Flight indication apparatuses, systems and associated methods

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for indicating a moveable device such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are disclosed herein. The present technology provides an illumination system having a light source and an illuminating component. In a representative embodiment, the light source is carried by a UAV and positioned to emit a light ray in a first direction. The illuminating component is carried by a propeller of the UAV. The illuminating component can include a light entrance portion, a light transmission portion, and a light exit portion. The light entrance portion is positioned to receive the light ray from the light source, the light transmission portion is positioned to transmit the light ray to the light exit portion, and the light exit portion is positioned to direct the light ray in a second direction so as to form a visual indication corresponding to the UAV.

1 .- 88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . A method for indicating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV having a main body and a propeller coupled to the main body, the method comprising:
 receiving an instruction from a processor carried by the UAV;   in response to the instruction, emitting a light ray, from a light source of the UAV, in a first direction;   receiving, by an illuminating component carried by the propeller, the light ray from the light source; and   while the propeller is rotating, emitting, by the illuminating component carried by the propeller, light in a second direction different than the first direction to form a visual indication corresponding to the UAV.   
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the visual indication is indicative of an outer contour of the UAV. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the visual indication is indicative of a location of the UAV. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the visual indication is indicative of a travel direction of the UAV. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the visual indication is indicative of a status of the UAV. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the visual indication is indicative of an orientation of the UAV. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein emitting, by the illuminating component carried by the propeller, light in the second direction includes:
 directing the light ray from the light source in the second direction.   
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the light ray is a first light ray, and wherein the method comprises:
 absorbing the first light ray from the light source; and   emitting a second light ray in the second direction.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the illuminating component includes a light entrance portion, a light transmission portion, and a light exit portion, and wherein the light entrance portion is positioned to receive the light ray from the light source, and wherein the light transmission portion is positioned to transmit the light ray to the light exit portion, and wherein the light exit portion is positioned to direct the light ray in the second direction. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the illuminating component includes a fluorescent material. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising determining, by the processor carried by the UAV, the first direction at least partially based on a location of the illuminating component. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising determining, by the processor carried by the UAV, the second direction at least partially based on a location of an operator of the UAV. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 receiving an additional instruction from the processor of the UAV; and   in response to the additional instruction, emitting an additional light ray, from an additional light source carried by the propeller, in a third direction.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the illuminating component is a first illuminating component, and wherein the light ray is a first light ray, and wherein the UAV includes a second illuminating component carried by the propeller, and wherein the method further comprises:
 emitting, from the light source of the UAV, a second light ray directed to the second illuminating component;   receiving, by the second illuminating component carried by the propeller, the second light ray from the light source; and   while the propeller is rotating, emitting, by the second illuminating component carried by the propeller, light in a third direction.   
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the illuminating component is a first illuminating component, and wherein the light ray is a first light ray, and wherein the light source is a first light source, and wherein the UAV includes a second illuminating component carried by the propeller and a second light source carried by the UAV, and wherein the method further comprises:
 emitting, from the second light source of the UAV, a second light ray to the second illuminating component;   receiving, by the second illuminating component carried by the propeller, the second light ray from the second light source; and   while the propeller is rotating, emitting, by the second illuminating component carried by the propeller, light in a third direction.