DESC:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a damping system for a payload of a drone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Robot technology is the dominant state-of-the-art technology in today's world and, after many years of development, has ushered in a new era in which robots such as drones need to be used for one or more applications such as aerial photography and videography, mapping and surveying, asset inspection, payload carrying, agriculture, bird control, crop spraying, crop monitoring, multispectral/thermal/NIR cameras, live streaming events, emergency response, search and rescue, marine rescue, disaster zone mapping, disaster relief, forensics, mining, firefighting, monitoring poachers, aviation, meteorology, product delivery, and the like. Aerial photography and videography is one of the most important applications of the drone. Generally, drones fly by obtaining lift force with a rotor in a vertical direction. Therefore, vibration of the rotor and other components of the drone is transmitted to a payload such as an image capturing device which may degrade the quality of the image or video.
Conventionally, payload mounts are used along with a damping system to damp the vibrations of the rotor and other components of the drone. However, these damping systems do not provide required vibration isolation as damping elements are mounted in vertical direction. This mounting position of the damping elements provides less dampening effect in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and hence vibrations are transferred to the payload.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved design of the damping system and payload mount to reduce the vibration transmission to the payload.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a damping system of a payload for a drone is provided. The damping system includes a bottom holder fixedly connected to the drone. The damping system also includes a top holder disposed above the bottom holder. The damping system further includes a payload securing assembly removably coupled to the top holder. The payload is removably coupled to the payload securing assembly. The damping system includes a plurality of damping elements angularly oriented between the top holder and the bottom holder to isolate the payload securing assembly from the drone, thereby achieving vibration isolation between the payload and the drone.
According to the present invention, the damping elements are oriented downwards, upwards, inwards, outwards, or combination thereof.
According to the present invention, the angular orientation of the elements ranges between 10 degrees to 170 degrees.
According to the present invention, the bottom holder of the damping system is fixedly connected to the drone using a plurality of fasteners.
According to the present invention, the damping element is made up of an elastic material.
According to the present invention, the damping element is made up of rubber.
According to the present invention, the damping element is secured between the top holder and the bottom holder using a grooved profile on the damping element and a corresponding grooved profile on the top holder and the bottom holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a damping system of a drone, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the damping system of the drone, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the damping system of the drone, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the damping system of the drone, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these details.
One skilled in the art will recognize that various implementations of the present disclosure, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
A drone, also referred to as an unmanned aerial vehicle, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. The drones are generally a ground-based controlled system. The flight of the drone may operate under remote control by a human operator, as remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), or with various degrees of autonomy, such as autopilot assistance, up to fully autonomous aircraft that have no provision for human intervention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a drone (not shown) includes a body. The drone also includes a plurality of rotors. Each rotor drives a propeller. The rotor may include at least one clockwise rotor, at least one counterclockwise rotor, or combination thereof. It should be noted that, the rotation of the rotors does not limit the scope of the present invention. The drone further includes a flight controller, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, an Electronic Speed Controller (ESC), a power port module, an obstacle avoidance sensor, and the like.
The drone includes a damping system (100) for a payload (not shown). The payload may include a camera as a payload, a dual sensor camera payload, a gimbal, and the like. The damping system (100) includes a top holder (104). The top holder (104) includes a top slot (106). The top holder (104) includes a plurality of top lugs (108) disposed at periphery of the top holder (104). The top lug (108) defines a ring-like structure. The top lug (108) is angularly deviated. In an embodiment, the top lug (108) may be angularly deviated downwards. In another embodiment, the top lug (108) may be angularly deviated upwards. In another embodiment, the top lug (108) may be angularly deviated inwards. In another embodiment, the top lug (108) may be angularly deviated outwards. It should be noted that, the angular deviation of the top lug (108) does not limit the scope of the present invention. Each top lug (108) includes a top hole (110). The illustrated embodiment includes four top lugs (108). In other embodiment, the number of top lugs (108) may vary as per application requirement. It should be noted that the number of top lugs (108) does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The damping system (100) also includes a bottom holder (112). The bottom holder (112) includes a bottom slot (114). The bottom holder (112) includes a plurality of bottom lugs (116) disposed at periphery of the bottom holder (112). The bottom lug (116) defines a ring-like structure. The bottom lug (116) is angularly deviated. In an embodiment, the bottom lug (116) may be angularly deviated downwards. In another embodiment, the bottom lug (116) may be angularly deviated upwards. In another embodiment, the bottom lug (116) may be angularly deviated inwards. In another embodiment, the bottom lug (116) may be angularly deviated outwards. It should be noted that, the angular deviation of the bottom lug (116) does not limit the scope of the present invention. Further, the bottom lug (116) corresponds to the top lug (108). Each bottom lug (116) includes a bottom hole (118). The illustrated embodiment includes four bottom lugs (116). In other embodiment, the number of bottom lugs (116) may vary as per application requirement. It should be noted that the number of bottom lugs (116) does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The bottom holder (112) defines a plurality of mounting holes (120) to receive a plurality of fasteners. The fasteners removably couple the bottom holder (112) to the body of the drone. The illustrated embodiment includes four fasteners. In other embodiment, the number of fasteners may vary as per application requirement. It should be noted that the number of fasteners does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The damping element (126) is secured between the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112) using a grooved profile on the damping element (126) and a corresponding grooved profile on the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112). In other embodiments, the damping element (126) may be secured between the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112) using snap-fit connection, press-fit connection, and the like, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure.
The damping system (100) further includes a payload securing assembly (124) removably attached to the top holder (104). In the illustrated embodiment, the payload securing assembly (124) is removably attached to the top holder (104) using a glue. In other embodiment, the payload securing assembly (124) may be removably attached to the top holder (104) using other mechanical means such as bolt, screw, rivet, and the like. The payload securing assembly (124) includes a plate to be received in the top slot (106) of the top holder (104). The payload securing assembly (124) also includes a holding arrangement fixedly attached to the plate. The holding arrangement secures one or more payloads such as the camera payload, the dual sensor camera payload, the gimbal, and the like. In an assembled state, the portion of the payload securing assembly (124) is received within the bottom slot (114) of the bottom holder (112).
The damping system (100) includes a plurality of damping elements (126). Each damping element (126) is disposed between the top lug (108) and the bottom lug (116). More particularly, a top portion of the damping element (126) is received in the top hole (110) of the top lug (108) and the bottom portion of the damping element (126) is received in the bottom hole (118) of the bottom lug (116). Further, the damping elements (126) are angularly oriented such that upper portion of the damping elements (126) are angularly tilted between 10 degrees to 170 degrees. In an embodiment, the damping elements (126) may be angularly oriented downwards. In another embodiment, the damping elements (126) may be angularly oriented upwards. In another embodiment, the damping elements (126) may be angularly oriented inwards. In another embodiment, the damping elements (126) may be angularly oriented outwards. It should be noted that the angular orientation of the damping elements (126) does not limit the scope of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment includes four damping elements (126). In other embodiment, the number of damping element (126) may vary as per application requirement. It should be noted that the number of damping elements (126) does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the damping element (126) are rubber damping elements (126). In another embodiment, the damping elements (126) may include any elastic material, without limiting the scope of the disclosure.
Further, the angular disposition of the damping elements (126) provides vibration isolation during the operation of the drone. Specifically, the angular orientation of the damping elements (126) provides vibration isolation in X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis. The vibrations from the rotor or any other components of the drone are isolated in X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis.
The present invention provides an improved design of the damping system to reduce the vibration transmission to the payload. The improved design of the damping system provides better dampening effect in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, therefore, vibrations from rotor and/or any other components of the drone are not transferred to the payload.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
,CLAIMS:
1. A damping system (100) of a payload for a drone comprising:
a bottom holder (112) fixedly connected to the drone;
a top holder (104) disposed above the bottom holder (112);
a payload securing assembly (124) removably coupled to the top holder (104), the payload is removably coupled to the payload securing assembly (124); and
a plurality of damping elements (126) angularly oriented between the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112) to isolate the payload securing assembly (124) from the drone, thereby achieving vibration isolation between the payload and the drone.

2. The damping system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damping elements (126) are oriented downwards, upwards, inwards, outwards, or combination thereof.

3. The damping system (100) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the angular orientation of the elements ranges between 10 degrees to 170 degrees.

4. The damping system (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom holder (112) of the damping system (100) is fixedly connected to the drone using a plurality of fasteners.

5. The damping system (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the damping element (126) is made up of an elastic material.

6. The damping system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the damping element (126) is made up of rubber.

7. The damping system (100) as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein the damping element (126) is secured between the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112) using a grooved profile on the damping element (126) and a corresponding grooved profile on the top holder (104) and the bottom holder (112).