AIRFRAME OF A VOLITANT BODY

Number: 20210237888
Published: 2021-08-05
Filed: 2020-12-02
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Wong; Clifford W., Goslin; Michael P., Thornton; Stephen A.
CPC: B64C1/061; B64C27/20; B64C39/022; B64C39/024; B64U10/14; B64U30/26; B64U50/14; G05D1/0816; G05D1/495; G05D1/69
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Airframe hardware for a flying (volitant) drone/robot body.

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for an airframe of a volitant body are presented herein. An apparatus may include a body having a normal axis. The body comprising a central air passage communicating through the body along the normal axis of the body. The central air passage may have an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, the second end being opposite the first end. The central air passage may form an interior surface of the body. The central air passage permitting a flow of air through the body via the central air passage. The inlet may be formed to produce a Venturi effect in the flow of air passing through the central air passage from the inlet to the outlet by choking the flow of air at the inlet.

Background

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to an airframe of a volitant body, and systems and method to control the volitant body. BACKGROUND

Quadcopters, sometimes called drones, are becoming increasingly popular for both recreational and commercial use. Drones may be autonomous, remote-controlled, semi-autonomous, and/or controlled by other techniques. Drones are typically complex devices that use exposed spinning propellers and/or plastic rail guards in the same plane as the propellers to provide a minimal form of protection. Though they can maintain efficiency, the configurations of exposed propellers and/or using plastic rail guards may be unsafe. Upon collision of the drone with a user, the exposed spinning propellers may cause bodily harm. SUMMARY

Some manufactures may encase a drone, or portions thereof, in a protective cage. The cage may expose the drone as the object of interest. That is, the cage is typically built for the specific purpose of encasing the drone for safety, but not hiding the drone entirely because users still need to see the drone itself to properly control it remotely from a distance. However, the cage may create turbulence and thus reduce thrust efficiency.

Certain racing drones, called “whoops”, shroud each propeller slightly to maintain airflow and lift, but may be sized to enable high speed movement—a priority of a racing drone. Further, exposed spinning propellers may not hide the fact a drone is being used as

Claims

1. An airframe of a volitant body comprising: a body having a normal axis, the body comprising: a central air passage communicating through the body along the normal axis of the body, the central air passage having an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, the second end being opposite the first end, the central air passage forming an interior surface of the body, the central air passage permitting a flow of air through the body via the central air passage; and wherein the inlet is formed to produce a Venturi effect in the flow of air passing through the central air passage from the inlet to the outlet by choking the flow of air at the inlet. || 9. An arrangement of a volitant body comprising: a propulsion system; and an airframe, the airframe comprising: a body having a normal axis, the body comprising: a central air passage communicating through the body along the normal axis of the body, the central air passage having an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, the second end being opposite the first end, the central air passage forming an interior surface of the body, the central air passage permitting a flow of air through the body via the central air passage; and wherein the inlet is formed to produce a Venturi effect in the flow of air passing through the central air passage from the inlet to the outlet by choking the flow of air at the inlet; and wherein the propulsion system is mounted to the body and substantially disposed within the central air passage such that activating the propulsion system causes the flow of air through the body via the central air passage. || 17. A method to control a volitant body, the method comprising: controlling a propulsion system to balance the volitant body in place at a given altitude; detecting a force being applied to the volitant body; determining force information, the force information including one or both of a direction of the force or a magnitude of the force; and control the propulsion system based on force information such that the volitant body is propelled in the direction of the force.