AU2020101457B4

AU2020101457B4 - Payload delivery system

Info

Publication number: AU2020101457B4
Application number: AU2020101457A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Samuel James Bennet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-23
Filing date: 2020-07-23
Publication date: 2021-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-23
Also published as: AU2020101457A4

Abstract

A payload system for a UAV is described. The system comprises a housing an external mounting arrangement for mounting the housing to a UAV. An internal payload mounting arrangement is mounted in the housing. The mounting arrangement is configured to have at least one payload delivery assembly releasably mounted thereto. The payload delivery assembly comprises a payload mounting formation for mounting to the internal mounting arrangement, a payload release device mounted to the payload mounting formation and a payload mounted to the payload release device; and at least one electronics input/output system configured for connecting the electronics input/output of the UAV for control of a payload. Figure 6

Description

PAYLOAD DELIVERY SYSTEM FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a payload and delivery system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

BACKGROUND

The uses for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are steadily increasing and have found a wide range of applications including delivery, crop monitoring, vegetation mapping, precision aerial spraying, search and rescue, surveying, aerial photography, structural inspections and many more.

.0 UAVs are experiencing rapid technological change with significant advances in design, construction, ease of use and automation. These technology advances combined with lower cost of acquisition and reduced operational and training knowledge requirements are seeing increased use and integration into many types of businesses and related activities.

Proprietary UAV designs are restrictive in the payload configuration and devices that can be .5 attached and are generally limited to the UAV manufacturer's equipment, specifically a camera or sensor. Individual payloads such as a specific model camera can be attached and removed by a person with alower level of skill. However, any change to the payload mounting hardware requires a higher level of technical skill.

Current payload designs have been manufactured around the concept of multiple aftermarket .0 devices being permanently attached to the UAV each providing a separate function but lacking integration and simplified attachment. The installation, removal, alteration or configuration of this mounting hardware requires a high level of technical skill.

UAVs are generally custom made for a specific purpose and are provided with dedicated camera/sensor and other payload mounts.

The uses of UAVs are wide and are continually expanding. Exemplary applications include aerial photography, mapping and surveying, thermal and infrared imaging, wildlife monitoring, livestock monitoring and round up, precision crop spraying, precision crop dusting, search and rescue, disaster assistance and relief and payload carrying.

Swapping a payload mount requires both structural installation and electronic integration with control system. Generally, it may be easier to purchase another custom UAV.

It may be appreciated that a single user may have several uses for a UAV. A farmer may want to monitor cattle numbers, remote waterhole levels of the like one day and selectively spraying a noxious weed outbreak another day. Search and rescue personnel may need to use a UAV with thermal mapping to locate a lost person and then use a drone to deliver emergency provisions when found.

It will be appreciated that such restrictions can severely the applications to which a UAV may be put.

The present inventor has appreciated that it would be desirable to offer a user with an alternate payload delivery system.

.0 SUMMARY

There is disclosed an interchangeable payload system for a UAV, the system comprising:

a housing comprising;

an external mounting arrangement for mounting the housing externally to a UAV;

an internal payload mounting arrangement configured to have at least one payload .5 delivery assembly releasably mounted thereto; the payload delivery assembly comprising a payload mounting formation for mounting to the internal payload mounting arrangement, a payload release device mounted to the payload mounting formation and a payload mounted to the payload release device such that a payload may be released from within the housing; and

at least one electronics input/output system configured for connecting the electronics input/output of the UAV for system control.

It will be appreciated that the housing, the internal payload mounting arrangement and any payload mounted within forms an integrated unit that may be essentially dismounted and "unplugged" from a UAV. The housing may be easily and quickly replaced by another integrated housing and/or transferred to another UAV.

Still further, the "swap" may be done without having to turn off the UAV systems. This is referred to in the field as a "hot swap".

This may be advantageous if for example, the original UAV has technical problems. A quick "swap" to another UAV may be critical for example in search and rescue missions.

Suitably the assembly further includes an internal frame mounted within the housing body and the internal payload mounting arrangement may be mounted to the frame.

Suitably the internal frame and payload mounting arrangement are configured such that the payload is carried in the rear section of the housing and may be aerially deployed through a rear opening in the housing.

Suitably the housing is in the form of a cowling that is aerodynamic.

The cowling is preferably made from a light weight material. Carbon fibre is a particularly preferred material.

Suitably the mount for mounting the housing to the UAV comprises two spaced mounting bars .0 or plates mounted on the top or roof of the housing.

The internal frame may also be configured to have one or more further accessories mounted thereon.

In one aspect the further accessory is a speaker, siren or other warning or audible accessory. Audible devices may be used for warning of danger (shark warnings), weather/sea conditions .5 for mariners, livestock control and the like.

The housing may also be configured to have a still further accessory mounted thereon. In one aspect the accessory is a camera or other sensor mounted to the front end of the housing.

The internal payload mounting arrangement may be any suitable arrangement for releasably mounting one part to another to allow an operator to easily and quickly swap over a payload delivery assembly. Such methods may include, but not limited to a slide rail assembly, snap fit, mechanical lock, geometric lock or the like.

The releasable mounting arrangement may allow an operator to change a payload assembly or payload mounting formation without requiring any tools. This may be compared to conventional payload mounts that require a specialist technician to change.

In an embodiment the mounting arrangement may be configured to releasably engage two or more payloads.

In an embodiment, the mounting arrangement comprises a rail assembly and the payload mounting arrangement may be a slide member or plate.

The slide member or plate may have a payload release mechanism mounted thereto. When the payload is deployed, the slide member or plate remains mounted in the mount.

Payload release mechanisms are known in the art and generally have a pin movable between aloaded position and a release position.

Also disclosed herein is a payload mounting arrangement comprising a slide member or plate with a payload release mechanism mounted thereto.

The payload may be any suitable payload as required for a mission. The payload may be deployed in the air over a target.

The payload may also be unloaded upon landing at a target site.

.0 A user at a target site may "swap" a payload delivery assembly from the UAV to a pre assembled assembly. For example, a delivered payload may include delivery of medicines, diagnostic kits or medical devices to remote or emergency locations. The swapped payload may include diagnostic samples from a person at the target site to be delivered to a testing facility, research biological samples from biologists at remote locations, mineral excavation .5 samples at remote sites and the like.

Also disclosed herein is a payload delivery assembly comprising the payload mounting arrangement as disclosed herein and a payload mounted thereto.

Also disclosed herein is a payload mounting arrangement configured to be mounted within a housing mountable to a UAV, and having at least one payload delivery assembly releasably .0 mounted thereto wherein the payload delivery assembly comprises a payload mounting formation for mounting to the internal mounting arrangement, a payload release device mounted to the payload mounting formation and a payload mounted to the payload release device.

Suitably the housing may also comprise a gimble mount and camera assembly at the forward end of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a UAV with a payload system as disclosed herein;

Figure 2 is a front view of the combination as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the combination as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top view combination as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the payload system of the combination as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the internal configuration of the payload system of the combination as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a detail of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is perspective view of an internal frame assembly that is part of the payload system;

Figure 9 is an exploded isometric view of the internal frame assembly as shown in Figure 9;

Figure 10 is a top front perspective view of the frame assembly as shown in Figure 9 with the .0 internal payload mounting arrangement fixed thereto;

Figure 11 is a bottom rear perspective view of the frame assembly as shown in Figure 9 with the internal payload mounting arrangement fixed thereto;

Figure 12 is a side view of the frame assembly as shown in Figure 9 with the internal payload mounting arrangement fixed thereto;

.5 Figure 13 is a front view of the frame assembly as shown in Figure 9 with the internal payload mounting arrangement fixed thereto;

Figure 14 is a view of a siren assembly that forms part of the system;

Figure 15 is an exploded view of the siren assembly as shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a top perspective view of a payload mounting arrangement;

Figure 17 is an exploded view of the payload mounting arrangement;

Figure 18 is a bottom perspective view of the payload mounting arrangement with the payload mounting plates in the unloaded position;

Figure 19 is a bottom perspective view of the payload mounting arrangement with the payload mounting plates in the loaded position;

Figure 20 is a bottom perspective view of the payload mounting arrangement with a payload assembly in the unloaded position;

Figure 21 is a bottom perspective view of the payload mounting arrangement with a payload assembly in the loaded position;

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a lock for the payload mounting arrangement;

Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the lock as shown in Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the camera and gimbal combination that is part of the system;

Figure 25 is another perspective view of the camera and gimbal combination that is part of the system; and

Figure 26 is a schematic view of the system's architecture.

.0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 to 4 are schematic views of a system 10 as disclosed herein mounted to a UAV or UAV 12.

The system 10 comprises a carbon fibre cowling 14. The cowling has an aerodynamic shape with a forward nose end 16 and a trailing end 18.

.5 The UAV 12 has a landing assembly 20 that extends below the lower edge of the cowling 14.

A sensor 22 is mounted below the nose of the cowling. The sensor as shown is an optical camera. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable sensor may be part of the system such as infrared, thermal imaging or the like. Figure 5 shows the cowling 14 with spaced transverse mounting members 24 fixed to the top or roof 23 therefor for mounting to the UAV 12.

Figures 6 and 7 show the internal configuration of the system 10 with respect to the interior of the cowling 14.

The system 10 has an upper internal mounting assembly 26 that cooperates with the upper mounting members 24. The upper mounting assembly 26 has a forward mounting plate 28 upon which a siren 30 is mounted below the plate 28 and an avionics enclosure 32 fitted on the plate.

The upper mounting assembly has an upper main mounting plate 34 that supports a payload delivery system 36 (discussed further below).

Figures 8 and 9 show details of the upper mounting assembly. The forward mounting plate 28 is fixed to the main mounting plate 34 by four M3 x 35mm stand-offs 35.

The main mounting plate 34 is mounted to the mounting members 24 by six M3 x 10mm stand offs 37 that project through the roof 23 of the cowling 14 so as to fasten the mounting main mounting plate 34 to the mounting members 24 and the roof of the cowling 14. Internal load distribution plates 40 "sandwich" the roof 23 of the cowling 14 between the load distribution plates 40 and the mounting members 24.

The internal location of the load distribution plates 40 may translate the loading force experienced by the cowling 14 during flight and minimise potential damage thereof. The main .0 mounting plate 34 may also provide relief from the loading forces.

The forward mounting plate 28, main mounting p[ate 34, load distribution plate and mounting members are all formed from 3mm 5051 - T5 aluminium plate.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the mounting assembly with the respective parts mounted thereon.

.5 The siren /speaker 30 is fixed to the bottom of the mounting plate 28 by a fixing plate 42. The fixing plate has two spaced lugs 44 with faster receiving apertures 46 for fixing the siren mount 48 thereto. The angle upon which the siren 30 projects downwards is adjustable.

Figures 11 to 13 and 16 to 19 show further details of the payload delivery system 36.

Figures 20 and 21 show the payload delivery assembly in a first loading configuration and a .0 loaded configuration.

The payload delivery system 36 comprises a rail or slide assembly 50 with a main slide plate receiving body 52 and two slide plates 54. The slide plates slide out of the body 52 towards the read of the cowling 14 as shone by arrow B (Figure 6).

A payload release mechanism 56 is fixed to the underside of each pay load slide plate 54. The payload release mechanism comprises a payload attachment with a pin 58 that is movable between a retaining position and a release position. Movement of the pin 58 is controlled by a servo motor 60.

Figure 20 and 21 shows a payload assembly comprising a payload slide plate 54, with a payload housing 90 mounted on the release mechanism. The payload housing 90 has a bottom opening 92 that has hinged panels 94 for allowing a payload to pass therethrough.

The payload delivery system 36 also comprises a locking assembly 62 as shown in Figures 22 and 23. The locking assembly 62 is a self-locking assembly. Figures B and A show the locking assembly 62 in a perspective and open in line for assembly view.

The locking assembly 62 has a housing 64, mounted to a base plate 66 with an aperture 72. The housing 64 houses a spring 70 and a locking pin 68. The locking pin 68 is movable between an extension or locked position in which the end of the locking pin projects through aperture 72. The pin 68 is biased in the locking position by spring 70.

The main mounting plate 34 has two spaced apertures 74 towards the trailing end 75 (Figures 8 and 10). Each slide plate 54 has a locking aperture 76 at the trailing edge in the loading .0 direction.

The housing 64 is mounted on the upper surface of the mounting plate 34 in line with each aperture 74 such that the pins 68 project therethrough. When the slide plates 54 are in the loaded positions, the pins 68 also extend through a respective locking aperture 76. In order to unload a slide plate 54 a user presses the locking pin 68 inwards against the bias.

.5 It will be appreciated that a payload assembly may be loaded and unloaded without any modification to a mounting arrangement. Payloads may be swapped over very quickly. Still further, the payload swapping may be a "hot swap" that does not require the UAV electronics to be shut down or other electrical reconfiguration.

Another feature that makes a substantial contribution to the working of the invention is that the payloads are held within the aerodynamic cowling. Externally mounted payloads on conventional UAVs are subject to lateral, rotational and longitudinal instability. This adversely effects overall performance and reduces flight time.

The cowling also provides environmental protection not only to the payload but to the payload release components, both electrical and mechanical.

The next assembly is the gimbal mounting system 80 for mounting the camera as shown in Figures 24 and 25. The mounting system 80 comprises an internal mounting plate 82 mounted inside the cowling by four vibration dampening mounts.

Camera systems generally require a brand specific mounting plate to allow for the camera to be installed on a UAV and removed for transport and storage. A brand specific mounting plate 86 is attached to the internal mounting plate.

One option to provide for using different brands is to provide a second cowling and installing or swapping the internal mounting system.

It will be appreciated that any gimbal mount system may be mounted to the cowling.

Figure 26 shows the payload delivery system architecture and electronic configuration. The UAV to which the housing is attached has auxiliary outputs. The payload delivery systems 36 and the siren 30 are interfaced with the auxiliary outputs 100, 102, 104 from the UAV's Flight Controller though a single connector 106.

The auxiliary outputs may be easily programmed by a skilled person as the UAV is supplied with a proprietary Software Development Kit.

.0 There is a second connection 108 from the Audio Amplifier Module 112 to the UAVs power distribution system 114.

A final electrical connection 116 is from the camera system 22 to the UAVs video data system 118 that provides live streaming from the camera to an operator and/or video recordal.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the system as .5 disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A payload system for a UAV, the system comprising: a housing comprising; an external mounting arrangement for mounting the housing externally to a UAV; an internal payload mounting arrangement configured to have at least one payload delivery assembly releasably mounted thereto; the payload delivery assembly comprising a payload mounting formation for mounting to the internal payload mounting arrangement, a payload release device mounted to the payload mounting .0 formation and a payload mounted to the payload release device such that a payload may be released from within the housing; and at least one electronics input/output system configured for connecting the electronics input/output of the UAV for control of a payload.

.5 2. The payload system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an internal frame mounted within the housing and the internal payload mounting arrangement is mounted to the internal frame.

3. The payload system of claim 2, wherein the internal frame is configured for mounting at least one further accessory mounted thereon.

4. The payload system of claim 3, wherein the at least one further accessory is a camera and/or other sensor.

5. The payload system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the internal payload mounting arrangement comprises a slide assembly and the payload mounting formation is a slide plate with a payload release mechanism mouthed thereto.