Autonomous payload deployment aircraft

An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation, the aircraft comprising:

• an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween;
• a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe, the thrust array including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing;
• a cargo pod coupled between the first and second pylons, the cargo pod rotatable between a loading configuration substantially perpendicular to the wings and a transportation and deployment configuration substantially parallel to the wings;
• and
• a flight control system configured to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies and autonomously deploy a payload from the cargo pod at a desired location;
• wherein, the cargo pod has a payload support assembly and a payload deployment assembly, the payload support assembly including a rail system having first and second rails respectively disposed on inner portions of first and second sides of the cargo pod configured to receive the payload, and a cable system disposed on an inner portion of a forward end of the cargo pod, the cable system including a cable configured to couple with the payload and retract the payload toward the forward end of the cargo pod to the secure the payload in the cargo pod, the payload deployment assembly configured to extend the cable such that the payload travels along the rails toward an aft end of the cargo pod, exits the aft end of the cargo pod and rotates approximately ninety degrees to self-orient, and to release the payload responsive to the flight control system.

An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation, the aircraft comprising:

• an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween;
• a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe, the thrust array including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing;
• a cargo pod coupled between the first and second pylons, the cargo pod rotatable between a loading configuration substantially perpendicular to the wings and a transportation and deployment configuration substantially parallel to the wings;
• and
• a flight control system configured to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies and autonomously deploy a payload from the cargo pod at a desired location;
• wherein, the cargo pod has a payload support assembly and a payload deployment assembly, the payload support assembly including a rail system having first and second rails respectively disposed on inner portions of first and second sides of the cargo pod and a gate system extending spanwise between the first and second rails, the gate system slidably positionable and lockable relative to the rail system to define a variable payload cavity configurable based upon the size of the payload and configured to the secure the payload in the cargo pod, the payload deployment assembly configured to pivotably operate a gate of the gate system from a closed position and an open position to release the payload from the cargo pod responsive to the flight control system.