System and method for unmanned aerial vehicle-enabled delivery of cargo without human intervention

An unmanned cargo loading and transport system adapted for operation with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) the system comprising:

• a payload pad presenting a generally horizontal upper plane for supporting cargo when the payload pad is positioned on a generally horizontal substrate supporting the payload pad, the payload pad further comprising a first elastomeric foam element and a second elastomeric foam element having a t-shaped support member therebetween, the first elastomeric foam element and the second elastomeric foam element having a same height as the t-shaped support member, the upper surface of the first and second elastomeric foam elements and the t-shaped support member defining an upper plane of the payload pad, the first and second elastomeric foam members having a vertically extended mode for supporting weight imposed downward on the first and second elastomeric foam members and a retracted mode in which at least a portion of the first and second elastomeric foam members is of shorter vertical length than the vertical length of the first and second elastomeric foam members in the fully vertically extended mode, the first and second elastomeric foam members being movable from the fully vertically extended mode to the retracted mode when exposed to a lateral force applied to the first and second elastomeric foam members;
• a payload container comprising:
• an upper portion adapted to attach to the UAV;
• a plurality of side portions coupled to the upper portion and extending downward from the upper portion;
• and
• a lower portion that together with the upper portion and side portions defines an enclosure for holding cargo in the payload container, the payload container further adapted to pick up the cargo from the payload pad by transferring the weight of the cargo from the payload pad to the payload container and hold the cargo within the payload container while in transit by the UAV, and wherein a lower portion of the payload container comprises two generally opposed cargo doors movably mounted at opposed sides of the side portions of the payload container and movable inwardly to a closed position such that opposed edges of the cargo doors are substantially adjacent to present a generally closed bottom of the payload container, the cargo doors further movable outwardly to an open position at which the opposed edges of the cargo doors are distal from one another to present an open bottom of the payload container for receiving cargo when the payload container is positioned at the payload pad;
• and
• a motive power mechanism coupled to the cargo doors for selectively moving the doors between their open and their closed positions.