Integrated grasper and aerial release system to grasp and release a package at an unmanned vehicle

An apparatus, comprising:

• a winch configured to be coupled to an aerial vehicle;
• a grasper configured to be coupled to the winch, the grasper configured to be releasably coupled to a package;
• a hook configured to be coupled to the winch, the hook configured to be releasably coupled to the package independent of the grasper;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive a selection signal while the aerial vehicle is in-flight from a transmitter not disposed with the aerial vehicle, the selection signal indicating whether the package is to be released from a location a non-zero distance above a landing surface or at the landing surface,
• the hook configured to engage the package, the hook further configured to release the package while the aerial vehicle is in-flight and in response to the selection signal indicating that the package is to be released,
• the grasper configured to release the package while the aerial vehicle is in-flight,
• the grasper configured to release the package at the landing surface upon contacting the landing surface in response to the selection signal indicating that the package is to be released at the landing surface.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a selection signal at an aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is in-flight, the selection signal indicating whether a package carried by the aerial vehicle is to be released from a location a non-zero distance above a landing surface or at the landing surface;
• retracting a multi-bar linkage of a grasper, while the aerial vehicle is in-flight and the grasper is coupled to the package, in response to receiving the selection signal indicating the package is to be released from the aerial vehicle from the location the non-zero distance the landing surface;
• moving, while the aerial vehicle is in-flight and via an actuator, a hook from a position in which the hook is coupled to the package to a position in which the hook is uncoupled from the package, in response to receiving the selection signal indicating the package is to be released from the aerial vehicle from the location the non-zero distance above the landing surface;
• and
• retracting the multi-bar linkage of the grasper in response to the package contacting the landing surface after receiving the selection signal indicating the package is to be released at the landing surface.