Wing Aviation LLC

Other

Jasper Lewin

Ivan Qiu

Andre Prager

Evan Twyford

Jesse Blake

Elizabeth Marshman

Brandon Rodgers

André Prager

Jim Schmalzried

Marcus Hammond

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 UAV including a wing attached to a fuselage body, a rotatable cargo bay in the fuselage body, the cargo bay having an entrance for receiving the payload, an actuator in the fuselage body operable to rotate the cargo bay about a pivot axis into a first position where the entrance of the cargo bay is positioned above the fuselage body to allow for entry of the payload into the cargo bay, and the cargo bay extends through an opening in an upper surface of the fuselage body, rotatable into a second position where the entrance of the cargo bay is positioned within the fuselage body during transport; and rotatable into a third position where the entrance of the cargo bay is positioned below the fuselage body to allow for exiting of the payload, and the cargo bay extends through an opening in a lower surface of the fuselage body.

UAV having a rotatable cargo bay

A payload retrieval apparatus is provided including a channel having a first end and a second end provided with a curved portion, wherein the channel has a tether slot therein and is configured to receive a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV; and a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel on the curved portion, wherein the payload holder is adapted to hold a payload having a handle with an opening therein, wherein the curved portion is configured to change an exit angle of the payload retriever such that a lip of the payload retriever is angled upwardly to ease entry of the lip into the opening of the handle of the payload.

Package retrieval system with channel to engage payload retriever

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

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 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.

Slotted receptacle for payload handle to secure payload within a UAV

A gear shifting system derailleur having a derailleur integrable with devices having a positionable chain, belt and/or a plurality of sprockets. The derailleur includes, a frame, a linear actuator having a housing, two bracket links and a damping element. The linear actuator includes a linearly positionable arm. The bracket links and a damping element are positioned and adapted to apply a biased force against the linearly positionable arm. The damping element is coupled with both the chain pulley and the bracket links, wherein the damping element positions the chain pulley within the derailleur as driven by the bracket links. Wireless and/or wired communications and control modules and pathways are provided to enable user control of the linearly positionable arm. The derailleur may be attached to or comprised within a vehicle, such as a bicycle, a tricycle or a vehicle with more wheels.

Gearshifting system comprising a linear actuator

A damping device includes an annular chamber rotatably coupled with the gear selection assembly; a rotating element rotatably coupled with the chamber and fixedly coupled with a gear guide pulley of the gear selection device; and a damping grease volume, the damping grease volume contained under pressure between the chamber and the rotating element and adapted to transfer force between the chamber and to the rotating element. The damping device may be adapted for integration within a gear selection device and for coupling with a linear actuator of the gear selection device. The damping device may be coupled with both a chain pulley of the gear selection device and the linear actuator, wherein the damping device positions the chain pulley within the gear selection device as driven by the linear actuator. The gear selection device may be attached to or comprised within a wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Jasper Lewin