# US 12,761,006 B2 · Unmanned vehicle with multiple payload platforms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,761,006 B2 - Document ID: US12761006B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/133,942 - Filed: 2023-04-12 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-12 - Assignees: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company - Applicants: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company - Inventors: Edris Raji; Kurt Nelson; Matthew Bragoni; Andrew M. Kochanek; John Fiske; Craig Boucher; John A. Graham; Jarrett Jacobsen; John Benner; Scott Crespi; Michael Ronzello; Glen Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761006B2 ## CPC - F42C 15/42: from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields - B64D 1/04: the articles being explosive, e.g. bombs - B64U 10/13: Flying platforms - F42C 11/006: {for fall bombs} - F42C 11/06: with time delay by electric circuitry - B64U 2101/15: for conventional or electronic warfare - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30) - 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 vehicle and a method of operating the vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a fuselage and at least one thrust device coupled to the fuselage. A first payload module having an first attachment plate is fixedly coupled to the fuselage, the first payload module further having a first control module removably coupled to the first attachment plate and a first payload having a first energetic element. A second payload module having an second attachment plate is fixedly coupled to the fuselage adjacent the first payload module, the second payload module further having a second control module removably coupled to the second attachment plate and a second payload having a second energetic element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An unmanned vehicle comprising: a fuselage; at least one thrust device coupled to the fuselage; a first payload module having an first attachment plate fixedly coupled to the fuselage, the first attachment plate having an interlock feature, the first payload module further having a first control module removably coupled to the first attachment plate and a first payload having a first energetic element; a second payload module having an second attachment plate fixedly coupled to the fuselage adjacent the first payload module, the second payload module further having a second control module removably coupled to the second attachment plate and a second payload having a second energetic element; wherein the first control module further includes a pin arranged to engage the interlock feature and move from a first position to a second position when the first payload module is coupled to the first attachment plate; and wherein the first control module includes an energy source and an electrical circuit that are electrically coupled in response to the movement of the pin from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 2 An unmanned vehicle comprising: a fuselage; at least one thrust device coupled to the fuselage; a first payload module having an first attachment plate fixedly coupled to the fuselage, the first payload module further having a first control module removably coupled to the first attachment plate and a first payload having a first energetic element; a second payload module having an second attachment plate fixedly coupled to the fuselage adjacent the first payload module, the second payload module further having a second control module removably coupled to the second attachment plate and a second payload having a second energetic element; wherein the first control module includes one or more first processors and a first power source, the first control module having a first feature configured to be movable from a first position to a second position when the first control module is coupled to the first attachment plate, the one or more first processors being energized when the first feature is moved from the first position to the second position; and wherein the second control module includes one or more second processors and a second power source, the second control module having a feature configured to be movable from a third position to a fourth position when the second control module is coupled to the second attachment plate, the one or more second processors being energized when the second feature is moved from the third position to the fourth position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The unmanned vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first feature is removable from the first control module when in the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The unmanned vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first control module is operably couple to communicate with a control device, the control device being remote from the control module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The unmanned vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first control module further includes a communications circuit that is operably coupled to the one or more processors and is coupled to communicate with the control device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The unmanned vehicle of claim 5, wherein the first control device is coupled to communicate with the communications circuit in response to the second feature being operably coupled to the control device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The unmanned vehicle of claim 5, wherein the first control module further includes a first static arming inhibit element operably coupled to the one or more first processors, the one or more first processors being configures to close the first static arming inhibit element in response to a first signal from the control device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The unmanned vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first control module further includes an electromechanical device operably coupled to the one or more first processors and the first energy source, the electromechanical device being movable from an extended position to a retracted position, the electromechanical device being operably coupled to the attachment plate, the first control module being decoupled from the attachment plate when the electromechanical device is in the retracted position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The unmanned vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first control module is separable from the unmanned vehicle independently of the second control module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The unmanned vehicle of claim 8, wherein the one or more first processors are further configured to close a dynamic arming inhibit element in response to an expiration of a timer, the dynamic arming inhibit element being electrically coupled to the energy source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The unmanned vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first control module includes a high voltage capacitor operably coupled to the dynamic arming inhibit element and to a low energy exploding foil initiator, the low energy exploding foil initiator being electrically coupled between the dynamic arming inhibit and the energetic element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The unmanned vehicle of claim 11, wherein the one or more first processors are further configured to close a firing switch in response to a third signal from the control device, the firing switch being electrically coupled between the high voltage capacitor and the low energy exploding foil initiator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first energetic element and the second energetic element are one of fragmentary rounds, high explosives, thermite, or shaped charges. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to wirelessly transmit a signal in response to the pin being operably coupled to the controller; wherein the electrical circuit includes a communications circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The unmanned vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit further includes a first static arming inhibit element, the electrical circuit being configured to close the first static arming inhibit element in response to receiving the signal from the control device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The unmanned vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to close a dynamic arming inhibit element in response to an expiration of a timer, the dynamic arming inhibit element being electrically coupled to the energy source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The unmanned vehicle of claim 15, wherein the electrical circuit includes a high voltage capacitor operably coupled to the dynamic arming inhibit element and to a low energy exploding foil initiator, the low energy exploding foil initiator being electrically coupled between the dynamic arming inhibit and the energetic element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The unmanned vehicle of claim 16, wherein the electrical circuit further configured to close a firing switch in response to receiving the signal from the control device, the firing switch being electrically coupled between the high voltage capacitor and the low energy exploding foil initiator.