Storage unit for an unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

A storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes a container for enclosing the UAV, a moveable UAV landing platform, and a UAV guidance beacon unit, the UAV guidance beacon unit comprising a visible light ray source and an infrared light ray source.

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 guidance beacon unit, the UAV guidance beacon unit comprising:
 a visible light ray source and 
 an infrared light ray source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the beacon unit further comprises:
 a visible light cover plate, which comprises at least one opaque areas and at least one transparent area, such that the visible light rays travel through the visible light cover plate to form a first predetermined guidance pattern and 
 an infrared cover plate, which comprises at least one opaque area and at least one transparent area (for blocking parts of the infrared light rays of the infrared light ray source), such that the infrared light rays travel through the infrared light cover plate to form a second predetermined guidance pattern. 
   
     
     
         3 . The storage unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the visible light ray source is adapted to generate at least one laser light ray with a visible light wavelength and   the infrared light ray source is adapted to generate at least one laser light ray with an infrared light wavelength.   
     
     
         4 . The storage unit according to  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. 
   
     
     
         5 . A storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV,   a camera for receiving a beacon unit light signal from the UAV,   a UAV landing platform, and   a controller for generating a UAV flight instruction for landing the UAV on the UAV landing platform according to light signal data from the camera and for sending out the UAV flight instruction to the UAV.   
     
     
         6 . The storage unit according to  claim 5  further comprising
 a wind speed detector, wherein: 
 the controller is further adapted
 for generating the UAV flight instruction according to wind speed data from the wind speed detector, and 
 for generating the UAV flight instruction according to wind direction data from the wind direction detector, and a wireless transmitter for sending out the UAV flight instruction. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . A storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV,   a storage unit electrical power source,   a tethering assembly that comprises:
 a spool with a spool rotational sensor for providing a rotational data of the spool, 
 a spool motor for selectively rotating the spool, 
 an electrical utility cable for winding and unwinding around the spool, the electrical utility cable comprising a power supply electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the storage unit electrical power source to an electrical power source of the UAV, and 
 a cable force sensor providing a measurement of a force being exerted by the electrical utility cable onto the UAV, and 
   a controller being adapted for energizing the spool motor for rotating the spool according to the force measurement and to the spool rotational data.   
     
     
         8 . The storage unit according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the container comprises a moveable cover for allowing the UAV to ingress into the container and to egress from the container.   
     
     
         9 . The storage unit according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the moveable cover is adapted for rotating about a hinge.   
     
     
         10 . The storage unit according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the electrical utility cable further comprises:
 a sensor electrical wire for transferring the force measurement from the cable force sensor to the controller, and 
 a metal shield for enclosing the power supply electrical wire, 
   the cable force sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for sending the force measurement wirelessly to the controller,   the storage unit electrical power source comprises a power inlet for receiving electrical energy from a land vehicle electrical power supply, and   the tethering assembly further comprises:
 a bracket for supporting the spool and the electrical utility cable that is wound around the spool, and 
 at least one bracket force sensor for providing a measurement of a force being exerted by the bracket onto the support area, and wherein the controller is adapted for energizing the spool motor for rotating the spool according to said measurement from the bracket force sensor. 
   
     
     
         11 . A storage unit for enclosing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV, and   an external monitoring camera being directed for taking external images of the storage unit with   an internal monitoring camera being directed for taking internal images of the storage unit.   
     
     
         12 . A storage unit for enclosing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV, and   a set of weed killer sprayers for preventing growth of bushes around the container.   
     
     
         13 . A storage unit for enclosing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container for enclosing the UAV, and   an electric fence being provided around the storage unit and being adapted for preventing animals from accessing the storage unit.   
     
     
         14 . A storage unit for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the storage unit comprising:
 a container with a first sliding cover and with a second sliding cover for enclosing the UAV,   a lift assembly with a UAV platform for carrying the UAV,   a beacon unit being provided on the UAV platform for guiding the UAV to the UAV platform, and   a wireless charging unit being provided on the UAV platform for providing electrical energy to the UAV.   
     
     
         15 . The storage unit according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 a Global Positioning Unit (GPS) unit for determining positional data of the storage unit, 
 a controller for controlling the storage unit, 
 an electrical energy storage for providing electrical energy to the storage unit, and 
 a communication unit for exchanging data. 
 
     
     
         16 . An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) module comprising:
 a UAV that comprises at least one propeller for moving the UAV, and an electrical power source for energizing the propeller and   a storage unit according to one of the above-mentioned claims for enclosing the UAV.   
     
     
         17 . A network comprising:
 a plurality of objects, each object comprising a sensor and a communication device, wherein the communication device is provided for:
 receiving data from at least one other object and/or from its sensor, and 
 sending the data to another object, 
   wherein at least one object is provided by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on of a landing surface of the UAV landing platform.