Systems and methods for implementing a payload distribution system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorScott H. Bouwer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distributed payload attachment system includes a payload suspension cable coupled to a payload, a distributed attachment cable having a first anchor point coupled to a first arm of an aerial platform and a second anchor point coupled to a second arm of the aerial platform, and a pulley system operably coupled between the payload suspension cable and the distributed attachment cable, the pulley system generating equal tension across the distributed attachment cable to enable the payload to shift and balance the tension forces in the distributed attachment cable. A method of operating the distributed payload attachment system and an aerial platform including the distributed payload attachment system are also described herein.
Claims20
A distributed payload attachment system comprising:
- a payload suspension cable coupled to a payload;
- a distributed attachment cable having a first anchor point coupled to a first arm of an aerial platform and a second anchor point coupled to a second arm of the aerial platform;
- and
- a pulley system operably and directly coupled to the payload suspension cable and the distributed attachment cable, the pulley system generating equal tension across the distributed attachment cable to enable the payload to shift and balance the tension forces in the distributed attachment cable.
A method for dispersing payload forces into an airframe of an aerial platform fixed rotor multi-rotor platform, said method comprising:
- coupling a payload suspension cable to a payload;
- coupling a first anchor point of a distributed attachment cable to a first arm of the aerial platform;
- coupling a second anchor point of the distributed attachment cable to a second arm of the aerial platform;
- and
- operably and directly coupling a pulley system to the payload suspension cable and the distributed attachment cable, the pulley system generating equal tension across the distributed attachment cable to enable the payload to shift and balance the tension forces in the distributed attachment cable.
An aerial platform comprising:
- at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the at least one UAV including,
- a hub disposed proximate to a center of gravity of the UAV;
- a plurality of arms coupled to the hub;
- and
- a distributed payload attachment system including;
- a payload suspension cable coupled to a payload;
- a distributed attachment cable having a first anchor point coupled to a first arm of an aerial platform and a second anchor point coupled to a second arm of the aerial platform;
- and
- a pulley system operably and directly coupled to the payload suspension cable the distributed attachment cable, the pulley system generating equal tension across the distributed attachment cable to enable the payload to shift and balance the tension forces in the distributed attachment cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.