A drone docking system (10) for multicopter drone (50) comprises a docking station (20) having a receiver (26). The receiver (26) is adapted to connect to a docking formation (52) mounted atop the drone (50) such that when the drone (50) is docked with the docking station (20), the drone (50) is suspended from and below the docking station (20). A fail-safe mechanical connection (56, 32) is provided to connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26). One or more electromagnets (34, 58) may be used to connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26), which electromagnets (34, 58) are suitably controllable to provide a smooth transition between docked and free-flight states of the drone (50) and optionally to guide the docking formation (52) into alignment with the receiver (26). The drone (50) suitably has a payload rendering it useful for surveillance and crime prevention/detection purposes.
Drone docking system
2021-03-11
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / F16B DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES , Vorrichtungen zum Befestigen oder Sichern von Konstruktionselementen oder Maschinenteilen, z.B. Nägel, Bolzen, Schrauben, Sprengringe, Klemmen, Klammern oder Keile |