The Boeing Company

Brian Charles Gray

Roger W Lacy

Eric J Schulze

David H Mason

Brandon R Brown

Joshua B Jarvis

Eric Hathaway

Justin Fowler Rogers

Corey Seidel

Douglas Mikita

Michael R Abraham

Example methods and systems for coupling and controlling transport of cargo using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided, comprising coupling at least one electronically-controllable attachment device positioned on an underside of the UAV to a sling cable, the sling cable being secured to the cargo. The UAV flies to a predetermined area above the cargo, and responsive to determining that the UAV is positioned within the predetermined area, the UAV elevates above the initial operating height to lift the cargo and navigates to a target location.

Unmanned aerial vehicle and cargo attachment system for the unmanned aerial vehicle

Unmanned aerial vehicle sling load

A control system for remotely controlling a mobile platform includes a ground-based control station and a surrogate processor. The surrogate processor is remotely located from both the mobile platform and the ground-based control station and includes a communication gateway and software. The communication gateway is in communication with the software, the ground-based control station, and the mobile platform and is capable of transmitting information therebetween. The software generates a control message based on commands received from the ground-based control station to adjust an operational characteristic of the mobile platform. Locating the software and the gateway remotely from the mobile platform also enables a less costly and less complex mobile platform to be constructed.

Surrogate air processor

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Brian Charles Gray