Wing Aviation LLC

X Development LLC

Andre Prager

Trevor Shannon

Jesse Blake

James Schmalzried

Scott Velez

Evan Twyford

Ivan Qiu

Jasper Lewin

Adam Woodworth

Eric Teller

Matthew Nubbe

Siegfried Zerweckh

Kyle A Liske

Zhefei Li

Alexander Miller

Clark Sopper

Kaiwen Gu

Kyle Liske

Gu Kaiwen

Jim Schamlzried

A payload retrieval apparatus including a stand having an upper end and a lower end, a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel coupled to the stand, a first extension that extends in a first direction from the first end of the channel, wherein the first extension is configured to direct a tether extending from a UAV and a payload retriever attached to an end of the tether toward the first end of the channel, wherein the second end of the channel has a payload engaging member positioned near the second end of the channel that is adapted to secure a payload, and wherein the payload retrieval apparatus is configured to cause the UAV to pick up the payload with the payload retriever while maintaining flying.

Package loading mechanism

Described herein are methods and systems to dampen oscillations of a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the UAV's control system may dampen the oscillations by causing the UAV to switch to a forward flight mode in which movement of the UAV results in drag on the payload, thereby damping the oscillations. In another example, the control system may cause the UAV to reduce an extent flight stabilization along at least one dimension, thereby resulting in damping of the detected oscillations due to energy dissipation during movement of the UAV along the dimension. In this way, the control system could select and carry out one or more such techniques, and could do so during retraction and/or deployment of the tether.

Methods and systems for damping oscillations of a payload

A payload retrieval apparatus including a support structure having an upper end and a lower end; a first sloped surface secured to the support structure and a second sloped surface positioned adjacent the first sloped surface; an opening between the first and second sloped surfaces leading to a space to allow a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV to travel into the space; an angled channel positioned beneath the first sloped surface having a tether slot to allow for passage of the tether as the payload retriever is drawn through the angled channel; and a payload holder positioned at the end of the angled channel.

Package retrieval system with funneling mechanism

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect when the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door.

Smart cargo bay door(s) for a UAV

A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage including a top, a bottom, a cavity that forms a cargo bay between the top and the bottom, and a lower access opening in the bottom for lowering a payload from the cargo bay. A movable stage is coupled to the fuselage and adjustable between an upper position in which the stage is above the cargo bay and a lower position in which the stage is at the bottom of the fuselage, the stage including an opening extending through the stage. The UAV also includes a winch disposed in the fuselage and a tether coupled to the winch. The winch is configured to be secured to the payload and is movable through the opening in the stage so as to raise or lower the payload.

UAV with open cargo bay and method of operation

A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage body including a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, an upper access opening for receiving the payload into the cargo bay from a first direction, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay. The UAV also includes an upper door associated with the upper access opening that is movable between a closed position in which the upper access opening is obstructed and an open position providing a path for the payload into the cargo bay. The upper door includes a winch configured to unwind or retract a tether secured to the payload.

UAV with upper door including winch and method of operation

An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

Anticipatory dispatch of UAVs to pre-staging locations

Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.

Methods and systems for raising and lowering a payload

Described herein are methods and systems for motorized control of a tether, such as for purposes of user interaction and feedback. In particular, a UAV's control system may determine one or more operational parameters of a motor for a winch disposed in the UAV, the winch including the tether and a spool. The control system may then detect in the one or more operational parameters, an operational pattern of the motor that is indicative of an intentional user-interaction with the tether. Based on the detected operational pattern of the motor that is indicative of the intentional user-interaction with the tether, the control system may determine a motor response process. Then, the control system may operate the motor in accordance with the determined motor response process.

Methods and systems for user interaction and feedback via control of tether

Example implementations may relate to door-enabled loading and release of payloads in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which could be a type of UAV in a group of UAVs that is assigned to carry out certain transport tasks. In particular, the UAV may include a fuselage having a first side and a second side, as well as a chamber formed within the fuselage and arranged to house a payload. A first door may be arranged on the first side of the fuselage, such that an opening of the first door enables loading of the payload into the chamber. And a second door may be arranged on the second side of the fuselage, such that an opening of the second door enables release of the payload from the chamber. Moreover, the UAV may include a control system configured to control flight of the UAV, and possibly opening and/or closing of door(s).

Methods and systems for door-enabled loading and release of payloads in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing. The housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether. The apparatus further includes a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot. The slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect touchdown of the payload and a transmitter configured to send a touchdown confirmation signal to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a touchdown detection by the sensor.

Payload coupling apparatus for UAV and method of delivering a payload

A payload retrieval apparatus is provided including a stand or base, wherein the base or stand has an upper end and a lower end, a first sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base, a second sloped surface positioned over the upper end of the stand or base and adjacent the first sloped surface, a tether slot positioned in a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel positioned under or near the first sloped surface, and a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel, wherein the payload holder is adapted to secure a payload.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload; an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload; a winch system positioned in an upper portion of the fuselage body above the cargo bay, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay; wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus that includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in the handle of the payload to secure the payload to the handle of the payload; and wherein the upper portion of the fuselage body includes a vertical handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Andre Prager