Wing Aviation LLC

Jim Schmalzried

Jesse Blake

Evan Twyford

Stephen Benson

Trevor Shannon

Michael Arthur Simonian

André Prager

Adam Woodworth

Sindre Klepp

Matthew Nubbe

Scott Velez

Nick Renold

Dustin Sanders

A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.

Loading structure with tether guide for unmanned aerial vehicle

An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

Landing and payload loading structures

An example embodiment includes a landing pad having a housing and a power terminal configured to draw electric power from a power source. The landing pad further includes an electrically conductive landing terminal dorsal to the housing and configured such that, during a landing state of an aerial vehicle, the landing terminal makes contact with a plurality of electric contacts disposed ventrally to a fuselage of the aerial vehicle. The landing terminal is configured to transfer electric power drawn by the power terminal to the aerial vehicle via the electric contacts during the landing state of the aerial vehicle.

Systems for charging aerial vehicles

Example embodiments can help to more efficiently charge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a plurality of UAVs that provide delivery services. An example method includes: determining demand data indicating demand for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs during a period of time; determining battery state information for the plurality of UAVs, wherein the battery state information is based at least in part on individual battery state information for each of two or more of the UAVs; based at least in part on (a) the demand data for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs, and (b) the battery state information for the fleet of UAVs, determining respective charge-rate profiles for one or more of the UAVs; and sending instructions to cause respective batteries of the one or more of the UAVs to be charged according to the respectively determined charge-rate profiles.

UAV group charging based on demand for UAV service

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jim Schmalzried