UNMANNED VEHICLE
An unmanned vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly. The arm assembly is coupled to the vehicle body. The arm assembly includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, and a propeller. The second rotating member is coupled to the first rotating member. The propeller includes a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller and a rotatable axle coupled to the second rotating member. The the rotatable axle extends along a rotating axis. The second rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis. The first rotating member is configured to rotate and effect a movement of the second rotating member so as to selectively adjust the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis at least with a first axial direction and a second axial direction.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/197,596, filed Jul. 28, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDTechnical Field
The present disclosure relates to an unmanned vehicle.
Description of Related Art
In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely used in various fields such as aerial photography, surveillance, scientific research, geological survey, and remote sensing. Typically, the UAVs carry onboard a variety of electrical components used to control various aspects of the operation of the UAVs. At the same time, the UAVs sometimes also need to carry one or more sensors for navigational, surveillance or remote sensing purposes.
However, traditional UAVs are aerial vehicles and can only move in the sky. When the climate is bad or there are obstructions in the aerial pathway, the traditional UAVs are unable to work properly. That is, traditional UAVs are unable to cope with a variety of climate conditions or complex routes.
SUMMARYAccording to an embodiment, the disclosure provides an unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly. The arm assembly is coupled to the vehicle body. The arm assembly includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, and a propeller. The second rotating member is coupled to the first rotating member. The propeller includes a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller. The propeller further includes a rotatable axle coupled to the second rotating member. The rotatable axle extends along a rotating axis. The second rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis. The first rotating member is configured to rotate and effect a movement of the second rotating member so as to selectively adjust the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis at least with a first axial direction and a second axial direction.
According to another embodiment, the disclosure provides an unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an arm, a propeller rotating member, a propeller, and a rim. The arm is rotatably coupled to the vehicle body. The propeller rotating member is disposed on a surface of the arm. The propeller is coupled to the propeller rotating member. The propeller has a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis perpendicular to the surface of the arm. The rim is coupled to the outer edge of the propeller. The propeller rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis. The arm is configured to rotate relative to the vehicle body so as to selectively adjust the rotating axis at least to a first axial direction and a second axial direction. The rim is coupled to the outer edge of the propeller.
According to yet another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for controlling an unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly having a propeller. The propeller includes a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller. The propeller further includes a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis The method includes at least one of: adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a first axial direction substantially perpendicular from a top surface of the vehicle body, to configure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle capable of flight by a propelling force of the propeller; and adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a second axial direction substantially orthogonal to first axial direction, to configure the unmanned vehicle to a land vehicle capable of wheeling by the propeller rim contacting a ground.
The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Reference is made to
The arm assemblies 12 further include shoulder joints 124 connecting the arms 120 to the connection members 10b of the vehicle body 10. The arms 120 of the arm assemblies 12 are configured to pivot about the shoulder joints 124 and rotate relative to the vehicle body 10. Accordingly, the distance between any two of the propellers 123 can be adjusted and thus the operation of the propellers 123 can be prevented from structural interference.
As shown in
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In an embodiment each of the second rotating members 122 is a power motor, capable to turn the propeller 123 to provide a propelling force by rotating the rotatable axle 123b about the rotating axis R.
As shown in the embodiments of
In some embodiments, the controller 160 is disposed on the vehicle body 10 (e.g., on the main body 10a or the connecting member 10b) and the power unit 161 is disposed on the arm assembly 12. In some embodiments, the power unit 161 is disposed on the vehicle body 10 (e.g., on the main body 10a or the connecting member 10b) and the controller 160 is disposed on the arm assembly 12. In some embodiments, the controller 160 and the power unit 161 are both disposed on the arm assembly 12.
In some embodiments, the controller 160 is further configured to individually control the first rotating member 121 of each arm assembly 12 to individually adjust each rotatable axle 123b and align with one of a plurality of axial directions. For example, the controller 160 can adjust the rotatable axles 123b of two of the propellers 123 to align their rotating axes R with the first axial direction A1, and adjust the rotatable axles 123b of the other propellers 123 to align their rotating axes R with the second axial direction A2. Further, the controller 160 is configured to control the first rotating members 121 to adjust the rotatable axles 123b of the propellers 123 to change the rotating axes R to different alignments and angles with respect to the first axial direction A1 and second axial direction A2. Other combinations to control and rotate the rotatable axles 123b of the propellers 123 are envisaged, to provide different motion capabilities of the unmanned vehicle 1.
In some embodiments, the shoulder joints 124 provide for lateral movement of the arms 120 and the arm assemblies 12. Specifically, the controller 160 is configured to individually control the rotation of each arm assembly 12 about the shoulder joint 124 to align the rotatable axle 123b with one of a plurality of axial directions. The moving direction of the unmanned vehicle 1 can be changed by adjusting the rotatable axle 123b of at least one propeller 123 by rotating the corresponding arm 120 about the corresponding shoulder joint 124, as shown in
It is appreciated that the extension and retraction of the arm 120 allows for a variety of operational modes and flexibility for controlling the unmanned vehicle 1. By extending/retracting the arms 120 in different configurations and combinations about the shoulder joints 124, the unmanned vehicle 1 may achieve improved maneuverability. Further, when navigating the unmanned vehicle 1 through more confined spaces, the retraction of the arms 120 transforms the unmanned vehicle 1 into a smaller size vehicle and able to fit through tighter spaces. Further, when the unmanned vehicle 1 is not in use, the retracted arms allow the unmanned vehicle 1 to occupy a smaller space for transport and storage.
In some other embodiments, to control vehicular movement of the unmanned vehicle 1, the controller 160 is configured to individually control the second rotating member 122 of each arm assembly 12 to individually cause each propeller 123 to rotate with a different rotational speed or to rotate in a different direction. Therefore, the moving direction of the unmanned vehicle 1 can also be changed by adjusting the differences between the rotational speeds of the propellers 123 when the unmanned vehicle 1 operates as an aerial or land vehicle. In this manner, structural interferences among the propellers 123 during any operation of the unmanned vehicle 1 can be considered in advance, and the shoulder joints 124 can be omitted in some embodiments.
As shown in
Other details regarding the unmanned vehicle 1′ of
Reference is made to
In some embodiments, the protection shields 14 are detachably connected to the propeller rims 123a. In some embodiments the protection shield 14 and the propeller rim 123a are integral. In some embodiments, the protection shields 14 are coupled to the arm assemblies 12 without connecting to the propeller rims 123a. Specifically, the protection shields 14 are coupled to the first rotating members 121 of the arm assemblies 12, as shown in
Reference is made to
According to the data received from the camera 164, the Wireless communication module 162, or the location positioning module 163, the unmanned vehicle 1 can control the arm assembly 12 and/or the power unit 161 powering the arm assembly 12 to configure/reconfigure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial or land vehicle. The unmanned vehicle 1 then power/control the unmanned vehicle's operations and motions according to that configuration. For example, in a situation the unmanned vehicle configured as an aerial vehicle propelling across the air may be reaching shore. The approach to shore may be plotted by the location positioning module 163 and/or notified by received wireless information and/or detected by the camera 164. In response to this, the processor module 166 can operate the controller 160 to instruct the arm assembly 12 to reconfigure the unmanned vehicle 1 to a land vehicle to move on wheels, to continue proceeding along the planned pathway.
As another example, the location positioning module 163 may plot a course through a more confined space terrain, which is confirmed by visual detection by the camera 164. In response to this, the arm assembly 12 is turned about the shoulder joint 124 and retracted to make the unmanned vehicle 1 into a smaller size. Additionally, power can be reduced to navigate the unmanned vehicle 1 slower and more carefully through this narrow space.
Reference is made to
Similar to the previously described embodiments, when the rotatable axle 223b of the propellers 223 are adjusted to generally align the rotating axes R with the first axial direction A1, the propelling forces provided by the propellers 223 can make the unmanned vehicle 2 levitate, or move up or down, allowing the unmanned vehicle 2 to be configured as an aerial vehicle. When the rotatable axle 223b of the propellers 223 are adjusted to generally align the rotating axes R with the second axial direction A2, the rotating propellers 223 with the propeller rims 223a can function as wheels, transforming the unmanned vehicle 2 into a land vehicle.
In some embodiments, the unmanned vehicle 2 can also include a controller 160 shown in
In some embodiments, the propellers 223 of the unmanned vehicle 2 can be replaced by the propellers 123′ shown in
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As shown in
In some embodiments, the unmanned vehicle 2 can further include the power unit 161 shown in
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
According to the foregoing recitations of the embodiments of the disclosure, it can be seen that the unmanned vehicle of the disclosure can be a kind of amphibious vehicle (e.g., able to move both in the sky and on the land). As shown in the Figures, the unmanned vehicle includes modularized parts/units. The modularized design provides for ease of transport, storage, and parts replacement or parts upgrade. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.
Claims
1. An unmanned vehicle, comprising a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly coupled to the vehicle body, the arm assembly comprising:
- a first rotating member;
- a second rotating member coupled to the first rotating member; and
- a propeller comprising a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller, the propeller further comprising a rotatable axle coupled to the second rotating member;
- wherein the rotatable axle extends along a rotating axis, and the second rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis; and
- wherein the first rotating member is configured to rotate and effect a movement of the second rotating member so as to selectively adjust the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis at least with a first axial direction and a second axial direction.
2. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body comprises:
- a main module; and
- a connecting member detachably connected to the main module, wherein the arm assembly is connected to the connecting member.
3. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:
- a controller configured to control a movement of the first rotating member and a movement of the second rotating member; and
- a power unit configured to supply power to move the first rotating member and the second rotating member.
4. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of the arm assemblies, wherein the controller is configured to individually control the movement of the first rotating member of each arm assembly to individually adjust each rotatable axle to align with one of a plurality of axial directions.
5. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of the arm assemblies, wherein the controller is configured to individually control the movement of the second rotating member of each arm assembly to individually cause each propeller to rotate with a different rotational speed or to rotate in a different direction.
6. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a shoulder joint connecting the arm assembly to the vehicle body, wherein the arm assembly is configured to pivot about the shoulder joint and rotate relative to the vehicle body.
7. The unmanned vehicle of claim 6, wherein a plurality of the arm assemblies is provided and the controller is configured to individually control the rotation of each arm assembly about the shoulder joint to align the rotatable axle with one of a plurality of axial directions.
8. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, wherein the controller and the power unit have one of the following configurations:
- the controller and the power unit are both disposed on the vehicle body;
- the controller is disposed on the vehicle body and the power unit is disposed on the arm assembly;
- the power unit is disposed on the vehicle body and the controller is disposed on the arm assembly; and
- the controller and the power unit are both disposed on the arm assembly.
9. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a protection shield extending from the propeller rim and enveloping at least a part of the propeller.
10. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first rotating member is an elongate cylinder disposed in a cavity extending along the vehicle body's periphery such that a portion of an elongate curved surface of the elongate cylinder is enshrouded in the cavity; and wherein the second rotating member is disposed on an exposed curved surface of the elongate cylinder, and the rotatable axle is connected to the second rotating member and extends perpendicularly from the exposed curved surface.
11. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first axial direction is substantially perpendicular from a top surface of the vehicle body, and the second axial direction is substantially orthogonal to the first axial direction.
12. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a wireless communication module configured to receive a control instruction for operating the controller.
13. The unmanned vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a camera configured to generate a video data, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the video data to a remote device.
14. The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a location positioning module configured to generate a location data, and the unmanned vehicle further comprising a processor module configured to:
- generate a navigation route according to the location data; and
- generate a navigation instruction for operating the controller to effect a movement of the unmanned vehicle according the navigation route.
15. An unmanned vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- at least one arm assembly comprising: an arm rotatably coupled to the vehicle body; a propeller rotating member disposed on a surface of the arm; a propeller coupled to the propeller rotating member, the propeller having a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis perpendicular to the surface of the arm; and a rim coupled to the outer edge of the propeller; wherein the propeller rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis and wherein the arm is configured to rotate relative to the vehicle body, so as to selectively adjust the rotating axis at least to a first axial direction and a second axial direction.
16. The unmanned vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a controller disposed in the vehicle body, wherein a plurality of the arm assemblies is provided, and wherein the controller is configured to individually control the propeller rotating members of the arm assemblies to adjust a rotational speed of each propeller.
17. The unmanned vehicle of claim 16, wherein the arm is an elongate cylinder and the surface of the arm is an elongate curved surface; and wherein the elongate curved surface is rotatably coupled to the vehicle body.
18. A method for controlling an unmanned vehicle comprising a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly having a propeller comprising a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller, the propeller further comprising a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis, the method comprising at least one of:
- adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a first axial direction substantially perpendicular from a top surface of the vehicle body, to configure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle capable of flight by a propelling force of the propeller; and
- adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a second axial direction substantially orthogonal to the first axial direction, to configure the unmanned vehicle to a land vehicle capable of wheeling by the propeller rim contacting a ground.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises a controller and a wireless communication module, the method further comprising:
- receiving, by the wireless communication module, a control instruction for operating the controller; and
- executing the control instruction, by the controller, to adjust the rotatable axle and configure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle or a land vehicle.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises a location position module, the method further comprising:
- generating a location data using the location positioning module;
- generating a navigation route using at least the location data;
- configuring the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle or a land vehicle, according to the navigation route; and
- moving the unmanned vehicle according to the navigation route.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 6, 2016
Publication Date: Feb 2, 2017
Inventors: Jing-Song CHANG (New Taipei City), Steven TSENG (New Taipei City), Zhi-Hong DAI (Shanghai)
Application Number: 14/989,778