Flight test stand

Abstract

A test stand for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: a base arranged to make contact with the ground; a frame extending from the base, the frame comprising at least a first side portion and a second side portion that define a space therebetween; and a mount slidably attached to the frame within the space, the mount configured to affix to an unmanned aerial vehicle such that the mount and the unmanned aerial vehicle slide within the defined space in a direction parallel to the frame during a test flight.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A test stand for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
 a base arranged to make contact with the ground;   a frame extending from the base, the frame comprising at least a first side portion and a second side portion that define a space therebetween, each of the first side portion and the second side portion comprising one or more beams that extend from the base,
 wherein each of the one or more beams interfaces with a mounting mechanism configured to couple the unmanned aerial vehicle to the frame during a test flight; 
   a cross beam affixed to a top end of the first side portion and a top end of the second side portion such that the defined space is between the base and the cross beam; and   one or more sensors configured to collect, during the test flight, data indicative of one or more of a performance and an assembly of a component of the unmanned aerial vehicle.   
     
     
         21 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the component comprises one or more of a rotor, a propeller, an engine, a battery, and a hybrid generator system of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a force sensor, a vibration sensor, and a heat sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to collect data indicative of a variance in one or more of the performance and the assembly of the component of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to determine, based on the collected data, an indication of a predisposition of the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel in a particular direction. 
     
     
         25 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the data collected by the one or more sensors is sufficient to enable a determination of a predisposition of the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel in a particular direction. 
     
     
         26 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to indicate, based on the collected data, that an amount of vibration in the test stand has exceeded a threshold value. 
     
     
         27 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the data collected by the one or more sensors is sufficient to enable a determination that an amount of vibration in the test stand has exceeded a threshold value. 
     
     
         28 . The test stand of  claim 20 , comprising a tether configured to connect the unmanned aerial vehicle to a power source. 
     
     
         29 . The test stand of  claim 20 , further comprising a screen configured to display information related to the test flight. 
     
     
         30 . The test stand of  claim 29 , wherein the displayed information comprises information indicative of at least some of the data collected by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         31 . The test stand of  claim 29 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a defective component of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The test stand of  claim 29 , wherein the screen is further configured to display information related one or more other test flights. 
     
     
         33 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of legs. 
     
     
         34 . The test stand of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of legs form angles with the ground such that bottom ends of the plurality of legs make contact with the ground and top ends of the plurality of legs are affixed to the frame. 
     
     
         35 . The test stand of  claim 20 , comprising a mounting mechanism slidably attached to the frame, the one or more mounting mechanism configured to affix to an unmanned aerial vehicle such that the unmanned aerial vehicle is permitted to slide within the defined space in a direction parallel to the frame during a test flight; and 
     
     
         36 . The test stand of  claim 35 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises:
 a wheel that is configured to reside in a respective track formed in the frame; and   a fastener that is configured to affix the wheel to a corresponding clearance hole in the unmanned aerial vehicle.   
     
     
         37 . The test stand of  claim 35 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a first aperture within which the first side portion of the frame resides and a second aperture within which the second side portion of the frame resides. 
     
     
         38 . The test stand of  claim 35 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises clips that are configured to attach to receiving mechanisms on the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         39 . The test stand of  claim 35 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a docking device that is configured to releasably attach to the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein one or both of the mounting mechanism and the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises one or more feet configured to dampen a collision with the ground. 
     
     
         41 . The test stand of  claim 20 , wherein the test stand is configured to attach to other test stands to form a test stand system for testing flights of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles. 
     
     
         42 . A method for performing a test flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
 coupling, by one or more mounting mechanisms, the unmanned aerial vehicle to a test stand, the test stand comprising:
 a base arranged to make contact with the ground; 
 a frame extending from the base, the frame comprising at least a first side portion and a second side portion that define a space therebetween, each of the first side portion and the second side portion comprising one or more beams that extend from the base and interface with the one or more mounting mechanisms, 
 a cross beam affixed to a top end of the first side portion and a top end of the second side portion such that the defined space is between the base and the cross beam; and 
 one or more sensors; 
   flying the unmanned aerial vehicle within the defined space of the test stand; and   collecting, by the one or more sensors, data indicative of one or more of a performance and an assembly of a component of the unmanned aerial vehicle.