Aerial vehicle implement hitch assembly

Abstract

A hitch mount assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle is shown and described. The hitch mount assembly may include a mount body operatively engagable with an aerial vehicle such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), where the mount body has an attachment feature to be selectively secured to the UAV and allow for selective attachment to a plurality of UAVs. A stabilizing unit attached to the mount body. The stabilizing unit may include a gimbal mounted gyro stabilization unit. A connection plate attached to the stabilizing unit. The connection plate may be attachable to various implement assemblies.

Having thus described the invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A hitch mount assembly for an aerial vehicle comprising:
 a mount body operatively engagable with an aerial vehicle;   a rotation unit attached to the mount body;   a connection plate attached to the rotation unit wherein the connection plate is attachable to a plurality of implement assemblies and is configured to allow electronic communication between the aerial vehicle and the plurality of implement assemblies when attached to the connection plate.   
     
     
         2 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 1  wherein the connection plate is attachable to the plurality of implement assemblies, the hitch mount assembly further comprising a control unit that is configured to control actuation, rotation, or movement of an implement device associated with an implement assembly attached to the connection plate. 
     
     
         3 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 2  wherein the implement assemblies include at least one implement device such as imaging device, surveying device, agricultural tank, seeder, fertilizer sprayer, spreader, chemical/fertilizer instrument, projectile producing assembly, gurney, search and rescue equipment, sonar buoy, construction equipment, crane, and lifting device. 
     
     
         4 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one clamping mechanism to selectively secure the connection plate to one of the implement assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit attached to the hitch mount assembly or the implement assembly, the control unit in communication with at least one of the mount body, rotation unit, connection plate and clamping mechanism, the control unit is in wireless communication with a network to allow for electronic communication with a remote computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the implement assembly and the associated implement device is in electrical communication with the control unit and the aerial vehicle once the implement assembly is attached to the hitch mount assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 5 , wherein angular movement and rotational movement of the rotatable unit relative to the mount body is controlled by said control unit to align the connection plate to the implement assembly or to operate the implement device. 
     
     
         8 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 1  wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and is configured to automatically align the connection plate relative to an alignment plate attached to at least one of the implement assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 4  wherein the clamping mechanism is attached to said connection plate, wherein the clamping mechanism is automatically operable to move between an open position to align or detach the connection plate relative to an implement assembly and a closed position to secure the connection plate to the implement assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 9  further comprising an attachment member attached to said implement assembly, wherein the connection plate includes at least one electrical contact and said attachment member includes at least one electrical contact wherein the electrical contact on the connection plate is configured to be aligned with the electrical contact on the attachment member to establish electronic communication between the hitch mount assembly and the implement assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 9  wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is remotely controlled or automatically programmed to align the connection plate with the implement assembly and is remotely controlled or automatically programmed to selectively position the clamping mechanism between the open position and closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 9  wherein the mount body and the rotatable unit include a ball and socket coupling orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the mount body includes a socket that defines a cavity with a cavity opening to receive a head portion of the rotatable unit within the cavity wherein the position of the rotatable unit relative to the mount body is controlled by at least one electromagnet on the mount body or the rotatable member. 
     
     
         14 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a control unit in electronic communication with at least one of the aerial vehicle, mount body, rotatable unit, and clamping mechanism, wherein the control unit is in wireless communication with a network to allow for electronic communication with a remote computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the angular and rotational position of the rotatable unit relative to the mount body is manually or automatically controlled via the control unit. 
     
     
         16 . The hitch mount assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the connection plate includes an electromagnet that is selectively controlled to align the connection plate relative to the implement assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A method of attaching an implement assembly to an aerial vehicle comprising the steps of:
 providing a hitch mount assembly that includes a mount body attached to an aerial vehicle and a rotation unit attached to the mount body, a connection plate attached to the rotation unit;   operating the aerial vehicle to align the connection plate with an attachment member positioned on an implement assembly;   aligning electrical contacts on the connection plate with electrical contacts on the attachment member; and   actuating a clamping mechanism from an open position to a closed position to secure the connection plate to the attachment member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 controlling the angle and position of the rotation unit relative to the mount body to align the connection plate with said attachment member. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 selectively operating an electromagnet to align the position of the connection plate with said attachment member. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 after actuating the clamping mechanism, calibrating the hitch mount assembly to verify that electrical data connection or power connection has been established between the aerial vehicle and the implement assembly.