The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 2021
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2018
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Hedy H. Morales Bolaños, Naucalpan, MX;
David Franco Lopez Rubio, Lerma, MX;
Oswaldo Perez Barrera, Texcoco, MX;
Rodrigo Frieventh Cienfuegos, Toluca, MX;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle includes a retractable harness mounted within the vehicle and extendible through an opening in the vehicle body, such as a sun roof. The harness may include a retainer, such as an electromagnet, for engaging a docking structure on an aerial drone. On take-off, the vehicle may reach a desirable take-off speed of the aerial drone, activate the aerial drone, and release the retainer. On landing, the aerial drone and vehicle may synchronize their speeds and locations. The retractable harness may extend and align itself with the aerial drone, which descends and docks with the retractable harness.