Patent Application
20080210809
The present disclosure relates to unmanned vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to electrical and mechanical systems for unmanned vehicles.
Unmanned vehicles are used in a variety of applications. Electrical and mechanical systems are used on unmanned vehicles to allow a user to operate the unmanned vehicles in the variety of applications.
According to the present disclosure, a control system includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) mounted substantially within an elongated structural spine of an unmanned vehicle to electrically connect one or more vehicle components, an electronic buss for transmitting electronic signals to and between distal ends of the first PCB, an electric power buss for transmitting high-current electrical power to and from batteries, and electronic taps at various positions along or at the ends of the first elongated spine for routing electrical/electronic signal onto or off of the first PCB. The first PCB includes electronic components arranged in a spaced-apart relation on the spine capable of manufacture by automated machinery (e.g., pick-and-place machines).
A second PCB mounted substantially within the elongated structural spine of the unmanned vehicle electrically connects one or more vehicle components and is further electrically connected to the first PCB. A distributed electronic component attached to a tap on the first PCB is provided for communication to other distributed electronic components via the first PCB. A computer communications protocol such as, for example, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or Inter Integrated Circuit (12C) on an electronic spine buss is provided for transferring data to distributed processors attached to the spine buss.
A distributed electronic component attached to the tap on the first PCB has electrical buss layers for distributing electrical power for driving an electric motor or actuator. The electric motor is supported by the structural spine and receives electrical power to drive the motor from the electrical buss on the first PCB. A battery is coupled to the tap on the electrical buss on the first PCB to provide power to the electrical buss. A sensor or actuator attached to the electronic buss of the first PCB provides input and output capability to the control system. The first PCB mounted within the elongated structural spine is “soft” mounted to reduce vibration felt by system components.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompany figures in which:
a is an exploded perspective view of layers of the first PCB of
b is a perspective view of an unmanned vehicle control system of
c is an exploded perspective view of the stacked wafer PCB assembly of
d is a perspective view of the wafer PCB of
e is a perspective view of the wafer PCB of
An electrical and structural system 18 includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) 1 mounted within an elongated structural spine, tube or spar 2 of an unmanned vehicle 3 electrically connecting one or more vehicle components such as flight management system boards 4, communications board 5, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) processing system 6, as shown in
First PCB 1 further includes circuit board lands or traces that form an electric power buss 14 on or between layers of the first PCB 1 for transmitting electrical power to and from batteries 17 or other sources of electrical power and to and from electric motors or other power actuators. In some embodiments first PCB 1 and elongated structural spine 2 may extend through a rotor assembly 41 (comprised of rotor hub 43 and rotor blades 45, 47) or a rotor assembly 42 (comprised of rotor hub 44 and rotor blades 46, 48), and transmit electric/electronic signals from one side of the rotor assembly to the other. This may be desirable to convey electric signals from a motor speed controller (not shown) or a battery 17 to a motor or sensors located on opposite sides of a rotor assembly 42. Electric power for motors and other actuators typically used by small unmanned vehicles may require high electrical currents measured in amps or tens of amps, so electric power buss 14 is typically referred to as a “high-power” or “high-current” buss.
First PCB 1 may be configured to include much of the control system electronics such as microprocessors, computer memory, radios, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and other sensors thereby reducing the need for additional circuit boards, connectors and cabling. In some embodiments, the elongated structural spine tube or spar encasing first PCB 1 may be manufactured from a metal material such as aluminum and may act as a radio-frequency shield for electronics mounted to first PCB 1.
In some embodiments, a second PCB (not shown) may be mounted substantially within the elongated structural spine 2 of the unmanned vehicle 3 which connects one or more vehicle components and is further electrically connected to first PCB 1. A distributed electronic component attached to a tap on first PCB 1 is provided for communication to other distributed electronic components via first PCB 1. A computer communications protocol such as, for example, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or Inter Integrated Circuit (12C) on an electronic spine buss is provided for transferring data to distributed processors attached to the electronic spine buss.
Signal connectors 15 and power connectors 16 are provided on electronic taps at various positions along or at the ends 11, 12 of first PCB 1 for routing electronic signals onto, or off of, first PCB 1. It may be desirable to have electrical and electronic components that can be manufactured economically in high volume production by commonly used automated machinery such as pick-and-place machines. Such a control system may be able to minimize the number of wire bundles needed to connect components.
In illustrative embodiments, a wafer printed circuit board (PCB) system, capable of being stacked upon one another, may be employed with first PCB 1 as shown in
Wafer PCB 50 includes an interior aperture 55 to accommodate passage of first PCB 1 and electrical and electronic strip connectors 52 for transmitting signals and power from one wafer PCB 50 to another as shown in
Wafer PCB 50 assemblies may be “soft” mounted to elongated structural tube 2 or first PCB 1 of unmanned vehicle 3 to protect sensitive electronic components from vibration and shock. Such soft mounting may comprise flexible mechanical components such as rubber grommets or other suitable elastomeric connections to the structural tube or attached mechanical structure.
As previously discussed, multiple wafer PCBs 50 may be stacked into an assembly that can be tested and assembled at a factory, or in the field and placed into an unmanned vehicle 3. Stacked wafer PCBs 50 may allow some customization of unmanned vehicle 3 by users who may wish to add their own custom components to unmanned vehicle 3. These users could develop a custom wafer PCB 50 and plug it into a wafer PCB assembly and have immediate access to electrical and electronic signals from elsewhere on unmanned vehicle 3.
Referring now to
In illustrative embodiments, keel board 21 is made of multiple layers of G10 circuit board material and has electronic signal and electrical power circuit traces on and between its layers. A spine board (not shown) on the interior of tube 20 is provided to transmit control and power signals from keel board 21 to electric motor 22. An electronic motor speed controller (not shown) may be incorporated on the spine board (not shown) near motor 22, if desired, to control the speed of motor 22. In operation, power from a battery 24 passes through electrical connectors 25, 26 and into a power buss located within the layers of keel board 21 to be distributed to electric motors 22, 27 by electronic components soldered or plugged into keel board 21.
Referring now to
As shown in
Still another embodiment of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 36 includes an structural spar 37 connecting motors 38, 39 with a body pod 40 as shown in
Modem warfare and law enforcement are increasingly characterized by extensive guerilla and counter-terrorism operations conducted by small tactical unmanned vehicles. These vehicles are tasked to root out and defend against hostile forces and/or criminal elements that threaten the unit or the public. Unfriendly forces frequently hide themselves from view or exploit the local terrain to gain tactical advantage or escape from pursuers.
In an age of technology, warfare and law enforcement are increasingly automated and computerized through the use of drones; robotic vehicles that allow their operators to perform tasks and gather information from a distance without exposing themselves to potentially dangerous situations. Small, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying only a few hundred feet above the terrain are becoming increasingly important as remote sensor platforms for tactical operations. These small UAVs can provide on-demand, real-time information about the tactical environment to individual unit commanders. In addition to their sensor carrying function, small unmanned vehicles are being weaponized to take an active part in combat.
Recent advances in computers, communications and airframe designs have made smaller unmanned vehicles, especially rotary-wing UAVs, simpler and more affordable so they can potentially be fielded in larger numbers. Rotary-wing UAVs such as helicopters, however, still require considerable labor to manufacture, assemble and adjust, and can be very expensive to produce. Mechanical, electrical and electronic components and wiring are typically hand assembled and connected with bundled wires. These wire bundles are a potential point of failure.
Mechanical power from an engine often is transmitted to propellers and other parts of the aircraft through mechanical shafting and gearboxes. These mechanical transmission components can be very heavy. It may be desirable to provide control and power distribution systems for unmanned vehicles and cost-effective methods of producing unmanned vehicles in large numbers.
This application claims priority under U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/807,926, filed Jul. 20, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60807926 | Jul 2006 | US |
