An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes at least one rotor 6 driven by a motor 4 that is mounted to a housing 12. A dual-function member is connected to the housing and comprises an arm 8 and a beam 10. The dual-function member is movable between a first position where it acts as a landing gear and a second position where it acts as a rotor protector. A control means is arranged to control movement of the member. The control means may include a processor (40, fig 5) and a sensor (44, fig 5) for determining height from ground. The processor may determine to move the member to one or other of the positions based on the height of the UAV. Reconfiguration of the landing gear as a rotor protector prevents the view of a camera carried by the UAV from being obscured and allows a strong and light rotor protector without significant added weight. A rotor protector or landing gear may include a dampening means to absorb forces of impact.
A dual-function landing gear and rotor protector for a UAV
2017-04-26
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge |