UAV having a rotatable cargo bay

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a fuselage body;
• a rotatable cargo bay positioned in the fuselage body for transporting a payload, the rotatable cargo bay having an entrance for receiving the payload;
• an actuator positioned in the fuselage body operable to rotate the rotatable cargo bay about a pivot axis;
• wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a first position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is accessible through a first opening in an upper portion of the fuselage body and provides for the positioning of the payload into the rotatable cargo bay;
• wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a second position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is positioned within, and covered by, at least a portion of the fuselage body during transport of the payload;
• and
• wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a third position, where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is accessible through a second opening in a lower portion of the fuselage body to allow for exiting of the payload from the rotatable cargo bay.

A method comprising:

• providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a wing attached to a fuselage body, a rotatable cargo bay positioned in the fuselage body for transporting a payload, the rotatable cargo bay having an entrance for receiving the payload, an actuator positioned in the fuselage body operable to rotate the rotatable cargo bay about a pivot axis, wherein the rotatable cargo bay is upwardly rotatable into a first position where the entrance of the cargo bay is positioned above the fuselage body to allow for entry of the payload into the rotatable cargo bay, and the rotatable cargo bay extends through an opening in an upper surface of the fuselage body, wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a second position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is positioned within the fuselage body during transport of the payload, and wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a third position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is positioned below the fuselage body to allow for exiting of the payload from the rotatable cargo bay, and the rotatable cargo bay extends through an opening in a lower surface of the fuselage body;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the first position;
• receiving the payload in the rotatable cargo bay;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the second position for transport;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the third position, and
• dropping the payload from the rotatable cargo bay.

A method comprising:

• providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body;
• a rotatable cargo bay positioned in the fuselage body for transporting a payload, the rotatable cargo bay having an entrance for receiving the payload;
• an actuator positioned in the fuselage body operable to rotate the rotatable cargo bay about a pivot axis;
• wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a first position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is accessible through a first opening in an upper portion of the fuselage body and provides for the positioning of the payload into the rotatable cargo bay;
• wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a second position where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is positioned within, and covered by, at least a portion of the fuselage body during transport of the payload;
• and wherein the rotatable cargo bay is rotatable into a third position, where the entrance of the rotatable cargo bay is accessible through a second opening in a lower portion of the fuselage body to allow for exiting of the payload from the rotatable cargo bay;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the first position;
• receiving the payload in the rotatable cargo bay;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the second position for transport;
• rotating the rotatable cargo bay into the third position, and
• dropping the payload from the rotatable cargo bay.