Payload Coupling Apparatus for UAV and Method of Delivering a Payload

A payload coupling apparatus comprising:

• a housing comprising an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the housing, an upper portion above the outer surface and including a tether attachment point, and a lower portion below the outer surface;
• a slot extending into the outer surface of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot;
• wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload;
• and
• wherein the handle of the payload automatically decouples from the slot of the housing when the payload is lowered onto a landing surface.

An uncrewed aerial vehicle system comprising:

• an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV);
• a tether having a first end positioned in a winch system secured to the UAV and a second end secured to a payload coupling apparatus;
• a payload coupling apparatus receptacle positioned in the UAV;
• wherein the payload coupling apparatus comprises:
• a housing comprising an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the housing, an upper portion above the outer surface and including a tether attachment point, and a lower portion below the outer surface;
• a slot extending into the outer surface of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot;
• and
• wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload;
• and
• wherein the handle of the payload automatically decouples from the slot of the housing when the payload is lowered onto a landing surface;
• wherein the housing is attached to the second end of the tether at the tether attachment point;
• and
• wherein the housing of the payload coupling apparatus is positionable in the payload coupling apparatus receptacle in the UAV when the housing of the payload coupling apparatus is winched into the UAV.

A method of delivering a payload from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), including:

• operating a winch system of the UAV to lower the payload coupling apparatus and the payload until the payload engages a landing surface, wherein the payload coupling apparatus comprises:
• a housing comprising an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the housing, an upper portion above the outer surface and including a tether attachment point, and a lower portion below the outer surface;
• and
• a slot extending into the outer surface of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of the payload;
• and
• further operating the winch system to lower the payload coupling apparatus until the handle of the payload is automatically decoupled from the slot of the housing of the payload coupling apparatus.