Package retrieval system with funneling mechanism
AssigneeWing Aviation LLC
InventorsAndre Prager, Ivan Qiu, Jasper Lewin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A payload retrieval apparatus is provided including a stand or base, wherein the base or stand has an upper end and a lower end, a first sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base, a second sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base and adjacent the first sloped surface, a tether slot positioned in a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel positioned under or near the first sloped surface, and a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel, wherein the payload holder is adapted to secure a payload.
Claims20
A payload retrieval apparatus comprising:
- a stand or base, wherein the base or stand has an upper end and a lower end;
- a first sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base;
- a second sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base and adjacent the first sloped surface;
- wherein there is an opening to a first tether slot positioned between the first and second sloped surfaces to allow a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV to travel into a channel that is positioned on the payload retrieval apparatus;
- wherein the first tether slot has a width that is less than a width of the payload retriever;
- a second tether slot positioned in the channel having a first end and a second end;
- and
- a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel, wherein the payload holder is adapted to secure a payload.
A system for payload retrieval comprising:
- a stand or base, wherein the stand or base has an upper end and a lower end;
- a funneling system positioned above the stand or base;
- wherein the funneling system is configured to funnel a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV downwardly towards an entrance to a first tether slot leading to a channel;
- a second tether slot positioned in the channel, the channel having a first end and a second end;
- wherein the first and second tether slots have a width that is less than a width of the payload retriever;
- and
- a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel and is adapted to secure a payload.
A method of a retrieving a payload with a UAV, comprising:
- causing the UAV having a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from the UAV to vertically deliver the payload retriever onto a funneling system of a payload retrieval apparatus;
- wherein there is an opening at the bottom of the funneling system to a first tether slot positioned between first and second sloped surfaces to allow the payload retriever attached to the tether suspended from the UAV to travel into a channel that is positioned on the payload retrieval apparatus;
- wherein the first tether slot has a width that is less than a width of the payload retriever;
- a second tether slot positioned in the channel having a first end and a second end;
- causing the payload retriever to slide down the funneling system;
- causing the UAV to advance the payload retriever into the channel of the payload retrieval apparatus;
- causing the UAV to advance the payload retriever until the payload retriever engages a handle of the payload;
- and
- causing the UAV to pick up the payload by the payload retriever thereby disengaging the payload from a payload holder of the payload retrieval apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.