Unmanned aerial vehicle docking station

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle docking station, comprising an annular structure and a plurality of load-bearing members; the plurality of load-bearing members is arranged in a spaced apart manner around a circumferential direction of the annular structure, and each of the load-bearing members has the same structure and is respectively connected to the annular structure by means of the same part; the annular structure is configured for forming positioning marks for unmanned aerial vehicle identification; and the plurality of load-bearing members is used for supporting an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Description

drone airport

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510186367.5, filed on February 19, 2025, entitled "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Airport", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle technology, and more specifically, to an unmanned aerial vehicle airport. Background Technology

[0003] With the continuous development of the low-altitude economy and the ongoing expansion of the existing scale of instant retail, the routine deployment of delivery drones in future cities will heavily rely on the distribution density of airports to ensure efficient take-off and landing and extensive delivery coverage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a drone airport that is easy to deploy for drone take-off and landing.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this disclosure provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) airport, including a ring structure and multiple load-bearing components;

[0006] The plurality of support members are arranged circumferentially around the annular structure, and the plurality of support members have the same structure and are connected to the annular structure through the same part;

[0007] The ring structure is used to form a positioning marker for identification by drones;

[0008] The plurality of carriers are used to carry the UAV.

[0009] In one feasible implementation, the outer surface of the annular structure is provided with a reflective material.

[0010] In one feasible implementation, the ring structure includes a first ring structure and a second ring structure; the second ring structure is sleeved on the outside of the first ring structure; and the plurality of carriers are connected to both the first ring structure and the second ring structure.

[0011] In one feasible implementation, the first ring structure and the second ring structure are positioning markers for the UAV to identify within different distance ranges from the UAV airport.

[0012] In one feasible implementation, the carrier is provided with a guide structure for guiding the UAV to land on the carrier.

[0013] In one feasible implementation, the guide structure includes a first guide ramp and a second guide ramp arranged opposite to each other, the first guide ramp and the second guide ramp being arranged in a V-shape, the distance between the top of the first guide ramp and the first annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the first guide ramp and the second annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the second guide ramp and the second annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the second guide ramp and the first annular structure.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first ring structure and the second ring structure are different colors.

[0015] In one feasible implementation, the second annular structure and the first annular structure are arranged coaxially.

[0016] In one feasible implementation, the first annular structure is lower than the second annular structure in the vertical direction.

[0017] In one possible implementation, a delivery / receiver opening is formed on the inner side of the first annular structure for the drone to deliver and retrieve goods from the delivery / receiver opening.

[0018] In one feasible implementation, the UAV airport further includes the installation module, the ring structure and the plurality of carriers are disposed on the installation module, and the installation module is provided with an assembly interface for mounting the UAV airport on different substrates.

[0019] In one feasible implementation, the mounting module further includes a connected mounting bracket and a decorative element, the assembly interface being disposed on the mounting bracket, the annular structure and / or the plurality of carriers being detachably connected to the decorative element, the decorative element being used to cover at least a portion of the annular structure and the plurality of carriers in an upward direction.

[0020] Through the above technical solution, during the landing of the UAV on the carrier, the ring structure serves to form a positioning marker for the UAV to identify. Multiple carriers with identical structures are connected to the ring structure at the same points, ensuring that the arrangement of the carriers relative to the ring structure is identical. Therefore, after the UAV identifies the ring structure, its landing accuracy and stability are improved. Furthermore, utilizing a portion of the UAV airport structure as a positioning marker further simplifies the overall structure of the UAV airport, facilitating deployment, increasing UAV throughput, or serving as an alternate landing point in emergencies.

[0021] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the unmanned aerial vehicle airport provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a drone airport from another angle, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a drone airport from another angle, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10. UAV airport; 1. First ring structure; 2. Second ring structure; 3. Bearing component; 4. Guiding structure; 41. First guiding ramp; 42. Second guiding ramp; 5. Delivery / receiver port; 6. Mounting module; 61. Mounting bracket; 62. Decorative component. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0028] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "inner" and "outer" refer to the interior and exterior of the outline of the corresponding component; "far" and "near" refer to the distance of the corresponding component relative to another component in terms of spatial position. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure are for distinguishing one element from another and do not have sequential or importance. When the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0029] This disclosure provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) airport 10, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, including a ring structure and a plurality of carrier members 3; the plurality of carrier members 3 are arranged circumferentially around the ring structure, and the plurality of carrier members 3 have the same structure and are connected to the ring structure through the same part; the ring structure is used to form a positioning mark for the UAV to identify; the plurality of carrier members 3 are used to carry the UAV.

[0030] Through the above technical solution, during the process of the UAV landing on the carrier 3, the ring structure is used to form a positioning mark for the UAV to identify. Multiple carriers 3 with the same structure are connected to the ring structure through the same part, so that the arrangement of multiple carriers 3 relative to the ring structure is the same. Therefore, after the UAV identifies the ring structure, when it lands on the carrier 3, the accuracy and stability of the UAV landing can be improved.

[0031] In addition, using part of the structure of the drone airport as a positioning marker further simplifies the overall structure of the drone airport, making it easier to deploy, increasing drone throughput, or serving as an alternate landing point in emergency situations.

[0032] Understandably, by setting up multiple spaced-apart carriers 3, the overall weight of the carriers 3 can be reduced, thus facilitating the deployment of the UAV airport 10. Furthermore, the circumferential arrangement of multiple carriers 3 around the first annular structure 1 facilitates the landing of the UAV, allowing it to land on the carriers 3 without adjusting its landing attitude, i.e., without requiring precise positioning of the landing gear during landing.

[0033] This disclosure exemplarily sets the number of carriers 3 to eight, such that when the UAV lands on the carriers 3, each landing gear can be supported on at least two carriers 3 to ensure the stability of the UAV when landing on the carriers 3. It is understood that the number of carriers 3 can be adaptively adjusted according to the size of the UAV's landing gear, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0034] The positioning marker formed by the ring structure can be a circular ring. UAV positioning based on circular ring markers is a technology combining computer vision, sensor fusion, and navigation algorithms, primarily used for precise positioning and autonomous navigation of UAVs. Specifically, the UAV collects environmental information through various sensors, such as images or video streams acquired via cameras, to identify features like the shape, color, or texture of the circular ring marker. LiDAR provides distance information to assist in calculating the relative position of the circular ring marker and the UAV. Then, the UAV uses computer vision algorithms to detect the circular ring marker in the image, performing operations such as noise reduction, contrast enhancement, and edge detection to detect the circular or ring-shaped contours. If the ring structure has special markings (such as QR codes or specific color codes), it can be identified through feature point matching (such as SIFT and ORB algorithms).

[0035] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the annular structure may be provided with a reflective material, so that the positioning marker can be used for drone identification at night. The reflective material may be a photoluminescent material, such as a phosphorescent material, which fluoresces when exposed to sufficient light energy in the dark; or, the reflective material may be a reflective coating, such as a metallized coating, where a highly reflective metallized coating can reflect sufficient light under low-light conditions.

[0036] It is understood that reflective material can be provided on all outer surfaces of the positioning marker, or, when the UAV lands on the carrier 3, the portion of the outer surface of the positioning marker facing the UAV can be provided with reflective material. For example, if the ring structure is horizontally arranged to facilitate the landing of the UAV, then the vertically upward portion of the outer surface of the positioning marker can be provided with reflective material to enable UAV positioning, as long as the positioning accuracy requirements are met. This disclosure does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0037] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the ring structure may include a first ring structure 1 and a second ring structure 2. Multiple carriers 3 are connected to both the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2. Thus, the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2 can be connected through the multiple carriers 3, so that the UAV can land on the multiple carriers 3 after passing through the positioning mark formed by at least one of the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2. At this time, the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2 form a positioning mark as an inherent structural part of the UAV airport to guide the UAV to land and simplify the structure of the UAV airport.

[0038] Furthermore, the second ring structure 2 is fitted onto the outside of the first ring structure 1, allowing the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2 to serve as positioning markers for the drone to identify within different distance intervals from the drone airport 10. This provides sequential guidance for the drone to identify and locate itself for landing on the carrier 3. Therefore, the second ring structure 2 can be designed to be identified by the drone within a first distance interval from the drone airport 10, and the first ring structure 1 can be designed to be identified by the drone within a second distance interval from the drone airport 10. Specifically, the second ring structure 2 is used to identify the drone when it is far from the drone airport 10, and the first ring structure 1 is used to identify the drone when it is close to the drone airport 10.

[0039] For example, the first distance range can be 5m to 30m, and the second distance range can be 0.5m to 5m. It is understood that the ranges of the first and second distance ranges are related to the size of the circular marker. Specifically, the circular marker of the second annular structure 2 has a ring width d2 of 100mm and an outer diameter D2 of 1400mm, while the circular marker of the first annular structure 1 has a ring width d1 of 15mm and an outer diameter d2 of 600mm.

[0040] Furthermore, the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2 are different colors to facilitate accurate identification by the drone and reduce mutual interference between them when used for identification. In an exemplary application scenario, both the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2 can be designed as circular markers for drone identification. For example, the circular marker of the first ring structure 1 can be set to green, and the circular marker of the second ring structure 2 can be set to yellow. Thus, the yellow circular marker of the second ring structure 2 can be used for drone identification and positioning when the drone is within a first distance range from the drone airport 10, and the green circular marker of the first ring structure 1 can be used for drone identification and positioning when the drone is within a second distance range from the drone airport 10.

[0041] The width of the second ring structure 2 can be greater than that of the first ring structure 1, so that the UAV can identify the circular mark of the second ring structure 2 within the first distance range. Of course, the smaller size of the circular mark of the first ring structure 1 can reduce the overall size of the UAV airport 10, making it easier to deploy the UAV airport 10.

[0042] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, a guide structure 4 may be provided on the carrier 3. The guide structure 4 is designed to guide the drone to land on the carrier 3 within a third distance interval from the drone airport 10, wherein the values ​​of the first distance interval, the second distance interval, and the third distance interval decrease sequentially. For example, the third distance interval may be 0m to 0.5m. Thus, when the drone is within the first distance interval, it can be identified and located by the yellow ring mark of the second ring structure 2; when the drone is within the second distance interval, it can be identified and located by the green ring mark of the first ring structure 1; and when the drone is within the third distance interval, the guide structure 4 can guide the drone to move to the take-off and landing position after landing on the carrier 3.

[0043] It should be noted that the above-mentioned range limitations of the first distance interval, the second distance interval, and the third distance interval, as well as the size limitations of the first ring structure 1 and the second ring structure 2, are all exemplary and can be adjusted according to the size of the UAV and the positioning and guidance requirements. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0044] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, the guide structure 4 may include a first guide ramp 41 and a second guide ramp 42 arranged opposite to each other. The first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42 are arranged in a V-shape. The distance between the top end of the first guide ramp 41 and the first annular structure 1 is less than the distance between the top end of the first guide ramp 41 and the second annular structure 2, and the distance between the top end of the second guide ramp 42 and the second annular structure 2 is less than the distance between the top end of the second guide ramp 42 and the first annular structure 1. The connection between the first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42 is formed at the aforementioned take-off and landing position. In this way, the landing accuracy requirements of the UAV can be reduced by using the first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42. For example, after the UAV identifies and positions the second ring structure 2 and the first ring structure 1, the UAV's landing gear is located between the first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42. When one side of the UAV's landing gear lands on the first guide ramp 41, the other side of the UAV's landing gear lands on the second guide ramp 42. At this time, the first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42 can guide the UAV's landing gear to slide to the connection point of the first guide ramp 41 and the second guide ramp 42, so that the UAV can be located at the take-off and landing position.

[0045] For example, the angle between the first guide slope 41 and the vertical direction is 29°, the angle between the second guide slope 42 and the vertical direction is 29°, the projected length of the first guide slope 41 in the horizontal direction is 100mm, and the projected length of the second guide slope 42 in the horizontal direction is 180mm. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0046] In addition, the setting angle of the first guide slope 41 and the second guide slope 42 and their projection length in the horizontal direction affect the vertical distance between the take-off and landing position and the second annular structure 2. It is necessary to ensure that the distance between the second annular structure 2 and the wing of the UAV is not less than 130mm in order to meet the take-off requirements of the UAV.

[0047] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the second ring structure 2 and the first ring structure 1 can be arranged coaxially. In this way, since the two rings are arranged coaxially, the algorithm processing can be simplified, that is, only data on one axis needs to be processed, which can improve the calculation efficiency, enabling the UAV to calculate its own position and orientation more accurately and reduce positioning errors. In addition, it can reduce deviations caused by environmental changes or sensor errors and improve the stability of the UAV during landing.

[0048] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 to 3, a delivery / receiver port 5 may be formed on the inner side of the first annular structure 1 for the drone to pick up and deliver goods from the delivery / receiver port 5. In this way, the drone can temporarily land at the drone airport 10 to deliver goods to the user through the delivery port or pick up goods from the user. Therefore, the drone airport 10 can be used for temporary docking when the drone picks up and delivers goods to ensure the continuity of the delivery business.

[0049] Furthermore, in the vertical direction, the first annular structure 1 can be lower than the second annular structure 2. In this way, the first annular structure 1 can avoid the lower body structure of the cargo or the drone, ensuring that the drone can land on the carrier 3. At the same time, it can reduce the size of the landing gear of the drone used in conjunction with the drone airport 10, thereby achieving the lightweighting of the drone.

[0050] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the drone airport 10 may further include an installation module 6. A ring structure and multiple carriers 3 are disposed on the installation module 6. The installation module 6 is provided with an assembly interface to install the drone airport on different substrates. Exemplarily, the assembly interface of the drone airport 10 can be connected to different substrates through different mounting components to enable deployment in different usage environments, thereby facilitating increased distribution density and ensuring delivery range and efficient take-off and landing of drones. The substrate can be a streetlight pole, wall, ground, etc., and any suitable substrate can be selected to install the drone airport according to the landing requirements and application scenarios of the drones; this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0051] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the mounting module 6 may further include a mounting bracket 61 and a decorative element 62 connected together. An assembly interface is disposed on the mounting bracket 61. For example, when the base is a streetlight pole or the ground, the mounting element may be a clamp, in which case the assembly interface can be connected to the clamp, for example, with bolts, to connect the UAV airport 10 to the streetlight pole or a support rod connected to the ground. When the base is a wall, it is understood that the wall surface may be vertical, and the mounting element may be an expansion bolt, in which case the assembly interface can be connected to the wall via the expansion bolts. This disclosure is not limited thereto. Exemplarily, the assembly interface may include through holes for fasteners such as bolts to pass through, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0052] Furthermore, the annular structure and / or multiple carrier members 3 are detachably connected to the decorative member 62. The decorative member 62 is used to cover at least part of the annular structure and multiple carrier members 3 in an upward direction. Of course, the decorative member 62 has a clearance opening for communication with the delivery / receiving port 5. In this disclosure, the decorative member 62 is exemplary constructed as a petal shape, and multiple mounting slots corresponding to the multiple carrier members 3 are provided on the decorative member 62. The carrier members 3 can be inserted into the mounting slots to be connected to the annular structure of the decorative member 62. It is understood that in some other alternative embodiments not shown in the drawings, the decorative member 62 can also be constructed in other shapes, such as a star shape. Of course, the carrier members 3 can be connected to the decorative member 62 by, for example, snap-fit, or the annular structure can also be connected to the decorative member 62 by, for example, plug-in or snap-fit. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0053] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0055] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. An unmanned air vehicle airfield, characterized in that, Includes a ring structure and multiple load-bearing components; The plurality of support members are arranged circumferentially around the annular structure, and the plurality of support members have the same structure and are connected to the annular structure through the same part; The ring structure is used to form a positioning marker for identification by drones; The plurality of carriers are used to carry the UAV.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the ring structure is provided with reflective material.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) airport according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring structure includes a first ring structure and a second ring structure; the second ring structure is sleeved on the outside of the first ring structure; the plurality of carriers are connected to both the first ring structure and the second ring structure.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first ring structure and the second ring structure are positioning markers for the UAV to identify within different distance ranges from the UAV airport.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, A guide structure is formed on the carrier, which is used to guide the UAV to land on the carrier.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 5, characterized in that, The guiding structure includes a first guiding ramp and a second guiding ramp arranged opposite to each other, the first guiding ramp and the second guiding ramp being arranged in a V-shape, the distance between the top of the first guiding ramp and the first annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the first guiding ramp and the second annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the second guiding ramp and the second annular structure being less than the distance between the top of the second guiding ramp and the first ....

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first ring structure and the second ring structure are different colors.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second annular structure and the first annular structure are arranged on the same axis.

9. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the vertical direction, the first annular structure is lower than the second annular structure.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner side of the first annular structure forms a delivery / receiver port for the drone to pick up and deliver goods from the delivery / receiver port.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drone airport also includes an installation module, on which the ring structure and the plurality of carriers are mounted. The installation module is provided with an assembly interface to install the drone airport onto different substrates.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle airport according to claim 11, characterized in that, The mounting module also includes a connected mounting bracket and a decorative element. The assembly interface is disposed on the mounting bracket. The annular structure and / or the plurality of carriers are detachably connected to the decorative element. The decorative element is used to cover at least a portion of the annular structure and the plurality of carriers in an upward direction.

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