US 12,030,668 B2
Flying vehicle systems and methods
Jay Ratajczak, Maineville, OH (US); Wei Wei, Mason, OH (US); Haonan Zhang, Mason, OH (US); and Thaddeus Bort, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to Workhorse Group Inc., Loveland, OH (US)
Filed by Workhorse Group Inc., Loveland, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/223,589.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/005,652, filed on Apr. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0309358 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B64F 1/36 (2024.01); B60L 5/36 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 53/14 (2019.01); B60L 53/80 (2019.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 1/30 (2006.01); B64C 25/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/10 (2006.01); B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64D 31/00 (2006.01); B64D 41/00 (2006.01); B64F 1/32 (2006.01); B64U 20/70 (2023.01); B66D 1/48 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G08G 5/00 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B64U 80/70 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC B64F 1/364 (2013.01) [B60L 5/36 (2013.01); B60L 50/66 (2019.02); B60L 53/14 (2019.02); B60L 53/80 (2019.02); B64C 1/061 (2013.01); B64C 1/30 (2013.01); B64C 25/001 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/10 (2013.01); B64D 1/12 (2013.01); B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64D 31/00 (2013.01); B64D 41/00 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); B64U 20/70 (2023.01); B66D 1/48 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); G05D 1/106 (2019.05); G08G 5/0069 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B64U 80/70 (2023.01); B64U 80/86 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a chassis comprising:
a first battery compartment configured to receive sliding insertion of a first battery; and
a second battery compartment configured to receive sliding insertion of a second battery;
a control system operable to receive power from the first battery and the second battery when the first battery is received in the first battery compartment and the second battery is received in the second battery compartment;
at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system when both the first battery and the second battery are installed to the chassis; and
a latch mechanism operable to selectively limit movement of the first battery along a first insertion/removal axis, the latch mechanism comprising:
a first component comprising a first channel; and
a second component comprising a spline configured for insertion in the first channel;
wherein the control system is configured to remain at least partially active under power supplied by the first battery when the second battery is removed from the second battery compartment;
wherein one of the first component or the second component is a movable component and further comprises a flange;
wherein the latch mechanism has a closed state in which the movable component is in a first rotational position, the spline is received in the first channel, and the flange prevents removal of the first battery from the first battery compartment; and
wherein the latch mechanism has an open state in which the movable component is in a second rotational position, the spline is removed from the first channel, and the flange does not prevent removal of the first battery from the first battery compartment.