Systems and methods for foldable arms

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body, a plurality of arms extending out from the central body, and a plurality of propulsion units. Each arm of the plurality of arms includes a stem portion including a stem interior space, one or more branch portions each including a branch interior space, and a joint connecting the stem portion and the one or more branch portions. The joint includes a joint interior space and is configured to move the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion. Each propulsion unit is attached to a corresponding arm of the plurality of arms. The stem interior space, the branch interior space, and the joint interior space are configured to provide an internal passageway to permit electrical routing between the central body and the plurality of propulsion units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
 a central body;   a plurality of arms extending out from the central body, each arm of the plurality of arms including:
 a stem portion comprising a stem interior space; 
 one or more branch portions, each branch portion comprising a branch interior space; and 
 a joint connecting the stem portion and the one or more branch portions, the joint comprising a joint interior space and being configured to move the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion; and 
   a plurality of propulsion units, each propulsion unit being attached to a corresponding arm of the plurality of arms,   wherein the stem interior space, the branch interior space, and the joint interior space are configured to provide an internal passageway to permit electrical routing between the central body and the plurality of propulsion units.   
     
     
         2 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical routing includes one or more electrical transmission lines that are disposed within the internal passageway and configured to route through the stem portion, a portion of the joint, and/or the one or more branch portions. 
     
     
         3 . The UAV of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of propulsion units comprises a motor, and the one or more electrical transmission lines are configured to transmit electrical signals to and from each motor of the plurality of propulsion units for controlling the UAV. 
     
     
         4 . The UAV of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical components disposed within the internal passageway, wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one of a controller, a sensor, a memory storage, a processor, a flight control unit, an electronic speed control (ESC) unit, a navigation unit, a communication unit, or a power unit. 
     
     
         5 . The UAV of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical routing is configured to provide electrical communication between the one or more electrical components and the plurality of propulsion units. 
     
     
         6 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the internal passageway is in fluid communication to route fluid from the central body to the plurality of propulsion units. 
     
     
         7 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid is liquid or gas. 
     
     
         8 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein central body comprises a fluid suction system configured to pull the fluid into the central body of the UAV. 
     
     
         9 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid suction system comprises a pump configured to provide a pressure differential to pull the fluid into the central body of the UAV. 
     
     
         10 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein the central body or the plurality of arms further comprise one or more chillers, heaters, or filters configured to cool, heat, or purify the fluid before the fluid is driven into the plurality of arms. 
     
     
         11 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein the central body, the plurality of arms, or the plurality of propulsion units are coupled to a fluid flow driver configured to provide a pressure differential to drive the fluid from the central body into the plurality of arms. 
     
     
         12 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid flow driver includes a fan, a pump, an actuator, or a powered driving device. 
     
     
         13 . The UAV of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more electrical components disposed within the internal passageway, wherein the internal passageway is configured to permit the fluid to flow through the one or more electrical components for cooling or heating the one or more electrical components and the electrical routing during operation of the UAV. 
     
     
         14 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more propulsion units comprises a motor, and the internal passageway is configured to route the fluid from the central body to the motor for cooling or heating the motor during operation of the UAV. 
     
     
         15 . The UAV of  claim 6 , wherein the stem interior space, the branch interior space, or the joint interior space further comprises a seal, and the seal is configured to prevent the fluid routed by the plurality of arms from being contaminated by ambient fluid outside the UAV. 
     
     
         16 . An arm configured to support a propulsion unit of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a stem portion comprising a stem interior space;   one or more branch portions, each branch portion comprising a branch interior space; and   a joint connecting the stem portion and the one or more branch portions, the joint comprising a joint interior space and being configured to move the one or more branch portions relative to the stem portion,   wherein the stem interior space, the branch interior space, and the joint interior space are configured to provide an internal passageway to permit electrical routing between a central body of the UAV and one or more propulsion units attached to the one or more branch portions.   
     
     
         17 . The arm of  claim 16 , wherein the electrical routing includes one or more electrical transmission lines that are disposed within the internal passageway and configured to route through the stem portion, a portion of the joint, and/or the one or more branch portions. 
     
     
         18 . The arm of  claim 17 , wherein each of the one or more propulsion units comprises a motor, and the one or more electrical transmission lines are configured to transmit electrical signals to and from each motor of the one or more propulsion units for controlling the UAV. 
     
     
         19 . The arm of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more electrical components disposed within the internal passageway, wherein the electrical routing is configured to provide electrical communication between the one or more electrical components and the one or more propulsion units. 
     
     
         20 . The arm of  claim 19 , wherein the internal passageway is in fluid communication to route fluid from the central body to the one or more propulsion units for cooling or heating the one or more electrical components and the electrical routing during operation of the UAV.