US 12,143,704 B2
Flight-capable rail-based system
Derek Reid Stevens, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Jonathan Collazo, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Ostrich Air Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Ostrich Air Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/811,646.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/220,698, filed on Jul. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0009190 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/57 (2023.01); B64C 19/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 47/00 (2006.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/61 (2023.01); H04N 23/66 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/57 (2023.01) [B64C 19/00 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 47/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/102 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/61 (2023.01); H04N 23/66 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flight-capable imaging system comprising:
a set of parallel rails in parallel with a first axis, the set of parallel rails comprising:
a first rail;
a second rail having a first spacing from the first rail along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis;
a third rail having a second spacing from the first rail along a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis;
a fourth rail having the first spacing from the third rail along a fourth axis parallel to the second axis, and having the second spacing from the second rail along a fifth axis parallel to the third axis;
a power source mounted to the set of parallel rails;
an imaging device mounted to the set of parallel rails;
an aerial vehicle body mounted to the set of parallel rails;
a set of aerial vehicle arms, each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the set of aerial vehicle arms are attached to the aerial vehicle body, and wherein the second end of each of the set of aerial vehicle arms comprises:
a set of propellers; and
a motor configured to turn the set of propellers to enable flight of the flight-capable imaging system;
and;
at least one processing module configured to control the flight of the of the flight-capable imaging system based on controlling a motor speed of the motor of each of the set of aerial vehicle arms;
wherein the power source delivers power to the motor of each one of the set of aerial vehicle arms, the processing module, and the imaging device, further comprising rail-based circuitry configured to facilitate passage of electric current, generated via the power source, via at least one of the set of parallel rails, wherein the power source delivers power via the rail-based circuitry to at least one of: the motor of each one of the set of aerial vehicle arms; the processing module, or the imaging device; and
wherein at least one of the set of parallel rails includes a hollow center, and wherein the passage of the electric current is facilitated along at least one of the set of parallel rails via at least one wired component of the rail-based circuitry included within the hollow center of the at least one of the set of parallel rails.