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:
Sep. 16, 2025
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2021
Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sparks, NV (US);
Emily Agostino, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Sean Foxen, Alameda, CA (US);
Curtis Leo, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Stephen Morris, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Sierra Nevada Company, LLC, Sparks, NV (US);
Abstract
A modular VTOL drone aircraft can include a primary processor, a plurality of propellers, one or more line replacement modules ('LRMs') and one or more line replacement units (“LRUs”). LRMs can include a fuselage, a center wing, two booms, two outer wings, two vertical tails, a horizontal tail, and/or an engine. LRUs can include an avionics module, a radio communications assembly, a sensor package assembly, an ISR assembly, and/or a deployable payload assembly. Each LRM and LRU can be self-contained and removably attached to the remainder of the VTOL drone. Each LRM can be readily interchanged with another similar LRM, which can be of a different size. LRM interfaces can include a blind mate electric connector and/or a floating connector.