# US 12,179,902 B2 · Smart cargo bay door(s) for a UAV > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,902 B2 - Document ID: US12179902B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/864,975 - Filed: 2022-07-14 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-14 - Assignees: Wing Aviation LLC - Applicants: Wing Aviation LLC - Inventors: Jesse Blake; Andre Prager; Evan Twyford; Ivan Qiu; Jasper Lewin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179902B2 ## CPC - B64C 1/1415: {Cargo doors, e.g. incorporating ramps} - B64C 1/22: Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading {, e.g. cargo bays, cranes} - B64C 39/024: {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV} - B64D 1/22: Taking-up articles from earth's surface - B64U 10/13: Flying platforms - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - B64U 2101/64: for parcel delivery or retrieval - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## Abstract An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect when the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising: a fuselage body including: a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; a motor operable to open and close the cargo bay door; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect a current of the motor to determine whether the payload is exerting a force on the cargo bay door to provide an indication that the payload has been detached from the winch system and/or the payload has been lowered by the tether onto the cargo bay door such that the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to a first side of a bottom surface of the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a longitudinally extending first hinge, and a second door rotatably attached to a second side of the bottom surface of the fuselage body on a first edge of the second door with a longitudinally extending second hinge; and wherein the cargo door may be opened by rotating the first door about the first hinge such that a second edge of the first door extends downwardly, and by rotating the second door about the second hinge such that a second edge of the second door extends downwardly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to a first side of the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a longitudinally extending first hinge, and a second door rotatably attached to a second side of the fuselage body on a first edge of the second door with a longitudinally extending second hinge; and wherein the cargo door may be opened by rotating the first door about the first hinge such that a second edge of the first door extends downwardly, and by rotating the second door about the second hinge such that a second edge of the second door extends downwardly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The UAV of claim 3, wherein the first door comprises a first section hingedly attached to a second section of the first door with a longitudinally extending third hinge, and the second door comprises a first section hingedly attached to a second section of the second door with a longitudinally extending fourth hinge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The UAV of claim 4, wherein the third hinge and the fourth hinge comprise a living hinge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The UAV of claim 4, wherein the third hinge on the first door extends along an intersection of the first side of the fuselage body and a bottom surface of the fuselage body, and the fourth hinge on the second door extends along an intersection of the second side of the fuselage body and the bottom surface of the fuselage body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to a first side of a bottom surface of the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a laterally extending first hinge, and a second door rotatably attached to a second side of the bottom surface of the fuselage body on a first edge of the second door with a laterally extending second hinge; and wherein the cargo bay door may be opened by rotating the first door about the first hinge such that a second edge of the first door extends downwardly, and by rotating the second door about the second hinge such that a second edge of the second door extends downwardly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to a first side of a bottom surface of the fuselage on a first edge of the first door with a longitudinally extending first hinge; and wherein the cargo door may be opened by rotating the first door about the first hinge such that a second edge of the first door extends downwardly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to a first side of a bottom surface of the fuselage on a first edge of the first door with a laterally extending first hinge; and wherein the cargo door may be opened by rotating the first door about the first hinge such that a second edge of the first door extends downwardly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slats flexibly connected to each other such that the cargo bay door may be retracted into the cavity of the cargo bay to open access to the lower access opening of the cargo bay. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slats flexibly connected to each other such that the cargo bay door may be retracted to an edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay in an accordion-like manner to open access to the lower access opening of the cargo bay. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The UAV of claim 11, wherein the edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay is a longitudinally extending edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The UAV of claim 11, wherein the edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay is a laterally extending edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1 wherein the cargo bay door is adapted to be rolled up to an edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The UAV of claim 14, wherein the edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay is a longitudinally extending edge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The UAV of claim 14, wherein the edge of the lower access opening of the cargo bay is a laterally extending edge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the motor is a servo motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a latch which can be monitored to ensure that the cargo bay door is in a closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The UAV of claim 1, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a first hinge, and includes a second door rotatably to the fuselage body with a second hinge; wherein first and second doors of the cargo bay door may be retracted inwardly into the cavity of the cargo bay. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The UAV of claim 19, wherein when the first and second doors of the cargo bay door are retracted inwardly into the cargo bay, a current of the motor is be used to determine whether a payload is present in the cavity of the cargo bay, as when the first door and second doors of the cargo bay door contact the payload there is a rise in the current of the motor indicating that the payload is present in the cargo bay. ### Claim 21 An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising: a fuselage body including: a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload; and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; a motor operable to open and close the cargo bay door; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect a current of the motor to determine whether the payload is exerting a force on the cargo bay door to provide an indication that the payload has been detached from the winch system and/or the payload has been lowered by the tether onto the cargo bay door such that the payload is in contact with the cargo bay door. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The UAV of claim 21, wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a first hinge, and includes a second door rotatably to the fuselage body with a second hinge; and wherein a motor is used to open and close the first and second doors of the cargo bay door, and wherein when the first and second doors of the cargo bay door are retracted inwardly into the cargo bay, a current of the motor is used to determine whether a payload is present in the cavity of the cargo bay, as when the first door and/or second doors of the cargo bay door contact the payload there is a rise in the current of the motor indicating that the payload is present in the cargo bay. ### Claim 23 A method comprising: providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage body including a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect contact between the payload and the cargo bay door; and using the cargo bay door monitor to detect contact between the payload and the cargo bay door; wherein the cargo bay door monitor is a current of a motor; wherein the cargo bay door includes a first door rotatably attached to the fuselage body on a first edge of the first door with a first hinge, and a second door rotatably attached to the fuselage body on a first edge of the second door with a second hinge; and further including retracting the first and second doors of the cargo bay door inwardly into the cavity of the cargo bay using the motor; and measuring the current of the motor to determine whether a payload is present in the cavity of the cargo bay, as when the first and/or second doors of the cargo bay door contact the payload there is a rise in the current of the motor indicating that the payload is present in the cargo bay. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method claim 23, further including opening the cargo bay door with a motor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further including closing the cargo bay door with the motor.