System, method and station for landing of a drone

Abstract

In an aspect there are disclosed examples systems ( 10, 110 ) for the landing and handling of a drone ( 1 ), the system ( 10, 100 ) may include a moveable platform ( 16, 116 ) on which the drone ( 1 ) is supportable in a landed state; a space ( 14, 114 ) dimensioned to receive the platform ( 16, 116 ) and drone ( 1 ) in the landed state, a first closable barrier ( 17, 117 ) arranged between the drone ( 1 ) in the landed state and an external environment; a second closable barrier ( 18, 118 ) arranged between the drone ( 1 ) in the landed state and a passenger zone adjacent the space ( 22, 122 ); and a control arrangement ( 205 ) configured to selectively operate the platform ( 16, 116 ), the first closable barrier ( 17, 117 ) and the second closable barrier ( 18, 118 ) between: a first condition, in which the first closable barrier ( 17, 117 ) is in an open condition, the second closable barrier ( 18, 118 ) is in a closed condition and the drone ( 1 ) is landable on the platform ( 16, 116 ), and a second condition, in which the platform ( 16, 116 ) and drone ( 1 ) in the landed state are receivable by the space ( 22, 122 ), the first closable barrier ( 17, 117 ) is movable to a closed condition, and the second closable barrier ( 18, 118 ) is moveable to an open condition.

1 . A system for landing a drone, the system including:
 a moveable platform on which the drone is supportable in a landed state;   a space dimensioned to receive the platform and drone in the landed state, a first closable barrier arranged between the drone in the landed state and an external environment;   a second closable barrier arranged between the drone in the landed state and a passenger zone adjacent the space; and   a control arrangement configured to selectively operate the platform, the first closable barrier and the second closable barrier between:   a first condition, in which the first closable barrier is in an open condition, the second closable barrier is in a closed condition and the drone is landable on the platform, and   a second condition, in which the platform and drone in the landed state are receivable by the space, the first closable barrier is movable to a closed condition, and the second closable barrier is moveable to an open condition.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control arrangement is adapted to determine an operating state of the drone in the second condition being in one of a safe and a non-safe state, and inhibit operation of the second closable barrier in the non-safe state. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control arrangement is adapted to determine an operating state of the drone in the first condition being in one of a safe and a non-safe state, and inhibit movement of the platform to within the space in a non-safe state. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the control arrangement includes at least one of a sensor and a communication link with the drone to determine the operating state of the drone. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the platform includes at least one sensor adapted to provide information to enable the control arrangement to determine the operating state of the drone. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the safe state includes at least one of the drone body and rotors of the drone ceasing movement. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control arrangement is adapted identify an approaching drone, and move the platform, the first closable barrier and the second closable barrier to the first condition. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein in the second condition, the control arrangement is configured to move the first closable barrier to the closed condition. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system includes:
 a first opening between the external environment and the space, and wherein the first closable barrier is located at the first opening; and   a second opening between the space and the passenger zone, and wherein the second closable barrier is located at the second opening.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second closable barriers are arranged to substantially cover the respective first and second openings of the space in respective closed conditions. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the control arrangement includes actuators coupled to each of the first and second closable barriers. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system includes pluralities of spaces, first and second closable barriers and platforms, and wherein the control arrangement is configured to coordinate the movement of the pluralities of the first and second closable barriers and the platforms so as to allow operation of pluralities of drones to each of the pluralities of the spaces. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is adapted to carry the drone into the space when being moved between the first condition and the second condition. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is adapted to convey the drone into the space when being moved between the first condition and the second condition. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is adapted to extend and retract relative to the space when being moved between the first condition and the second condition. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the space when being moved between the first condition and the second condition. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the passenger zone is at least partially enclosed. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform at least one of carries and provides the first closable barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the drone is a passenger or freight drone. 
     
     
         20 . A structure including a system as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 - 40 . (canceled)