公开(公告)号：US11485518B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-01

申请号：US17223538

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Workhorse Group Inc.

Inventor： Jay Ratajczak ,  Wei Wei ,  Haonan Zhang ,  Thaddeus Bort

IPC: B64F1/36 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C25/00 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L50/60 ,  B60L5/36 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/00 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B66D1/48 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C1/30 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64D45/00

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, and a winch mounted to the chassis. The winch includes a reel and a motor. The reel has a line wound thereon, the line having a free end. The reel includes a circumferential channel in which a wound portion of the line is wound onto the reel. The circumferential channel includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a passage connecting the inner portion and the outer portion. The motor is operable to rotate the reel under control of the control system to thereby cause the line to wind onto and off of the reel, thereby causing the free end of the line to raise and lower.

公开(公告)号：US20220212814A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-07

申请号：US17703370

申请日：2022-03-24

Applicant: Workhorse Group Inc.

Inventor： Jay Ratajczak ,  Wei Wei ,  Haonan Zhang ,  Thaddeus Bort ,  Scott Wilson

IPC: B64F1/36 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C25/00 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L50/60 ,  B60L5/36 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/00 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B66D1/48 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C1/30 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00

Abstract: A method according to certain embodiments generally involves operating a system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a base station. The base station includes a nest including an upper opening having an upper opening diameter and a lower opening having a lower opening diameter less than the upper opening diameter. The lower opening is accessible from within the base station. The method generally includes landing the UAV within the nest such that a portion of the UAV is accessible via the lower opening, releasably attaching a load to the UAV, and operating the UAV to deliver the load to a destination.

公开(公告)号：US11370561B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US17533289

申请日：2021-11-23

Applicant: Workhorse Group Inc.

Inventor： Jay Ratajczak ,  Wei Wei ,  Haonan Zhang ,  Thaddeus Bort ,  Scott Wilson

IPC: B64C25/00 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B64F1/36 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L50/60 ,  B60L5/36 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/00 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B66D1/48 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B64D1/12

Abstract: An example charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the charging station generally including a nest and a charging device. The nest includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper opening sized and shaped to receive a landing apparatus of the UAV, and a diameter of the nest reduces from a first diameter at the upper opening to a second diameter at the lower portion. The charging device is mounted in the nest, and includes a first contact pad and a second contact pad. The charging device is configured to apply a voltage differential across the first contact pad and the second contact pad such that the charging station is operable to charge a power supply of the UAV via the landing apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US11332264B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-17

申请号：US17223726

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Workhorse Group Inc.

Inventor： Jay Ratajczak ,  Wei Wei ,  Haonan Zhang ,  Thaddeus Bort ,  Scott Wilson

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64F1/36 ,  B64C25/00 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L50/60 ,  B60L5/36 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/00 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B66D1/48 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64C1/06 ,  B64C1/30 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64D45/00

Abstract: A method according to certain embodiments generally involves operating a system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a base station. The base station includes a nest including an upper opening having an upper opening diameter and a lower opening having a lower opening diameter less than the upper opening diameter. The lower opening is accessible from within the base station. The method generally includes landing the UAV within the nest such that a portion of the UAV is accessible via the lower opening, releasably attaching a load to the UAV, and operating the UAV to deliver the load to a destination.

公开(公告)号：US20210309357A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-07

申请号：US17223538

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Workhorse Group Inc.

Inventor： Jay Ratajczak ,  Wei Wei ,  Haonan Zhang ,  Thaddeus Bort

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B66D1/48 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, and a winch mounted to the chassis. The winch includes a reel and a motor. The reel has a line wound thereon, the line having a free end. The reel includes a circumferential channel in which a wound portion of the line is wound onto the reel. The circumferential channel includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a passage connecting the inner portion and the outer portion. The motor is operable to rotate the reel under control of the control system to thereby cause the line to wind onto and off of the reel, thereby causing the free end of the line to raise and lower.