The present disclosure relates to aircraft technology and, more particularly, to a battery compartment, a battery-compartment assembly having the battery compartment, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having the battery-compartment assembly.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a flying apparatus that is rapidly developing. The UAVs are flexible and have a rapid response, an unmanned flying capability, and low operation requirements. Currently, the application of UAVs has been expanded to the military field, scientific research filed, and civilian use field. For example, the UAVs have been performing various tasks in fields, including power, communications, weather, agriculture, oceanography, exploration, photography, disaster prevention and mitigation, crop estimation, anti-drug, border patrol, anti-terrorism, or the like. In order to perform better tasks, the UAVs are equipped with multiple types of sensor to provide information and data for obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or other functions. However, the sensors are generally arranged in front of the UAVs, and hence limited information and data are provided for the UVAs.
In accordance with the disclosure, there is provided a battery compartment including a body including a mounting cavity, and a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm each extending from the body toward a direction away from the mounting cavity. Each of the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm includes a mounting member. The mounting member of the first mounting arm is configured to mount a first component and orient the first component toward a first side of the body. The mounting member of the second mounting arm is configured to mount a second component and orient the second component toward a second side of the body. The second side is different from the first side.
Also in accordance with the disclosure, there is provided a battery-compartment assembly including a battery compartment, a first sensing device, and a second sensing device. The battery compartment includes a body including a mounting cavity, and a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm each extending from the body toward a direction away from the mounting cavity. Each of the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm includes a mounting member. The first sensing device is mounted on the mounting member of the first mounting arm and faces away from a first side of the body. The second sensing device is mounted on the mounting member of the second mounting arm and faces away from a second side of the body. The second side is different from the first side.
Also in accordance with the disclosure, there is provided an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a battery-compartment assembly and a battery. The battery-compartment assembly includes a battery compartment, a first sensing device, and a second sensing device. The battery compartment includes a body including a mounting cavity, and a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm each extending from the body toward a direction away from the mounting cavity. Each of the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm includes a mounting member. The first sensing device is mounted on the mounting member of the first mounting arm and faces away from a first side of the body. The second sensing device is mounted on the mounting member of the second mounting arm and faces away from a second side of the body. The second side is different from the first side. The battery is received inside the mounting cavity.
Example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar numerals refer to the same or similar elements or the elements having the same or similar functions. It is intended that the embodiments be considered as example only and not to limit the scope of the disclosure.
As used herein, the terms “center,” “portrait,” “landscape,” “length,” “width,” “degree,” “up,” “down,” “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” or the like, indicating an orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, are intended to describe example embodiments, instead of indicating or implying that the device or element being referred to has a particular orientation or should be constructed and operated in the particular orientation. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. The terms “first” and “second” used herein are intended to describe example embodiments, instead of indicating or implying that the relative importance or the number of the devices or elements being referred to. Therefore, devices or elements that are defined as “first” and “second” can include one or more devices or elements. The term “a plurality of” used herein are intended to refer to two or more, unless otherwise defined.
Unless otherwise defined, the terms “mounted,” “attached,” “connected,” used herein are intended to have a broad interpretation, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communicative connection, a direct connection or an indirect connection via another element, an internal communication between two elements, or an interaction between the two elements. It can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described terms used herein can be interpreted according to the specific situations.
Unless otherwise defined, when a first component is referred to as “on” or “below” a second component, it is intended that the first component may be directly attached to the second component or may be indirectly attached to the second component via another component. When the first component is referred to as “above,” “over,” or “on” the second component, it is intended that the first component may be directly above or diagonally above the second component or a height of the first component may be higher than a height of the second component. When the first component is referred to as “below,” “under,” or “beneath” the second component, it is intended that the first component may be directly below or diagonally below the second component or the height of the first component may be lower than the height of the second component.
Different embodiments or examples are intended to describe different structures of the disclosure. The description of the components and arrangements of specific embodiments are described below. The specific embodiments are merely examples and not intended to limit the present disclosure. The reference numerals and/or reference letters may be repeated in different embodiments for simplifying the illustration, instead of indicating a relationship between the various embodiments and/or arrangements. Examples of various specific processes and materials are disclosed herein, but one of ordinary skill in the art can conceive the application of other processes and/or the use of other materials.
The UAV 100 includes a first housing 10, a second housing 20, a battery-compartment assembly 30, and a battery (not shown in
As shown in
The second housing 20 includes a second main body 22 and two sets of second arms 24. The second housing 20 caves inwardly. Each set of second arms 24 includes two second arms 24. The number of the second arms 24 corresponds to the number of the rotor assemblies 26 of the UAV 100 and the number of the first arms 14. Each second arm 14 is configured to cooperate with the corresponding first arm to arrange the corresponding rotor assembly 26 at the preset position. In some embodiments, the second arms 24 extends radically from the second main body 22. In some embodiments, the second arms 24 are symmetrically arranged around a center of the second main body 22. The second housing 20 can cooperate with the first housing 10, by one or more combinations of gluing, screwing, snapping, welding, or the like, to form the receiving space 10a.
The battery-compartment assembly 30 includes a battery compartment 32 and two sets of sensing devices 37.
The battery compartment 32 includes a body 34 and two sets of mounting arms 36.
The two sets of mounting arms 36 (i.e., a first set of mounting arms 36 and a second set of mounting arms 36) extend from the body 34 in directions away from the mounting cavity 340. Each set of mounting arms 36 includes two mounting arms 36. The four mounting arms 36 of two sets of mounting arms 36 extend from four corners of the first wall 341. In some embodiments, each mounting arm 36 includes an extending member 362, a mounting member 364, and a holding member 366.
An end of each extending member 362 is fixed to a corresponding corner of the body 34. Each extending member 362 includes a first face 3622, a second face 3624 opposite to the first face 3622, and a side face 3626 connected to the first face 3622 and the second face 3624. A through hole 3620 extending through from the first face 3622 to the second face 3624 is opened at each extending member 362. Opening the through holes 3620 can save materials and reduce costs.
The mounting members 364 are configured to mount components, such as the sensing devices 37. The mounting members 364 allow the components mounted on the two sets of mounting arms 36 to face away from two sides of the body 34. For example, the components mounted on one set of mounting arms 36 can face away from a first side of the body 34 corresponding to the first side wall 343 and the components mounted on the other set of mounting arms 36 can face away from a second side of the body 34 corresponding to the second side wall 344. The first side can be opposite to the second side or can be adjacent to the first side. The first side is opposite to the second side herein. In some embodiments, each mounting member 364 extends from the first face 3622 of the other end of each extending member 362 and forms an included angle with each extending member 362. The included angle may be any angle. In some embodiments, the angle can be 90 degrees. Each mounting member 364 includes a mounting plate 3642 and a reinforcing rib 3644. Each mounting plate 3642 extends perpendicularly from the first face 3622 and includes a mounting face 3641 configured to mount components and a back face 3643. Each reinforcing rib is connected to the first face 3622 and the back face 3643 to reinforce the mounting plate 3642.
Each holding member 366 includes a holding body 3662 and a shield member 3664. The holding bodies 3662 are configured to receive components, for example, the sensing devices 37. Each holding body 3662 can be mounted on the mounting face 3641 of the corresponding mounting member 364 by one or more combinations of gluing, screwing, snapping, welding, or the like. In some embodiments, a mounting hole 3640 is opened at each mounting member 364. Each holding body 3662 can be fixed to the corresponding mounting member 364 by being screwed into the mounting hole 3640. An opening 3663 is provided at a side of each holding body 3662 away from the mounting face 3641 to expose the components. Each shield member 3664 is mounted on each holding body 3662 and covers each opening 3663. The shield members 3664 may be made of plastic, glass, or the like, and are configured to protect the components contained in the holding bodies 3662, for example, protecting the components from impact or being contaminated by dust or impurities. In some embodiments, the holding members 366 can be omitted. In this situation, the components can be directly mounted on the mounting faces 3641 of the mounting members 364 by one or more combinations of gluing, screwing, snapping, welding, and the like.
Each set of sensing devices 37 includes two sensing devices 37. The two sets of sensing devices 37 are mounted at the holding bodies 3662 of the two sets of mounting arms 36 and face away from two sides of the body 34. The two sets of sensing devices 37 can be configured to sense through the shield members 3664. For example, the two sensing devices 37 mounted at the holding bodies 3662 of one set of mounting arms 36 can face away from the first side of the body 37 corresponding to the first side wall 343 and the two sensing devices 37 mounted at the holding bodies 3662 of the other set of mounting arms 36 can face away from the second side of the body 37 corresponding to the second side wall 344. The definition of the first side and the second side is the same as described-above. That is, the first side is different from the second side. The first side can be opposite to the second side or adjacent to the second side. In the example shown in
In some embodiments, both of the two sets of sensing devices 37 can include the sensing devices of the visual sensing system. For example, one set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) includes two cameras arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the first set of mounting arms 36 and the other set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) also includes two cameras arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the second set of mounting arms 36. The two cameras face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) can cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The two cameras face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) can also cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be increased and the limitations can be reduced.
According to the disclosure, the battery compartment 32, the battery-compartment assembly 30, and the UAV 100 can be provided with two sets of sensing devices 37, the two sets of sensing devices 37 face away from two sides of the body 34 by using the two sets of mounting arms 36, such that the range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be increased and the limitations can be reduced.
In some embodiments, one set of sensing devices 37 can include the sensing devices of the visual sensing system and the other set of sensing devices 37 can include the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system. For example, one set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) includes two cameras arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the first set of mounting arms 36 and the other set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) includes the ultrasonic transmitter 3452 and the ultrasonic receiver 3454 arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the second set of mounting arms 36. The two cameras face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) can cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The ultrasonic transmitter 3452 and the ultrasonic receiver 3454 face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) can also cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be increased and the limitations can be reduced.
In some embodiments, one set of sensing devices 37 can include the sensing devices of the visual sensing system and the other set of sensing devices 37 can include the sensing devices of the time sensing system. For example, one set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) includes two cameras arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the first set of mounting arms 36 and the other set of sensing devices 37 can face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) includes the optical-pulse transmitter 3462 and the optical-pulse receiver 3464 arranged at the two mounting members 364 of the second set of mounting arms 36. The two cameras face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343) can cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The optical-pulse transmitter 3462 and the optical-pulse receiver 3464 face away from the second side (corresponding to the second side wall 344) can also cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be increased and the limitations can be reduced.
When the battery-compartment assembly 30 is received in the receiving space 10a, the body 34 can be received in a cave corresponding to the first main body 12 and the second main body 22 of the receiving space 10a, extending members 362 can be received in positions of the receiving space 10a corresponding to the first arms 14 and the second arms 24, the mounting members 364 can be received in positions of the receiving space 10a corresponding to the connecting members 16, the sensing devices 37 can correspond to the light-transmitting holes 160 at the connecting members 16 and can sense information through the light-transmitting holes 160, the first wall 341 can be close to the first housing 10, and the second wall 342 can be close to the second housing 20.
In some embodiments, at least one of the four side walls can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. For example, the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system can be provided at the third side wall 345, and the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system includes the ultrasonic transmitter 3452 and the ultrasonic receiver 3454. The sensing devices of the time sensing system can be provided at the fourth side wall 346 and the sensing devices of the time sensing system includes the optical-pulse transmitter 3462 and the optical-pulse receiver 3464. In this situation, the ultrasonic transmitter 3452 and the ultrasonic receiver 3454 at the third side wall 345 can cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The optical-pulse transmitter 3462 and the optical-pulse receiver 3464 at the fourth side wall 346 can cooperate with each other to provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be further increased and the limitations can be further reduced.
The position arrangement of the mounting arms 36 is not limited to the four mounting arms of the two sets of mounting arms extending from the four corners of the first wall 341 as described above.
In some embodiments, the two mounting arms 36 of one set of mounting arms 36 can extend from the two corners of the first wall 341, and the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 can extend from one of the four side walls. In this situation, at least one of the four side walls, except for the side wall provided with the mounting arms 36, can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. For example, the two mounting arms 36 of one set of mounting arms 36 can extend from the two corners of the first wall 341 and the two sensing devices 37 provided at the two mounting arms 36 extending from the two corners can face away from the first side (corresponding to the first side wall 343), the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 can extend from the second side wall 344, or the third side wall 345, or the fourth side wall 346. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the second side wall 344, the third side wall 345 and/or the fourth side wall 346 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the third side wall 345, the second side wall 344 and/or the fourth side wall 346 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the fourth side wall 346, the second side wall 344 and/or the third side wall 345 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. As such, the range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be further increased and the limitations can be further reduced.
In some embodiments, the two mounting arms 36 of one set of mounting arms 36 can extend from one of the four side walls, and the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 can extend from another one of the four side walls. In this situation, at least one of the four side walls, except for the side walls provided with the mounting arms 36, can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. For example, the two mounting arms 36 of one set of mounting arms 36 can extend from the first side wall 343 and the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 can extend from the second side wall 344, or the third side wall 345, or the fourth side wall 346. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the second side wall 344, the third side wall 345 and/or the fourth side wall 346 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the third side wall 345, the second side wall 344 and/or the fourth side wall 346 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. When the two mounting arms 36 of the other set of mounting arms 36 extend from the fourth side wall 346, the second side wall 344 and/or the third side wall 345 can also be provided with the sensing devices of the ultrasonic sensing system or the sensing devices of the time sensing system. As such, the range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be further increased and the limitations can be further reduced.
In some embodiments, the battery-compartment assembly 30 can also include a downward vision positioning system 38 mounted at the first wall 341. The downward vision positioning system 38 includes two cameras 382 and two ultrasonic sensors 384. In some other embodiments, the downward vision positioning system 38 can include one camera 382 and one ultrasonic sensor 384. The downward vision positioning system 38 can provide information and data for performing functions, such as the obstacle avoidance, positioning, speed measurement, navigation, or the like. The range of information and data provided for the UAV 100 can be further increased and the limitations can be further reduced.
In some embodiments, the number and arrangement of the mounting arms 36 of the battery-compartment assembly 30 and the number and arrangement of the sensing devices 37 may be any combination of the above-described embodiments, and the detailed description thereof is omitted here.
As used herein, the terms “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an example embodiment”, “an example”, “a specific example”, “some examples”, or the like, are intended to mean that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the disclosure. The above-described terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more of the embodiments or examples.
The terms “first” and “second” used herein are intended to describe example embodiments, instead of indicating or implying that the relative importance or the number of the devices or elements being referred to. Therefore, devices or elements that are defined as “first” and “second” can include one or more devices or elements. The term “a plurality of” used herein are intended to refer to at least two, such as two, three, or the like, unless otherwise defined.
It is intended that the embodiments be considered as example only and not to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will be appreciated that any modification or equivalents to the disclosed embodiments are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201621166404.9 | Oct 2016 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2016/113285, filed on Dec. 29, 2016, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201621166404.9, filed on Oct. 25, 2016, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2016/113285 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 16394680 | US |