The Boeing Company

Justin Fowler Rogers

Roger W Lacy

Eric J Schulze

Brandon R Brown

David H Mason

Joshua B Jarvis

Eric Hathaway

Brian Charles Gray

Douglas Mikita

Corey Seidel

Michael J Duffy

Matthew S Stauffer

Nicholas B Muha

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

A hinge assembly includes a first hinge member having an arcuate guide slot extending around a first opening and an overall thickness equal to or greater than a radial width of the arcuate guide slot, and a second hinge member having first and second clevis portions with a second opening formed through each of the clevis portions. Fastening member holes are defined in one or both clevis portions and arrayed in a first arcuate array around one or both of the second openings with a radius corresponding to the arcuate guide slot radius. The first hinge member is inserted between the clevis portions with the first and second openings aligned with each other. Fastening members extend into or through the fastening member holes and are slidably received in the arcuate guide slot so as to enable relative rotation between the hinge members about an axis passing through the first and second openings.

Hinge assembly and stackable hinge assembly for rotation about an opening

Unmanned aerial vehicle sling load

System and method for loading cargo onto an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). One embodiment is a cargo pod for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The cargo pod includes a hollow body that forms a section of a fuselage of the UAV, and further includes a latching mechanism that releasably secures the hollow body with the fuselage of the UAV.

Unmanned aerial vehicle with enhanced cargo storage

Growing community of inventors

Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

Justin Fowler Rogers