Invention Grant
- Patent Title: UAV capture of micro cargo aloft
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Application No.: US15642702Application Date: 2017-07-06
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Publication No.: US10577104B2Publication Date: 2020-03-03
- Inventor: Roger D. Bernhardt
- Applicant: The Boeing Company
- Applicant Address: US IL Chicago
- Assignee: The Boeing Company
- Current Assignee: The Boeing Company
- Current Assignee Address: US IL Chicago
- Agent Felix L. Fischer
- Main IPC: B64D1/22
- IPC: B64D1/22 ; B64D37/32 ; B64C39/02 ; B64D1/12

Abstract:
A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.
Public/Granted literature
- US20170297711A1 UAV CAPTURE OF MICRO CARGO ALOFT Public/Granted day:2017-10-19
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