Patents Assigned to PRODRONE CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 10427783
    Abstract: To provide a multicopter that enables it to prevent generation of a vortex ring state of a rotor and control lift and thrust efficiently and elaborately. This is solved by a multicopter having a plurality of rotors installed radially to a frame, wherein at least one of the plurality of rotors is provided with a cylindrical duct surrounding and enclosing the rotor; and the duct is formed in a shape making an air flow from an air intake side to an air outlet side of the rotor imbalanced in a circumferential direction of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ichihara, Kiyokazu Sugaki
  • Patent number: 10427781
    Abstract: A multicopter equipped with a fall prevention device enabling it to prevent the airframe from falling even in case the multicopter has become unable to fly normally for various reasons. A multicopter includes a multicopter main body having rotors which are driven by a power source, a plurality of emergency rotors which are driven by an emergency power source which is different from the power source, abnormality detection sensors for detecting abnormality of the multicopter main body, and an emergency control device, the multicopter being configured such that, when the abnormality detection sensors have detected abnormality of the multicopter main body, the emergency control device performs control to deactivate operation of the rotors and drive the emergency rotors by the emergency power source to prevent a rapid fall of the multicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Sugaki, Masakazu Kono, Kazuo Ichihara
  • Patent number: 10411359
    Abstract: A flight interference apparatus enabling it to block intrusion by a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle which is remotely piloted by radio communication into an area to be protected, suppress influence on communication within and outside the area, and reduce the number of required antenna devices. The flight interference apparatus includes one or a plurality of antenna devices which radiate a jamming signal from a directional antenna, and the directional antenna includes a radiating element which radiates a jamming signal of a predetermined frequency band and a reflector which gives directionality to the jamming signal in its radiation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyokazu Sugaki
  • Patent number: 10408617
    Abstract: A water level measurement system including: a water level gauge including a scale part which is installed to extend upward at a predetermined angle of inclination from a water surface; and an unmanned aerial vehicle including image capturing means for capturing the scale part from above and a plurality of rotary wings, and is also solved by a water level control system including the water level measurement system and water level adjustment equipment capable of adjusting an amount of water in a water area in which the water level gauge is installed, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes the water level determining unit and water level control means for remotely operating the water level adjustment equipment through wireless communication, as well as a water level measurement method and a water level control method using the above systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintaro Kusumoto, Kiyokazu Sugaki, Kazuo Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20190176974
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of keeping the airframe level on the water surface and is capable of taking off from and landing on water smoothly. The problem is solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes: a plurality of rotary wings; and a plurality of arms radially extending from an airframe center portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The arms include floating portions extending downward from the respective arms. The floating portions include air chambers in the respective floating portions, the air chambers each including a hollow and hermetic space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyokazu SUGAKI
  • Patent number: 10308348
    Abstract: An unmanned moving vehicle piloting method and an unmanned moving vehicle watching device enabling it to pilot an unmanned moving vehicle, while keeping in visual contact with the vehicle from the vicinity of the vehicle from a third person viewpoint. In the vicinity of an unmanned moving vehicle, a watching aircraft is positioned, which is an unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a single or a plurality of rotors and image capturing means capable of capturing an image of surroundings of the watching aircraft and is able to stand still at one point in the air and piloting the unmanned moving vehicle, while viewing a third person viewpoint image captured by the watching aircraft. Moreover, the watching aircraft includes accompanying flight means for causing the watching aircraft to fly automatically, following movement of an unmanned moving vehicle. This enables the manipulator to concentrate solely on piloting the unmanned moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20190129427
    Abstract: An unmanned aircraft and such a moving object capturing system that quickly disable an unidentified object that has intruded into a predetermined airspace. The problem is solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a plurality of rotary wings, a capturing net launching device, and a launching direction controller. The capturing net launching device is configured to launch and spread a capturing net. The launching direction controller is configured to hold the capturing net launching device to control an aiming direction of the capturing net launching device independently of a direction in which an airframe of the unmanned aerial vehicle is pointed. The problem is also solved by a moving object capturing system that includes a monitor configured to monitor a predetermined space, the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the present invention, and an intermediate processor communicable with the monitor and the unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu SUGAKI, Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Patent number: 10266261
    Abstract: An electricity generating apparatus capable of efficiently and safely charging a storage battery in an unmanned aerial vehicle during its flight and an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with such apparatus. The apparatus is mounted in the vehicle, including a fuel tank which is a container body to reserve fuel, an electric generator unit connected to the fuel tank, tilt measurement means capable of measuring a tilt of the fuel tank, and electricity generation control means for controlling operation of generating electricity by the electric generator unit, wherein the electric generator unit is capable of charging a storage battery in the vehicle during flight, and the electricity generation control means drives the electric generator unit when a tilt angle of the fuel tank indicated by the tilt measurement means is within a safe angle which is a predetermined threshold angle, as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with such apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20190112025
    Abstract: To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle that is optimized for freight purposes and that efficiently performs loading and unloading of freight and efficiently performs airframe management. This object is solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a plurality of propellers. An airframe of the unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a body having a freight chamber that is a hollow portion and that is integral with the body; and a plurality of arms supporting each of the plurality of propellers. A combination of the one arm and the one propeller or plurality of propellers supported by the one arm constitute a retractable propeller. The retractable propeller is partially or entirely storable in the freight chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu SUGAKI, Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Patent number: 10246188
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a still position in the air, allowing a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors to move swiftly to a given position in the air and make its airframe hover stably in that position, the apparatus including a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors, a stationary plane from which and on which the miniature unmanned aerial vehicle takes off and lands, and a plurality of string-like members which link the miniature unmanned aerial vehicle with the stationary plane, wherein the plurality of string-like members are stretched to a length for all the members to become tense when the miniature unmanned aerial vehicle has come to a specified position which is a given position in the air. Also, it is preferable that the plurality of string-like members include at least three string-like members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ichihara, Kiyokazu Sugaki
  • Patent number: 10248861
    Abstract: A system for identifying an unmanned moving object, including: a mobile terminal, an unmanned moving object provided with moving means for enabling the object to move arbitrarily, a management server provided with a database to which specific information including possessor information of the unmanned moving object and individual object management information correlating with the specific information are input, and a communication network which enables communication between the mobile terminal and the management server, wherein identification information that is acquired when a user of the mobile terminal has encountered the unmanned moving object is associated with the individual object management information in advance and the mobile terminal acquires the identification information, acquires specific information by checking the identification information of the mobile terminal for a match within the individual object management information on the management server, and ascertains the possessor information o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20190057252
    Abstract: A living body search system includes an unmanned moving body and a server. The body includes: a camera; image data processing for retrieving image data; moving means; and communicating. The server includes: a database configured to record therein search data; and notifies a client. The body and the server are connected to each other through a communication network. The system includes individuals in the image data wherein individual identification information records the database to determine whether the candidate object in the image data is a searched-for object. The system registers, in the server, searched-for data provided in advance from the client. The system compares image data retrieved from the camera with the individual identification information to perform individual recognition. When the image data matches the individual identification information, the system determines that the object has been found. Then, the system notifies the client that the searched-for object has been found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo ICHIHARA, Masakazu KONO
  • Publication number: 20190044424
    Abstract: A motor driver for an outer-rotor sensorless brushless motor (hereinafter simply referred to as “motor”), the motor driver including: an external magnetic sensor; and a drive circuit. The external magnetic sensor is configured to detect a leakage flux of a permanent magnet of the motor at an outside of the motor, the permanent magnet being arranged on an inner circumferential surface of a rotor of the motor. The drive circuit is configured to control rotation of the motor based on: a control signal for the motor input into the drive circuit; and feedback input into the drive circuit from the external magnetic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu SUGAKI, Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20180370604
    Abstract: An underwater exploration system enables signal transmission and reception to and from an underwater vehicle through wireless communication, that enables carriage of the underwater vehicle to a survey point and collection of the underwater vehicle, and, further, that enables a quick change of the survey point. The underwater exploration system includes: an underwater exploration unit including: a floating member including a first antenna and configured to support the first antenna above a water surface; and an underwater vehicle connected to the first antenna via a signal line; a communication device including a second antenna configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal to and from the first antenna; and an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to carry the underwater exploration unit and drop the underwater exploration unit to the water surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20180356221
    Abstract: A water level measurement system including: a water level gauge including a scale part which is installed to extend upward at a predetermined angle of inclination from a water surface; and an unmanned aerial vehicle including image capturing means for capturing the scale part from above and a plurality of rotary wings, and is also solved by a water level control system including the water level measurement system and water level adjustment equipment capable of adjusting an amount of water in a water area in which the water level gauge is installed, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes the water level determining unit and water level control means for remotely operating the water level adjustment equipment through wireless communication, as well as a water level measurement method and a water level control method using the above systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintaro KUSUMOTO, Kiyokazu SUGAKI, Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20180312247
    Abstract: A carrying device that carries a piece of freight by hanging it from an unmanned aerial vehicle via a flexible member and, in moving the freight toward the ground with the vehicle hovering, confirms the freight has landed, and removes it. The device includes: an unmanned aerial vehicle including a plurality of propellers each drivable into rotation by a motor; a support wire mounted on the vehicle and made of a flexible member configured to support a piece of freight; and a landing detector configured to detect a landing of freight supported on the wire when moved from a space in air toward a ground. The landing detector is preferably configured to detect the landing of the freight based on at least one change in a load acting on the vehicle as a weight, a weight acting on the support wire, and a distance from the freight to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20180305012
    Abstract: A method for controlling a small-size unmanned aerial vehicle that sets a flight path based on a real-time state of the ground and that controls the small-size unmanned aerial vehicle to fly through the flight path. The small-size unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a plurality of propellers; and a photographing device configured to take an image of a ground below the photographing device. The method includes: an information obtaining step of moving the small-size unmanned aerial vehicle upward from the ground and photographing a state of the ground using the photographing device so as to obtain the image of the ground; a path setting step of setting, over the image, a flight path for the small-size unmanned aerial vehicle to fly through; and a flying step of causing the small-size unmanned aerial vehicle to fly through the flight path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20180307907
    Abstract: A system for identifying an unmanned moving object, including: a mobile terminal, an unmanned moving object provided with moving means for enabling the object to move arbitrarily, a management server provided with a database to which specific information including possessor information of the unmanned moving object and individual object management information correlating with the specific information are input, and a communication network which enables communication between the mobile terminal and the management server, wherein identification information that is acquired when a user of the mobile terminal has encountered the unmanned moving object is associated with the individual object management information in advance and the mobile terminal acquires the identification information, acquires specific information by checking the identification information of the mobile terminal for a match within the individual object management information on the management server, and ascertains the possessor information o
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo ICHIHARA
  • Patent number: 10108072
    Abstract: To make it possible to control an image capturing position and its direction in water easily and flexibly through the use of a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors. This is solved by an underwater image capturing apparatus including a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors, a winding machine capable of delivering and winding a string-like member, and an underwater camera capable of capturing images in water, wherein the winding machine is fixed to the miniature unmanned aerial vehicle and the string-like member is connected to the underwater camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Sugaki, Kazuo Ichihara
  • Patent number: 10109206
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus that prevents an unmanned aerial vehicle from deviating from a predetermined flight-permitted area and is able to forcibly restrain it even when abnormality is present in the flight environment and the operation of the respective mechanisms of the vehicle, and an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with this apparatus. The apparatus includes current position acquiring means for acquiring a flight position of the vehicle, flight-permitted area storing means, and deviation preventing means, wherein it forcibly makes the body unable to fly when: the current position acquiring means has become unable to acquire the position of the body, the flight position of the body is in the vicinity of the boundaries between the flight-permitted area and space external thereto or keeps out of the flight-permitted area for a predetermined time or longer, or the body has moved away a predetermined distance or more from the flight-permitted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ichihara, Kiyokazu Sugaki