Drone box

Abstract

The application provides a storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a method of operating a storage unit for a UAV. The storage unit can comprise a container for enclosing the UAV; a moveable UAV landing platform; and a UAV alignment unit configured to push the UAV on the movable UAV landing platform to a predetermined landing area of the moveable UAV landing platform.

1 . A storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV;   a moveable UAV landing platform; and   a UAV alignment unit configured to push the UAV on the movable UAV landing platform to a predetermined landing area of the moveable UAV landing platform.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV alignment unit comprises a positional detector for determining a position of the UAV on the UAV landing platform. 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 2 , wherein the positional detector comprising a weight sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV alignment unit comprises at least one of a group consisting of at least one plate for pushing the UAV, at least two fixed inclined walls for guiding the UAV, and at least two moveable inclined walls for guiding the UAV to the predetermined landing area. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV landing platform provides a landing position and a storing position, wherein:
 in the landing position, the UAV landing platform is positioned for the UAV to land and to take-off, and   in the storing position, the UAV landing platform is positioned inside the container.   
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV alignment unit comprises a first alignment plate, a second alignment plate, a first sliding mechanism, and a second sliding mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The storage unit of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a first side of the first sliding mechanism is coupled to the UAV landing platform and a second side of the first sliding mechanism is coupled to the first alignment plate; and   a first side of the second sliding mechanism is coupled to the UAV landing platform and a second side of the second sliding mechanism is coupled to the second alignment plate.   
     
     
         8 . The storage unit of  claim 6 , wherein the first alignment plate is oriented at a right angle relative to the second alignment plate. 
     
     
         9 . The storage unit of  claim 6 , wherein the UAV alignment unit is configurable in a resting position and an alignment position. 
     
     
         10 . The storage unit of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the UAV landing platform defines outer parts and an inner area;   in the resting position, the first and second sliding mechanisms move the first and second alignment plates towards the outer parts and away from the inner area; and   in the alignment position, the first and second sliding mechanisms move the first and second alignment plates towards the inner area.   
     
     
         11 . The storage unit of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first alignment plate is one of a pair of first alignment plates;   the pair of first alignment plates are oriented parallel to one another;   the second alignment plate is one of a pair of second alignment plates; and   the pair of second alignment plates are oriented parallel to one another.   
     
     
         12 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV alignment unit comprises a pair of inclined outer walls coupled to a landing pad of the UAV landing platform, the inclined outer walls configured to guide the UAV to the landing pad. 
     
     
         13 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV alignment unit comprises a pair of movable outer walls pivotably coupled to a landing pad of the UAV landing platform. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
 providing the storage unit comprising a container for enclosing the UAV, a moveable UAV landing platform, and a UAV alignment unit;   landing the UAV on the UAV landing platform; and   moving the UAV on the UAV landing platform with the UAV alignment unit to a predetermined landing area of the UAV landing platform.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising detecting a position of the UAV on the UAV landing platform with a positional detector of the UAV alignment unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the positional detector comprises a weight sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein moving the UAV on the UAV landing platform with the UAV alignment unit to the predetermined landing area of the UAV landing platform comprises moving a first alignment plate and a second alignment plate of the UAV alignment unit towards an inner area of the UAV landing platform. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the first alignment plate and the second alignment plate of the UAV alignment unit towards the inner area of the UAV landing platform comprises moving the first alignment plate with a first sliding mechanism of the UAV alignment unit and moving the second alignment plate with a second sliding mechanism of the UAV alignment unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein moving the UAV on the UAV landing platform with the UAV alignment unit to the predetermined landing area of the UAV landing platform comprises guiding the UAV towards a landing pad of the UAV landing platform with an inclined outer wall of the UAV alignment unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inclined outer wall is pivoably coupled to the landing pad, and wherein guiding the UAV towards the landing pad of the UAV landing platform with the inclined outer wall comprises pivoting the inclined outer wall relative to the landing pad.