Loading patent…
OwnerKevin Schlosser, Curt Eshbaugh +3inventors
InventorsKevin Schlosser, Curt Eshbaugh, Joel Markham, Clifford T. Gunsallus, James W. Bacon
Estimating the term…
Some embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus enabling multiple unmanned cargo deliveries in a single mission. An assembly having multiple hooks may be coupled to an unmanned vehicle via a cable. Prior to a mission originating at a starting location, multiple cargo loads may each be loaded on to a respective pallet, wrapped in a cargo delivery net, and attached to one of the hooks. A ground controller may instruct the unmanned vehicle to deliver the cargo loads to separate locations. The unmanned delivery vehicle may navigate to a first delivery location, perform delivery of a first cargo load by causing the hook on the assembly to release the first load, autonomously exit the first location and navigate to a second delivery location without returning to the starting location, and perform delivery of a second cargo load by causing the hook on the assembly to release the second load.
A method, comprising acts of:
At least one computer for enabling an unmanned vehicle to deliver a plurality of separate cargo loads in a single delivery mission, the plurality of cargo loads being loaded to the unmanned vehicle at a starting location, the at least one computer comprising:
At least one computer-readable storage device having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by at least one computer, perform a method of enabling an unmanned vehicle to deliver a plurality of separate cargo loads in a single delivery mission, the plurality of cargo loads being loaded to the unmanned vehicle at a starting location, the method comprising acts of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.