IT202000007225A1 - Drone fleet management system - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the Industrial Invention entitled:? Fleet management system of drones?

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a drone fleet management system comprising a plurality of drones. of drones and a unit? of logistic support of said plurality? of drones.

The unit? logistic support comprising a landing area for said drones, a battery replacement area for said drones and a take-off area for said drones.

In the context of the known technology in the field of drones, one of the main problems? the? precision landing? ie the correct identification of a precise landing point.

In fact, an incorrect estimate of the landing point causes not only a possible breakdown of the drone due to unwanted impacts, but also possible malfunctions of the service platforms, with the risk of obtaining temporary periods of inactivity. platforms, which would not be able to perform the requested services.

This problem is particularly relevant in the case of fleets of drones, used for example for fire-fighting or video surveillance services, as in the case of patent application EP3463592, the content of which? to be considered an integral part of this patent application.

At the state of the art there are two main types of solutions to obtain a precise landing.

A first type, preferably addressed to non-professional areas,? related to optical systems, which provides on board the drones an object that communicates with an optical device, so that the drone can be guided once it has arrived in the vicinity? of the landing point.

The disadvantages of these systems are obvious, as they are excessively affected by external conditions, such as the lack of visibility. given by atmospheric events, fog, suspended particles, dirt of the devices, etc.

The second solution? the one most used in the professional field and? relating to the use of radio signals, positioning systems such as GPS or similar.

These systems measure the position of the object with respect to the satellites, but have induced errors and are generally not sub-metric.

Through expensive systems it is possible to improve the accuracy of the GPS and also reach centimeter accuracies.

However, these systems are affected by the configuration in which they operate, as any structures, buildings or trees can create disturbances that disturb the reception and processing of the signal.

In addition to the problem of? Precision landing?, Especially with regard to drone fleets, a particularly relevant parameter? given by the service time of each drone.

One of the needs? that of having a very low service time of the drone, that is, having a few units? of logistic support that with limited times manage a large number of drones.

Is there therefore a need? not satisfied with the systems known to the state of the art to create a drone management system that solves the above-mentioned disadvantages, allowing to obtain the landing of the drones in a precise point.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a system as described above, in which the landing area comprises a basin element, the walls of which converge towards a collection area communicating with the battery replacement area.

The presence of a hollow element allows to obtain a precise landing point of the drone, that is the collection area, expanding the landing area, thanks to the flaring of the walls of the hollow element.

The size of the gathering area decreases, increasing the size of the landing area.

This configuration also has an additional advantage in that, once the drone? landed, does not require any intervention by auxiliary means to move the drone, such as the grab bars that are commonly used in systems known to the state of the art.

All drones that land in the landing area will therefore be naturally conveyed, thanks to the force of gravity, to the collection area.

According to a preferred embodiment, each drone comprises a cage configured to at least partially surround the external surface of the drone.

The cage works synergistically with the hollow element, as it allows to protect the drone following the landing of the latter inside the hollow element, avoiding damage, even in the event of the drone rolling or sliding. along the walls of the concave element.

The presence of the cage also protects the drone from any collisions with other drones, both in flight and in the landing area, or with an object, even in case of landing outside the landing area.

The cage, however, can? be an impediment for certain activities? carried out by the drone, such as activities? for spreading fire-fighting fluids or video surveillance and monitoring.

For this reason, according to an improvement, the cage? consisting of at least two parts, overlapping each other, in such a way that the two parts pass from a withdrawn condition, in which the two parts are at least partially overlapped with each other, to an extracted condition, in which at least one of the two parts surrounds , at least in part, the bottom of the drone.

In extracted condition, the lower part of the drone? surrounded - at least in part? in what? It is possible to foresee that the cage does not entirely surround the external surface of the drone, but that it forms an external shell in combination with the bottom of the battery, so? how will it come? illustrated later.

Later will come? a possible embodiment of such a cage is illustrated, but the advantages are clear as of now, as the cage can? be activated in the extracted condition of the two parts in the event of a possible collision, while it can? be activated in the retracted condition of the two parts, in the event that the cage generates an impediment to activities? of the drone or its storage.

According to a further embodiment, means are provided for identifying the orientation of the drone.

Such means can for example consist of RFID tags or the like present on the drone that communicate with reading systems present on board the unit? of logistic support.

Since? the drone battery? generally positioned below the drones themselves, during the battery replacement phase the drone must be oriented so that the battery is immediately identifiable by the battery replacement means such as a robotic arm.

The presence of the means for identifying the orientation of the drones are therefore particularly advantageous for facilitating the correct removal of the battery.

The battery removal phase? a critical moment during the drone management procedure, as it involves the disconnection of the electric current that keeps the drone on.

Attaching the replacement battery obviously allows you to restart the drone, however requiring a non-negligible restart period of the operating system that manages the drone.

With the aim of decreasing the drone management service time, it would be preferable to maintain the electrical contact of the drone, so that it never has to turn off.

To satisfy this purpose, an embodiment of the invention provides that the unit? logistic support includes means for gripping the drones, which in turn comprise a first terminal adapted to cooperate with a corresponding second terminal provided on the drones.

The connection between the first terminal and the second terminal establishes an electrical connection between the drone and the gripping means.

How will you see? subsequently, the grasping means, connected to the unit? logistic support, guarantee the continuity? of the drone.

Advantageously, the concave element? consisting of a plurality? of modular elements, configured so as to pass from a folded condition to an unfolded condition.

In the folded condition the modular elements are superimposed one on top of the other, while in the unfolded condition the modular elements are positioned so as to form the concave element.

The advantages of this configuration are obvious.

First of all, we reduce the size of the unit? of logistic support of drones and transportability? of the same.

Secondly, despite the small size of the unit? of logistical support, a large landing area is obtained, capable of covering a large area in which the drones can rest.

For situations involving a limited number of drones, the present invention realizes a unit? logistic support particularly limited in size, in which the collection area, the said battery replacement area and the take-off area coincide.

How will it turn out? pi? evident from the illustration of some executive forms, according to this configuration, the drone lands in the landing area, moves to the collection area, the battery is replaced and takes off again.

All procedures are carried out in the collection area, the drone lands and takes off in a very short time.

As an alternative to the variant just described, the battery replacement area comprises a conveyor belt adapted to move the drone from the collection area to the take-off area.

This configuration is particularly advantageous in the case of the presence of a large number of drones.

In fact, according to the dictates of Little's law, which states that productivity? and the efficiency of a process depends on the number of objects (in this case the drones) subjected to the process and on the duration of the process.

If, as in this case, the process time, i.e. the service time related to battery replacement,? fixed, pi? ? the higher the number of drones that the system is able to process, the greater will be? the efficiency of the system.

The configuration just described therefore allows you to? Accumulate? drones in the collection area, so that they can be processed seamlessly.

Given the advantageous aspects described above relating to the drone management system object of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a radio-controlled aircraft of the drone type or the like comprising one or more? propellers and a battery mounted below the body of the aircraft.

The aircraft object of the present invention also provides a cage configured to at least partially surround the external surface of said aircraft.

Advantageously the cage? consisting of at least two parts, overlapping each other, in such a way that the two parts pass from a withdrawn condition, in which the two parts are at least partially overlapped with each other, to an extracted condition, in which at least one of the two parts surrounds the underside of the aircraft.

As previously discussed, the cage does not present advantageous aspects exclusively in combination with a certain realization of the unit? of logistical support, but avoids damage to the drone in the event of collisions, without creating an impediment to the activity? that the drone has to play.

Finally, according to an embodiment of the aircraft object of the present invention, there are means for identifying the orientation of said aircraft.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent. clearly from the following description of some executive examples illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

Figures 1a to 1f illustrate four views of a possible embodiment of the aircraft belonging to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the unit? logistic support belonging to the system object of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a basic diagram of the variant embodiment illustrated in Figure 2.

It is specified that the figures attached to the present patent application illustrate only some possible embodiments of the drone management system object of the present invention, in order to better understand the advantages and characteristics described.

These embodiments are therefore to be intended purely for illustrative purposes and not limitative to the inventive concept of the present invention, that is to say that of realizing a system that allows to obtain a precise landing point of the drones, as well as to realize a system that allows to obtain a precise landing point of the drones, a system that allows you to manage drones efficiently, while maintaining a high degree of continuity? in the activities? carried out by the drones themselves.

With particular reference to figures 1a to 1f, some views of the aircraft are illustrated, in particular of the drone 1, object of the present invention.

The drone 1 can? be made in any of the ways known to the state of the art and in particular it has propulsion propellers 11 and a battery 12, placed below the body of the drone 1.

In the attached figures, the drone 1 has a battery 12 placed at the bottom, but? It is possible to provide any component in addition to the battery.

For example in applications relating to fire fighting operations,? It is possible to provide a tank for fire-fighting liquid, as illustrated in patent application EP3463592.

The drone 1 object of the present invention also has a cage 2 adapted to surround the external surface of the drone 1.

In particular, the cage 2 has two or more? parts that can be superimposed on each other, in such a way that the said parts pass from a retracted condition, figures 1c, 1d, 1f in which the parts are overlapped at least in part with each other, to an extracted condition, figures 1a, 1b, 1d in which at least one of the parts surrounds the bottom of the drone 1.

Figure 1b illustrates a side view of the drone 1 and shows that the cage 2? divided into two halves? symmetrical to each other, a half? front and a half? rear, referring to the front-to-rear direction of the drone 1.

Each half? ? divided into five parts, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.

In the extracted condition, figures 1a, 1b, 1d these parts are not superimposed on each other and entirely surround the drone 1 and in particular the lower part of the same, with the battery 12.

In the retracted condition, Figures 1c, 1d, 1f the parts 21 and 25 overlap the parts 22 and 24 respectively in the direction indicated by the arrow A, so? as in turn, parts 21, 22, 24 and 25 overlap entirely with part 23.

In particular, the more protruding parts, ie the parts 21 and 25 remain external with respect to the parts 23, more? internal, with parts 22 and 24 in the intermediate layer.

With particular reference to Figure 1b, the parts 25 of both halves, in the extracted condition, cover the battery 12.

According to an executive variant,? It is possible to provide that the bottom of the battery 12 acts as part of the cage 2, i.e. the parts 25 in the extracted condition, would abut laterally with the battery 12.

According to this configuration, the bottom of the drone-sphere assembly would be constituted by the bottom of the battery 2, so that the battery 12 is always accessible, both with the cage 2 in the extracted condition and in the retracted condition.

Regardless of the construction, in the retracted condition, the lateral parts, i.e. the parts 23 remain fixed to protect the drone 1, so as to laterally protect the propulsion propellers 11.

Handling of parts 21-25? obtained preferably through servomotors present on board the drone, whose activation can? be either automatic or manually managed, by an operator through a unit? remote.

Preferably the cage 2 is in the extracted condition during the flight of the drone 1 and in the landing phase, how will it be done? described below, while at least in the take-off phase and in the battery replacement phase, the cage 2 is in the retracted condition.

In the case of the variant described above, ie in the case in which the parts 25, in the extracted condition, abut the bottom of the battery 12, it is evident how it will not be? cage 2 must be activated in retracted condition for battery 12 replacement and take-off operations.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a possible embodiment of the drone management system object of the present invention, in particular of the unit? logistic support 3.

The unit? logistic support area 3 includes a drone landing area 31, a battery replacement area 32 and a take-off area 33.

It is evident that the battery replacement area 32, can? be any area in which work is performed on the drones, whether it is the replacement of the battery and / or the loading / unloading of a particular instrumentation provided on board the drone.

The landing area 31 comprises a concave element which has the walls converging towards a collection area 34, in communication with the battery replacement area 32.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the concave element provides four side walls 311, joined two by two through a junction element 312.

As can be seen from figures 2 and 3, all the side walls 311 converge towards a chute 313, in connection with the collection area 34.

Preferably, the side walls 311 have hinges at the base, so as to be able to swing, to close in the direction of the chute 313 and reduce the size of the unit. logistic support 3.

It is evident that the side walls 311, in closed condition, overlap in correspondence with the chute 313.

The junction elements 312, in the closed condition of the side walls 311, retract, so that either they are inserted between one wall and the other, or they fall within the thickness of the side walls or, alternatively, they are made of a sufficiently yielding material , so as to bend over.

Regardless of the configuration, drones 1 land at landing zone 31.

Preferably, the drones 1 have the cage 2 in a closed configuration, so as to assume the external shape of a sphere, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The sphere shape allows the drones 1 to roll / translate / slide along the side walls 311 once they have landed and come into contact with the concave element.

During the landing phase, each drone 1 rolls towards the collection area 34 through the slide 313: the unit? of logistics support 3 works as a kind of? funnel? which not only makes the drones 1 converge towards the collection area 34, but aligns the drones 1 in correspondence with the collection area 34, so that one drone passes at a time.

For this reason, the collection area 34 preferably comprises an opening having dimensions slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere formed by the cage 2.

Does it follow that we will form? a queue of drones waiting to enter the battery replacement area 32.

The battery replacement procedure,? described in relation to Figure 3, in which a schematic section of the battery replacement area 32 is shown.

It is evident, how long will it come? described, that the automatisms of the zone 32 are controlled by a unit? control center, remote or on board the unit? logistic support 3, which monitors and controls the entire procedure.

This unit? control center can? also command the opening / closing of the side walls 311, cos? how to supervise the driving of drones 1.

It is also evident that a user can intervene manually, through remote commands, on the movement of the drones and on the procedure described.

The drone 1 is located in the collection area 34, communicating with the battery replacement area 32.

Before proceeding with battery replacement 12,? drone 1 must be positioned with the battery 12 oriented below the bottom of the battery replacement area 32.

For this reason the drone 1 has means for identifying the orientation, which communicate with other means on board the unit? logistic support 3, so that the drone 1 is positioned with the battery 12 facing downwards.

The rotation of the drone 1 to obtain the correct positioning, can? be carried out either by the conveyor belt 321, or by the gripping arm 322, which will be described later.

Alternatively,? It is possible to foresee obtaining a forced orientation, through mechanical constraints.

For example ? It is possible to provide that the mode of the sphere of the cage 2 is made so that the cage 2 arrives in the collection area 32 always in the same position.

Could one think of one or more? pins in the cage 2 which fit into suitable constraints in correspondence with the collection area 34.

In any case, once the drone 1 is with the battery 12 placed at the bottom, the cage 2 opens, so as to be able to access the battery 12.

As anticipated, in case the cage 2 completely surrounds the drone 1,? it is necessary to open, that is to place the cage 2 in retracted condition, to replace the battery 12.

In the event that the cage 2, in the extracted condition, only partially surrounds the drone 1, it will not be? it is necessary to open the cage, since, as previously discussed, the battery 12 will result? accessible for replacement.

Conveyor belt 311 picks up drone 1 and drags it to zone 323 where? You can replace the battery 12 with a replacement battery 122.

The replacement of the battery can? take place in any of the ways known to the state of the art.

At the time of detachment of the battery 12, preferably? provided a gripping arm 322 that connects to the drone 1, in a special connection seat, in order to establish an electrical contact and ensure continuity? electricity and supply the power to the drone 1 necessary so that? does not go out.

The gripping arm 322 can also be responsible for battery replacement 12.

The presence of the gripping arm 322 does not? basic: ? in fact it is possible to provide means for feeding the drone 1 made for example thanks to the contact between the drone 1 and the conveyor belt 321.

In this case, could sliding contacts be made which guarantee continuity? between the drone 1 and the conveyor belt 321.

Alternatively or in combination,? Is it possible to provide an umbilical system for which at the point of contact of the gripping arm there are electrical contacts under pressure that guarantee continuity? and connection to an external power source during the service phases. The cage will be therefore equipped with an electrical connection system between its outer edge where the connection to said pressure contacts takes place and the power supply system of the drone itself.

The 321 conveyor belt can? consist of two peripheral belts on which the drone rests, so as to provide a central channel to allow the correct replacement of the battery 12: the battery 12 is released and falls downwards, the drone continues its path and then the replacement battery 122, as schematized with the dashed lines in figure 3.

Once the replacement battery 122 is mounted, the drone 1 is dragged to the take-off area 33, where it can? leave again to perform the requested services.

Preferably take-off zone 33? open, so that drone 1 can rise vertically in flight.

Finally, it is specified that, advantageously, the unit? logistic support has the dimensions of a standard container, in order to be easily transported.

The unit? of logistic support 3, during the transport phase, can? also contain the fleet of drones necessary to perform the requested service.

While the invention? susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

It must be understood, however, that there? no intention of limiting the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, but, on the contrary, it intends to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents that fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of? For example ?,? Etc.?,? Or? indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise indicated.

The use of? Includes? means? includes, but not limited to? unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Drone fleet management system comprising a plurality of of drones (1) and a unit? of logistic support (3) of said plurality? for drones (1), the said unit? logistic support (2) comprising a landing area (31) of said drones, a battery replacement area (32) of said drones and a take-off area (33) of said drones, characterized by the fact that the said landing zone (31) comprises a basin element, the walls (311) of which converge towards a collection zone (34) communicating with the said battery replacement zone (32). System according to claim 1, wherein each drone (1) comprises a cage (2) configured to at least partially surround the outer surface of said drone (1). System according to claim 2, wherein said cage (2)? consisting of at least two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), which can be superimposed on each other, in such a way that said two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) pass from a withdrawn condition, in which the two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) are at least partially superimposed on each other, to an extracted condition, in which at least one of the two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) surrounds at least in part the part bottom of the drone (1). 4. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, in which means are present for identifying the orientation of said drone 5. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said unit? logistic support (3) comprises means (322) for gripping drones (1), which means (322) for gripping drones (1) comprise a first terminal adapted to cooperate with a corresponding second terminal provided on the drones (1) , the connection between the first terminal and the second terminal by establishing an electrical connection between the drone (1) and the gripping means. 6. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said bowl-shaped element? consisting of a plurality? of modular elements (311, 312), configured so as to pass from a folded condition to an unfolded condition, in the folded condition the said modular elements (311, 312) being superimposed on each other, while in the unfolded condition the elements modular elements (311, 312) being positioned so as to form the said bowl-shaped element. 7. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, in which said collection area (34), said battery replacement area (32) and said take-off area (33) coincide. 8. System according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said battery replacement area (32) comprises a conveyor belt (321) adapted to move the drone (1) from the collection area (34) to the take-off area (33). 9. Radio-controlled aircraft of the type drone (1) or the like comprising one or more? propellers (11) and a battery (12) mounted below the body of said aircraft, a cage (2) being provided which is configured to at least partially surround the outer surface of said aircraft, characterized by the fact that the said cage (2)? consisting of at least two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), overlapping each other, in such a way that the said two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) pass through a withdrawn condition, in which the two parts (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) are at least partially superimposed on each other, in an extracted condition, in which at least one of the two parts at least partially surrounds the lower part of the aircraft. 10. An aircraft according to claim 9, wherein there are means for identifying the orientation of said aircraft.