Unmanned vehicle

Abstract

An unmanned vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly. The arm assembly is coupled to the vehicle body. The arm assembly includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, and a propeller. The second rotating member is coupled to the first rotating member. The propeller includes a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller and a rotatable axle coupled to the second rotating member. The the rotatable axle extends along a rotating axis. The second rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis. The first rotating member is configured to rotate and effect a movement of the second rotating member so as to selectively adjust the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis at least with a first axial direction and a second axial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unmanned vehicle, comprising a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly coupled to the vehicle body, the arm assembly comprising:
 a first rotating member;   a second rotating member coupled to the first rotating member; and   a propeller comprising a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller, the propeller further comprising a rotatable axle coupled to the second rotating member;   wherein the rotatable axle extends along a rotating axis, and the second rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis; and   wherein the first rotating member is configured to rotate and effect a movement of the second rotating member so as to selectively adjust the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis at least with a first axial direction and a second axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body comprises:
 a main module; and   a connecting member detachably connected to the main module, wherein the arm assembly is connected to the connecting member.   
     
     
         3 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to control a movement of the first rotating member and a movement of the second rotating member; and   a power unit configured to supply power to move the first rotating member and the second rotating member.   
     
     
         4 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of the arm assemblies, wherein the controller is configured to individually control the movement of the first rotating member of each arm assembly to individually adjust each rotatable axle to align with one of a plurality of axial directions. 
     
     
         5 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of the arm assemblies, wherein the controller is configured to individually control the movement of the second rotating member of each arm assembly to individually cause each propeller to rotate with a different rotational speed or to rotate in a different direction. 
     
     
         6 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a shoulder joint connecting the arm assembly to the vehicle body, wherein the arm assembly is configured to pivot about the shoulder joint and rotate relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         7 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the arm assemblies is provided and the controller is configured to individually control the rotation of each arm assembly about the shoulder joint to align the rotatable axle with one of a plurality of axial directions. 
     
     
         8 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the controller and the power unit have one of the following configurations:
 the controller and the power unit are both disposed on the vehicle body;   the controller is disposed on the vehicle body and the power unit is disposed on the arm assembly;   the power unit is disposed on the vehicle body and the controller is disposed on the arm assembly; and   the controller and the power unit are both disposed on the arm assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a protection shield extending from the propeller rim and enveloping at least a part of the propeller. 
     
     
         10 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotating member is an elongate cylinder disposed in a cavity extending along the vehicle body's periphery such that a portion of an elongate curved surface of the elongate cylinder is enshrouded in the cavity; and wherein the second rotating member is disposed on an exposed curved surface of the elongate cylinder, and the rotatable axle is connected to the second rotating member and extends perpendicularly from the exposed curved surface. 
     
     
         11 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first axial direction is substantially perpendicular from a top surface of the vehicle body, and the second axial direction is substantially orthogonal to the first axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a wireless communication module configured to receive a control instruction for operating the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a camera configured to generate a video data, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the video data to a remote device. 
     
     
         14 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a location positioning module configured to generate a location data, and the unmanned vehicle further comprising a processor module configured to:
 generate a navigation route according to the location data; and   generate a navigation instruction for operating the controller to effect a movement of the unmanned vehicle according the navigation route.   
     
     
         15 . An unmanned vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body;   at least one arm assembly comprising:
 an arm rotatably coupled to the vehicle body; 
 a propeller rotating member disposed on a surface of the arm; 
 a propeller coupled to the propeller rotating member, the propeller having a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis perpendicular to the surface of the arm; and 
 a rim coupled to the outer edge of the propeller; 
 wherein the propeller rotating member is configured to turn the propeller by rotating the rotatable axle about the rotating axis and wherein the arm is configured to rotate relative to the vehicle body, so as to selectively adjust the rotating axis at least to a first axial direction and a second axial direction. 
   
     
     
         16 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller disposed in the vehicle body, wherein a plurality of the arm assemblies is provided, and wherein the controller is configured to individually control the propeller rotating members of the arm assemblies to adjust a rotational speed of each propeller. 
     
     
         17 . The unmanned vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the arm is an elongate cylinder and the surface of the arm is an elongate curved surface; and wherein the elongate curved surface is rotatably coupled to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling an unmanned vehicle comprising a vehicle body and at least one arm assembly having a propeller comprising a propeller rim encircling an outer edge of the propeller, the propeller further comprising a rotatable axle extending along a rotating axis, the method comprising at least one of:
 adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a first axial direction substantially perpendicular from a top surface of the vehicle body, to configure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle capable of flight by a propelling force of the propeller; and   adjusting the rotatable axle to align the rotating axis with a second axial direction substantially orthogonal to the first axial direction, to configure the unmanned vehicle to a land vehicle capable of wheeling by the propeller rim contacting a ground.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises a controller and a wireless communication module, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by the wireless communication module, a control instruction for operating the controller; and   executing the control instruction, by the controller, to adjust the rotatable axle and configure the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle or a land vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises a location position module, the method further comprising:
 generating a location data using the location positioning module;   generating a navigation route using at least the location data;   configuring the unmanned vehicle to an aerial vehicle or a land vehicle, according to the navigation route; and   moving the unmanned vehicle according to the navigation route.