Description

Traditionally, the areas and space above the top of the drone's D(l) propulsion apparatus D(3), like propellers, etc., are kept unobstructed or mostly unobstructed for airflow creating thrust and lift. This creates constraints for drones' design as currently no applications D(8), functions D(9) and purpose D(10) for drones to have their top area fully covered due to these constraints.

This patent discloses a novel drone design with a novel top cover D(4) and Figure 1:(A), aka the invention covering the drone's top area, including its propulsion system. The invention also discloses methodologies claims herein to support the invention and further discloses claims herein of the possible applications D(8), functions D(9) and purpose D(10) of the invention. The claims stated should not be assumed as limitations of any applications, functions, and purpose of the invention.

An inventive step and objective of this disclosure are introducing a novel top cover that can fully cover the areas or more over the propulsion apparatus of the drone (4). That is made possible by including sufficient airspace in-between the propulsion apparatus and top cover. This unique step allows the top cover to be fully covered, allowing full usage of the area (1) above the top of any drone. (5) between the drone propulsion system with supports (6) and directing airflow intake to the sides (6). This airflow intake design will allow drone design to utilise the areas and spaces above its propulsion apparatus (3) and system for any applications (8), functions (9) and purpose (10).

An objective of this invention and its embodiments disclose a novel methodology (12) that optimises the structural layout design of the drone's propulsion apparatus (3). In an inventive step, the propulsion apparatuses of the drone are arranged in the circumference of geometrical shapes. The structural members follow the geometrical shapes where the propulsion apparatuses are located (Figure 2), (B). Necessary stiffeners or supports are allowed in various geometrical shapes offset or extended from the structural circumference. Secondary members (C) for flight systems and components can additionally stem from this main structural member in variable designs. This methodology is unique and differs from current variations of drone structural design (Figure 3), (D), where structural members converge towards the centre, where most flight components and systems and payloads are generally located. Another object of this second methodology is to maximise the usable space between the propulsion apparatuses and flight systems (3) for increased spatial payload for a drone.

Another objective of this invention and its embodiments disclose a novel idea & methodology (13) for actively adjusting and moving the position of the Drone's Propulsion apparatuses (1) towards each other or further away from each other for a purposeful reason to achieve different characteristics of aerodynamics, drone's thrust, movement and control for the invention (Figure 1), (E). Current Drone's Propulsion apparatuses (1) are either fixed or folded for compactness or storage. The idea, descriptions, and claims should not be assumed or inferred as limitations of any applications, functions, and purpose of the disclosed invention, idea, and methodologies (11).

The other objective of this invention and its embodiments further disclose and claim some novel safety features and drone enhancements like Active Bumpers (14), Stacked Up (15) (Figure 4) & Linked up (16) (Figure 5) & for enhanced applications and functionalities disclosed but not limited to social media applications and blockchain system integration.

An object to remove the constraint of drone design manifests the

D(l) "Areas above the top of drones" refers to the open airspace above the propulsion system D(3), usually unobstructed, minimally encroached, unblocked or visually obscure but mostly unblocked, true of the current drone's design. This described area is not limited or constrained and can extend beyond the area of the Propulsion apparatus (C) based on applications (8), functions (9) and purpose (10) of the invention.

D(2) Current drone design configurations are named but not limited to references like MultiRotors, Single-Rotor, Fixed-Wing & Fixed-Wing Hybrid, etc. As shown in (Figure 2)

D(3 ) Propulsion apparatus (C) describes the types of lift generation apparatus in a system used for drones, namely but not limited to references like Propellers, Ducted fans, Turbines, Rotors, Fans, Fans blades, etc. Air, water, or other forms of ambient media are usually sucked in from the top and through a combination of techniques like propulsion, compression and expansion, combustion, ionisation, or any forms of velocity creation to create thrust (3-1).

D(4) Describe the novel idea of using a top cover design supported above the drone (1) aka. The invention manifested in (Figure 1) and its exemplified embodiment (A). This invention can be adapted to any current or future drone design without constraints except for its being a top cover that can be manifested in any shape, form, and material and in the combination of any features, functions, and applications stated in this patent application.

D(5) The first disclosed Methodology herein describes and claims the ways the manifested invention can be feasible by designing airspace (1) between the top cover (A), and this works together to form this invention (4). The required airspace is calculated based on the maximum intake flow rate of the propulsion apparatuses (3), which will determine the desired efficiency. There is no limitation on the efficiency desired as it is dependent on applications (8), functions (9) and purpose (10) of the invention. This airspace can be fixed, actively or passively increased, decreased or tilted in any direction as designed or as desired using any available standard methods for different applications (8), functions (9) and purposes (10) using the invention.

D(6) "Support" describes the manifested supporting element/s in (Figures 1, 2 & 3) and its manifested embodiment/s (D) between the top cover (A) or member/s for landing, connectivity, and other purposes. Such elements and supports can be a singular or plurality of points and members and can be fixed, pivotal, mobile in part or whole, motorised or not, and without limits depending on the applications (8), functions (9) and purpose (10) of the invention.

D(7) "Airflow intake to the sides" describes the way air is diverted entirely or as required from the top to the sides with the introduction of a top cover (4), allowing the whole top of the drone to be used without concerns of airflow for any applications (8), functions (9) and purpose (10) using the invention.

D(8) "Applications" describe the applied uses of the top cover and its manifested embodiment in Figure 1:(A), for example, as a loading bearing area and space for the drone's payload as a delivery drone in Figure 1. The application of the top cover is not limited to what is stated here as an example and can adapt to any past, present, and future applications.

D(9) "Functions" describe the uses of the top cover; for example, function as a wing for the drone embodied in Figure 1:(A) that can be fixed, movable or partially movable in any direction, part or whole limited only by design. The function of the top cover is not limited to what is stated here as an example and can adapt to any past, present, and future functions. D(10) "Purposes" describes the reason for the top cover (4) existence, for example, to increase usable space on top of any drone while functioning as a wing for long-range applications (Figure 1) or as a power generator using renewable energies. The purpose of the top cover is not limited to what is stated here as an example and can adapt to any past, present, and future purposes.

D(ll) The methodologies, descriptions, claims, and examples stated for clarity in this disclosure should not be assumed or inferred as limitations and or constraints of any applications, functions, and purposes that can adapt the use of the disclosed invention.

D(12) Second, disclosed Methodology herein describes and claims the ways the manifested invention is adapted to a novel design of supporting all the propulsion apparatuses by using a unique structural design embodied in Figure 3 :(B) that typically directly connects to the nearest propulsion apparatus in a sequential manner without the need to have any structural members converging towards the centre. This will usually form a geometrical shape. Traditional & current drone design configurations always have main or supporting structural members converging towards the centre, shown in Figure 2:(B), where the flight controller, electronic speed controller/s, batteries, cameras, payload, etc., usually resides. An embodiment of this novel design configuration allows the flight controller, electronic speed controller/s, batteries, cameras, payload, etc., to be built into this unique structural design for a drone. This will allow batteries to contribute as structural members and frees up the centre space for additional payload or other purposes.

D(13) Third disclosed a novel idea & methodology herein for this invention in Figure 4, its embodiments or as a standalone application, describes and claims idea & method for utilising actuators, motors, gears, hydraulics, racks & pinions, joints or other current available means to adjust actively and move at point Figure 4: ( E) the position of the Drone's Propulsion apparatuses towards each other or further away from each other for purposeful reason/s to achieve narrower form factor, characteristics of aerodynamics, flight aerodynamics, drone's thrust, movement and control for any Drone using the invention. The disclosed methodology for this idea is not limited to and can be by shifting the Drone's Propulsion apparatuses or shortening or lengthening the structural member/s that the Drone's Propulsion apparatuses are mounted on. The idea, methodologies, descriptions, and claims stated should not be assumed or inferred as limitations of any applications, functions, and purpose of the disclosed invention, idea and methodologies.

D(14) "Active bumpers" located all around can trigger customisable anti-collision manoeuvres and deploy protective measures like airbags or any other systems without limitations and constraints for their design, applications, functions, and purposes. Figure 5:(F) shows the manifested embodiment. Active bumpers Figure 5:(F) can also function as propeller guards to prevent injuries and damage from spinning propellers.

D(15) "Stacked up" drones can land on top of each other and can also be securely attached or not regardless of sizes and configurations without limitations and constraints for their design, applications, functions, and purposes.

D(16) "Linked up" drones can physically link up as they land on top of each other by any lower support members Figure 1 :(D), dedicated connectors or even wirelessly. Functions such as flight control, telemetry, and battery power can be connected via any form of connection like magnetic contact and proximity wireless exchange technologies. They can adapt to past, present, and future technologies without limitations and constraints for their design, applications, functions, and purposes.

D(17) Fourth disclosure describes a novel idea and application to use any or combination of land, sea or air drones with or without other features for the application and purpose of delivering any tangible item/s or visible message displayed by a drone to each other or performing other functions as instructed by social media users and consumers of social media apps including crossplatforms capabilities. (For example, but not limited to WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, Linkedln, etc.). The novel idea is the integration and use of Drone/s to perform an autonomous action/s by a User of any social media application to another social media User/s using any social media platform/s. So instead of sending messages, attaching digital files, documents, photos, videos etc.; A user can now connect a drone and have any tangible item/s sent to the other user's location. There are no restrictions on determining the sender's and recipient's locations. It can be selected for an available drop-off/ pick up point or even at the latest location specified by their social media app with due permissions from all parties. (Figure 7) Depicts and describes a manifestation and embodiments of this novel idea and uses.

Scenariol: After placing the tangible item with the drone, User A sent a Social Media text message and attached a drone to User B, as shown in Figure 7:(1). The drone/s autonomously calculates the best route considering all factors and constraints programmed (A. I.) to the destination and performs waypoints as shown in Figure 7:(2) and as shown in Figure 7:(3) to reach User B's location. Drone's positions and ETA will be updated to User A & User B via their Social Media Applications.

Scenario 2: User B instructs his drone to do a pickup from Figure 7: Mac Diner.

D(18) In combination with one or more disclosures and features above, the fifth disclosure describes a novel idea for the drones to land on top of each other and land beside each other in a container or an open area. Without the need for additional support, the drones will be able to form a storage warehouse anywhere, as manifested in Figure 7:(G)

D(19) Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Multi-Rotors Quadcopter model drone embodying the new design.

D(20) Figure 2 shows traditional & current drone design configurations where propulsion apparatuses are directly connected structurally with structural members towards the centre.

D(21) Figure 3 shows new drone design configurations where propulsion apparatuses are directly connected structurally to the nearest one without the need for structural members towards the centre.

D(22) Figure 4 shows the normal drone form factors transformation to narrow form factors.

D(23) Figure 5 shows new drone design configurations with the addition of Active Bumpers:(F)

D(24) Figure 6 is a perspective view of Multi-Rotors Quadcopter model drones embodying the new design manifesting its vertical "Stack-up" and "Linked-up" features.

D(25) Figure 7 embodies its new design and features that can be applied to perform autonomous tasks in the novel application to social media applications.