Payload mounting system and method

A system comprising:

• a first mounting rail of a mobile platform type;
• a second mounting rail of a mobile platform type;
• and
• a cradle comprising first and second clamshells;
• the first clamshell comprising a first ring clamp and a first mounting foot extending from the first ring clamp, the first mounting foot being configured to mount to the first mounting rail, wherein the first ring clamp is configured to:
• interlock with a first mounting channel of a first payload type, and
• interlock with the first mounting channel of a second payload type that is different than the first payload type;
• and
• the second clamshell comprising a second ring clamp and a second mounting foot extending from the second ring clamp, the second mounting foot being configured to mount to the second mounting rail, wherein the second ring clamp is configured to:
• interlock with a second mounting channel of the first payload type, and
• interlock with the second mounting channel of the second payload type.

A method comprising:

• interlocking a ring clamp of a clamshell with a mounting channel of a first payload type;
• disconnecting the ring clamp from the mounting channel of the first payload type;
• and
• interlocking the ring clamp of the clamshell with a mounting channel of a second payload type, wherein the second payload type is different from the first payload type.