Automated Drone Charging Hub with a Locking Arm
This patent describes a special charging station for drones that can move out to meet the drone, connect to it, and then lock it in place while it charges.
Original patent title: “Charging hubs in base stations for unmanned aerial vehicles including locking mechanisms”
This patent describes a special charging station for drones that can move out to meet the drone, connect to it, and then lock it in place while it charges. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a charging hub designed for a drone base station. When a drone needs to charge, this hub can move, or 'reposition,' from a hidden 'retracted position' to an 'extended position' to meet the drone during docking. The hub includes a 'charger subassembly' which makes an electrical connection to the drone. Crucially, it also has a 'locking mechanism' that can pivot. This mechanism moves between a 'passive position' (when not in use) and an 'active position' where it engages with the drone to securely hold the charging hub to the drone while it charges. For example, a delivery drone could land on a base station, and this hub would extend, connect to the drone's charging port, and then a pivoting arm would swing into place to hold the drone firmly during charging.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover charging hubs that are fixed and do not move between a retracted and an extended position.
- Does not cover locking mechanisms that secure the drone without pivoting, such as those that slide, clamp, or use magnetic force.
- Does not cover systems where the drone itself repositions the charging hub, rather than the hub being repositionable.
- Does not cover charging systems that do not include a separate locking mechanism to secure the drone during charging.
- Does not cover manual drone charging or docking processes that require human intervention.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining a charging hub that can reposition itself (extend and retract) with a specifically pivotable locking mechanism. This allows for flexible docking, accommodating slight variations in a drone's landing, while ensuring a secure, stable electrical connection through a mechanical lock during charging.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Drone delivery services like Zipline or Wing
Autonomous inspection drones for industrial sites
Security and surveillance drones with automated patrol routes
Agricultural drones used for crop monitoring and spraying
Drone-in-a-box solutions for remote monitoring
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Automated drone operations, such as package delivery, infrastructure inspection, or security surveillance, rely heavily on efficient and reliable charging. This technology aims to make drone charging fully autonomous, allowing drones to operate for longer periods without human intervention. By providing a secure and repositionable charging connection, it helps ensure drones can reliably recharge and continue their missions.
Filed
April 25, 2025
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like American Robotics, Skydio, and various drone infrastructure startups are actively developing and deploying automated docking and charging solutions. Major drone manufacturers such as DJI and Autel also integrate or support such systems to enhance the autonomy of their platforms. Logistics companies like Amazon and UPS are exploring similar technologies to support future drone delivery networks.
Market impact
This type of technology is crucial for expanding the capabilities of autonomous drones. It enables longer mission durations and reduces the need for human intervention, which can lower operational costs and increase efficiency for drone-based services. It contributes to the development of a robust infrastructure for drone logistics, inspection, and security, potentially opening new markets for drone applications that require continuous, unassisted operation.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a charging hub designed for a drone base station. When a drone needs to charge, this hub can move, or 'reposition,' from a hidden 'retracted position' to an 'extended position' to meet the drone during docking. The hub includes a 'charger subassembly' which makes an electrical connection to the drone. Crucially, it also has a 'locking mechanism' that can pivot. This mechanism moves between a 'passive position' (when not in use) and an 'active position' where it engages with the drone to securely hold the charging hub to the drone while it charges. For example, a delivery drone could land on a base station, and this hub would extend, connect to the drone's charging port, and then a pivoting arm would swing into place to hold the drone firmly during charging.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining a charging hub that can reposition itself (extend and retract) with a specifically pivotable locking mechanism. This allows for flexible docking, accommodating slight variations in a drone's landing, while ensuring a secure, stable electrical connection through a mechanical lock during charging.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover charging hubs that are fixed and do not move between a retracted and an extended position.
- Does not cover locking mechanisms that secure the drone without pivoting, such as those that slide, clamp, or use magnetic force.
- Does not cover systems where the drone itself repositions the charging hub, rather than the hub being repositionable.
- Does not cover charging systems that do not include a separate locking mechanism to secure the drone during charging.
- Does not cover manual drone charging or docking processes that require human intervention.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$11K – $35K
Midpoint $22K · 18.5 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Automated Drone Charging Hub with a Locking Arm (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,211). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735211/charging-hubs-in-base-stations-for-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-including-locking
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Automated Drone Charging Hub with a Locking Arm cover?
This patent describes a special charging station for drones that can move out to meet the drone, connect to it, and then lock it in place while it charges.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Automated drone operations, such as package delivery, infrastructure inspection, or security surveillance, rely heavily on efficient and reliable charging. This technology aims to make drone charging fully autonomous, allowing drones to operate for longer periods without human intervention. By providing a secure and repositionable charging connection, it helps ensure drones can reliably recharge and continue their missions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover charging hubs that are fixed and do not move between a retracted and an extended position.
Patent monitoring