission cooperation with the transmission member (30).

10. An aircraft hangar (300), characterized in that, Comprising: The centering device (100) of the drone (200) according to any one of claims 1-9.

11. A vehicle (400), characterized in that, Comprising: The hangar (300) according to claim 10.

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