Payload Coupling Apparatus for UAV and Method of Delivering a Payload
AssigneeWing Aviation LLC
InventorsAndre Prager, Trevor Shannon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) which includes a payload coupling apparatus secured to a tether. The payload coupling apparatus is configured to engage a payload. The UAV also includes a winch system configured to extend the tether for lowering the payload on the payload coupling apparatus during a delivery. The UAV also includes a payload latch movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the payload latch is configured to secure the payload at the UAV when in the closed position and release the payload when in the open position.
Claims20
An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- a payload coupling apparatus secured to a tether, wherein the payload coupling apparatus is configured to engage a payload;
- a winch system configured to extend the tether for lowering the payload on the payload coupling apparatus during a delivery;
- and
- a payload latch movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the payload latch is configured to secure the payload at the UAV when in the closed position and release the payload when in the open position.
An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- a payload coupling apparatus secured to a tether, wherein the payload coupling apparatus is configured to engage a payload;
- a winch system;
- a tether coupled to the winch system and configured to be extended and retracted by the winch system;
- a payload coupling apparatus secured on the tether;
- a payload latch movable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a control system configured to perform operations comprising:
- maintain the UAV in a hover mode over a delivery location,
- move the payload latch to the open position in order to release a payload that is coupled to the payload coupling apparatus, and
- extending the tether to lower the payload on the payload coupling apparatus for delivery.
A payload for delivery by an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), the payload comprising:
- a package;
- and
- a handle extending up from the package, the handle including:
- a hole for receiving a hook of a payload coupling apparatus, and
- a pair of openings positioned on opposite sides of the hole, wherein the openings are configured for securing the payload to the UAV using a payload latch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.