公开(公告)号：US20230322385A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-12

申请号：US18135501

申请日：2023-04-17

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Trevor Shannon

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64U2101/60 ,  B64C39/024 ,  G06Q10/083

Abstract: A payload coupling apparatus is provided including a housing, wherein the housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot, and wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload. A method of delivering a payload using the payload coupling apparatus is also provided

公开(公告)号：US11733716B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-22

申请号：US17647808

申请日：2022-01-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Scott Velez ,  Andre Prager ,  Eric Teller ,  Matthew Nubbe

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/0631 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  B64U101/60

CPC classification number: G05D1/104 ,  B64C39/024 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G06Q10/06315 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  B64U2101/60 ,  B64U2201/10 ,  B64U2201/20

Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20230192296A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17558671

申请日：2021-12-22

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Jasper Lewin

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/10

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64D1/10 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus is provided including a channel having a first end and a second end provided with a curved portion, wherein the channel has a tether slot therein and is configured to receive a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV; and a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel on the curved portion, wherein the payload holder is adapted to hold a payload having a handle with an opening therein, wherein the curved portion is configured to change an exit angle of the payload retriever such that a lip of the payload retriever is angled upwardly to ease entry of the lip into the opening of the handle of the payload.

公开(公告)号：US20230159167A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-25

申请号：US17533574

申请日：2021-11-23

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B65G2814/0398

Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus including a stand having an upper end and a lower end, a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel coupled to the stand, a first extension that extends in a first direction from the first end of the channel, wherein the first extension is configured to direct a tether extending from a UAV and a payload retriever attached to an end of the tether toward the first end of the channel, wherein the second end of the channel has a payload engaging member positioned near the second end of the channel that is adapted to secure a payload, and wherein the payload retrieval apparatus is configured to cause the UAV to pick up the payload with the payload retriever while maintaining flying.

公开(公告)号：US11410114B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-09

申请号：US15968507

申请日：2018-05-01

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Kaiwen Gu

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that can help an aerial transport service provider (ATSP) select an unmanned vehicle (UV) to deliver a temperature-sensitive item. In accordance with example embodiments, the ATSP system can generate a transport task to fulfill a request for delivery of the temperature-sensitive item, where the transport task involves delivering the item while maintaining a temperature of the item within a preferred temperature range. The system can calculate an amount of required energy to perform the transport task for each available UV of the fleet of UVs. Further, based on (i) the amount of required energy for each available UV, and (ii) a respective remaining battery energy level for each available UV, the ATSP system can select a first UV to perform the task. Yet further, the ATSP system can assign the transport task to the first UV.

公开(公告)号：US20210188434A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：US17120804

申请日：2020-12-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H02J7/35

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Specifically, a control system may determine operational location(s) from which a group of UAVs is to provide aerial transport services in a geographic area. For at least a first of the operational location(s), the system may cause a first UAV from the group to perform an infrastructure deployment task that includes (i) a flight from a source location to the first operational location and (ii) installation of operational infrastructure at the first operational location by the first UAV. In turn, this may enable the first UAV to operate from the first operational location, as the first UAV can charge a battery of the first UAV using the operational infrastructure installed at the first operational location and/or can carry out item transport task(s) at location(s) that are in the vicinity of the first operational location.

公开(公告)号：US10953984B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-23

申请号：US15848316

申请日：2017-12-20

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dedicated to deployment of operational infrastructure, with such deployment enabling charging of a battery of a UAV from a group of UAVs. More specifically, the group of UAVs may include at least (i) a first UAV of a first type configured to deploy operational infrastructure and (ii) a second UAV of a second type configured to carry out a task other than deployment of operational infrastructure. With this arrangement, a control system may determine an operational location at which to deploy operational infrastructure, and may cause the first UAV to deploy operational infrastructure at the operational location. Then, the control system may cause the second UAV to charge a battery of the second UAV using the operational infrastructure deployed by the first UAV at the operational location.

公开(公告)号：US20210031920A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-04

申请号：US17061586

申请日：2020-10-02

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Trevor Shannon

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/12 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A payload coupling apparatus is provided including a housing, wherein the housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot, and wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload.

公开(公告)号：US20200278702A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US15930054

申请日：2020-05-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Scott Velez ,  Andre Prager ,  Eric Teller ,  Matthew Nubbe

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20200216174A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-09

申请号：US16806169

申请日：2020-03-02

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus including an extending member having an upper end and a lower end, a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel coupled to the extending member, a first tether engager that extends in a first direction from the first end of the channel section, and a payload holder positioned near the second end of the channel and is adapted to secure a payload.