Wing Aviation LLC

Ivan Qiu

Jasper Lewin

Andre Prager

Evan Twyford

Jesse Blake

André Prager

Elizabeth Marshman

Ali Shoeb

Marcus Hammond

James Juma

Louis Kenneth Dressel

A method includes determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a position of an autoloader device for the UAV; based on the determined position of the autoloader device, causing the UAV to follow a descent trajectory in which the UAV moves from a starting position to a first nudged position in order to deploy a tethered pickup component of the UAV to a payout position on an approach side of the autoloader device; deploying the tethered pickup component of the UAV to the payout position; causing the UAV to follow a side-step trajectory in which the UAV moves laterally to a second nudged position in order to cause the tethered pickup component of the UAV to engage the autoloader device; and retracting the tethered pickup component of the UAV to pick up a payload from the autoloader device.

UAV autoloader systems and methods

A payload retrieval apparatus having a base, an extending member secured to the base, the extending member including a lower section that is attached to the base and an upper section coupled to the lower section and movable between a first lowered position and a second raised position, an autoloader assembly mounted to the upper section of the extending member, the autoloader assembly including a payload holder configured to hold a payload for retrieval by an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), a channel coupled to the payload holder and configured to direct a payload coupling apparatus to the payload holder, and a first tether engager that extends away from the channel in a first direction, wherein the first tether engager is adapted to guide a tether having a first end attached to the UAV and a second end attached to the payload coupling apparatus towards the payload holder.

Payload retrieval apparatus with extending member for use with a uav

A payload receiver apparatus including a base configured to receive a payload suspended from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), an extending member having an upper end positioned above the base, a first tether engager that extends in a first direction from the extending member, wherein the base includes a payload platform positioned below the first tether end of the channel and configured to receive a payload thereon, wherein the first tether engager is adapted to guide a tether having a first end attached to the UAV and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus to a position above the payload platform.

Payload receiver apparatus with payload platform and tether engager for use with a UAV

A technique for validating a presence of a package carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes: capturing an image of a scene below the UAV with a camera mounted to the UAV and oriented to face down from the UAV; analyzing the image to identify whether the package is present in the image; and determining whether the package is attached to the UAV, via a tether extending from an underside of the UAV, based at least on the analyzing of the image.

Visual and tactile confirmation of package presence for UAV aerial deliveries

A payload retrieval apparatus having a base, an autoloader assembly mounted to the base including: a payload holder configured to hold a payload for retrieval by a UAV, a channel coupled to the payload holder configured to direct a payload retriever suspended from the UAV to the payload holder, and a locking feature configured to lock access to the payload on the payload holder that includes has a movable end that extends through a wall of the channel into an interior of the channel, wherein when the payload retriever contacts the movable end of the locking member, the movable end moves outwardly thereby unlocking the payload on the payload holder, wherein the payload holder is positioned such that when the payload retriever exits the channel, the payload retriever engages a handle of the payload and removes the payload from the payload holder.

Payload retrieval apparatus with internal unlocking feature and security features for use with a UAV

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

A method includes obtaining sensor data indicating a tension experienced by a tether while a payload coupling apparatus connected to the tether is lowered from an aerial vehicle using the tether. The method also includes determining, based on the sensor data, a ground contact time at which the payload coupling apparatus or a payload coupled thereto made initial contact with a ground surface. The method additionally includes determining a length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method further includes determining a tether-based altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the tether-based altitude.

Using unwound tether length to measure altitude

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 method includes causing an aerial vehicle to deploy a tethered component to a particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle by releasing a tether connecting the tethered component to the aerial vehicle. The method also includes obtaining, from a camera connected to the aerial vehicle, image data that represents the tethered component while the tethered component is deployed to the particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle. The method additionally includes determining, based on the image data, a position of the tethered component within the image data. The method further includes determining, based on the position of the tethered component within the image data, a wind vector that represents a wind condition present in an environment of the aerial vehicle. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the wind vector.

Tether-based wind estimation

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, electronics disposed with the fuselage, a heat sink, and a solar shield. The heat sink is thermally connected to the electronics and includes a cooling plate disposed on or extends through an exterior surface of the fuselage. The cooling plate is exposed to an external environment of the UAV to conduct heat from the electronics to the external environment via convection. The solar shield extends over the cooling plate and defines an air scoop within which the cooling plate is disposed. The air scoop directs airflow from the external environment across the cooling plate. The solar shield shades the cooling plate from solar radiation to prevent or reduce solar heating of the cooling plate.

Air scoop solar shield for UAV

A package coupling apparatus for securing a package to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The package coupling apparatus includes a hanger and a strap coupled to the hanger. The hanger includes a base configured to be positioned adjacent to the package and a handle extending up from the base. The handle includes a handle opening and a bridge that extends over the handle opening. The bridge is configured to be secured by a component of the UAV. The strap is configured to surround the package and secure the package to the hanger.

Package coupling apparatus with strap and hanger for securing a package to a UAV and method of securing a package for delivery

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

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.

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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Ivan Qiu