US 11,919,628 B2
Unmanned aerial vehicle and method of operation
Christopher E. Fisher, Simi Valley, CA (US); John P. Zwaan, Simi Valley, CA (US); Marc L. Schmalzel, Simi Valley, CA (US); Steven Chambers, Simi Valley, CA (US); and Justin McAllister, Monrovia, CA (US)
Assigned to AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/683,019.
Application 17/683,019 is a continuation of application No. 13/656,587, filed on Oct. 19, 2012, granted, now 11,292,591.
Application 13/656,587 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2011/033680, filed on Apr. 22, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/327,089, filed on Apr. 22, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0274694 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 29/00 (2013.01) [B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
switching off all systems on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while the UAV is at an observation location except those necessary to generate and transmit observation data via a power distributor, wherein the power distributor is in communication with a processor of the UAV, and wherein the UAV retains an autonomous power-up capability;
switching off power periodically from a battery of the UAV to an observation sensor via the power distributor to extend a stay at the observation location with a finite charge capacity of the battery;
switching on power periodically from the battery of the UAV to the observation sensor via the power distributor;
generating observation data from the observation location of one or more potential targets using the observation sensor of the UAV when power is periodically switched on from the battery of the UAV to the observation sensor; and
communicating the generated observation data of the one or more potential targets to a transmitter for periodic transmission to a receiver external to the UAV.