Unmanned Aerial Vehicle With Integrated Payload Assembly
AssigneeSkydio, Inc.
InventorsThomas Skyler Sartorius, Calder Richmond Hughes, Julian Rene Alvarez, Sean David-Andrew Belardo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed here are unmanned aerial vehicle embodiments including some embodiments having a fuselage, tail, and wings including example embodiments with an adaptable payload section, alternatively or additionally, modular flight surfaces including tail, wings and motor, alternatively or additionally the vehicle configured for short landings with reversible thrust, alternatively or additionally, the unmanned aerial vehicle configured with direct connection to moveable flight control surfaces.
Claims21
1-16. (canceled)
An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:a fuselage defining an opening;a payload interface disposed within the fuselage adjacent the opening;
- anda payload module configured to be detachably coupled to the fuselage via the payload interface,wherein the payload interface includes:a mounting region positioned within the fuselage and accessible through the opening, the mounting region being configured to receive at least a portion of the payload module through the opening;an electrical interface positioned within the mounting region;
- anda retention feature configured to retain the payload module within the mounting region, andwherein, in an installed configuration in which the payload module is inserted through the opening into the mounting region:the retention feature retains the payload module within the fuselage;
- andthe electrical interface engages a corresponding electrical interface of the payload module to electrically couple circuitry of the payload module to circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:a fuselage;a payload interface disposed at the fuselage;
- anda payload module configured to be detachably coupled to the fuselage via the payload interface,wherein the payload interface includes:a mounting region configured to receive at least a portion of the payload module;and an electrical interface configured to electrically couple circuitry of the payload module to circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle, andwherein insertion of the payload module into the mounting region causes the electrical interface to engage a corresponding electrical interface of the payload module to electrically couple the payload module to the unmanned aerial vehicle.
An unmanned aerial vehicle system, comprising:a fuselage including a payload interface;
- anda plurality of payload modules configured to be selectively coupled to the payload interface,wherein the payload interface is configured to:mechanically retain each payload module when coupled to the fuselage;
- andelectrically couple circuitry of each payload module to circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle, andwherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configurable for different operations based on which of the plurality of payload modules is coupled to the payload interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.