公开(公告)号：US10691142B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-23

申请号：US15851693

申请日：2017-12-21

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：US10683195B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-16

申请号：US15977908

申请日：2018-05-11

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Trevor Shannon ,  Andre Prager

IPC: B64C39/00 ,  B66D1/12 ,  B66D1/60 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/22

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and correcting errors when picking up and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may control the motor to lower the tether and monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether a payload has detached from the tether. This process of lowering the tether and monitoring the motor current may be repeated up to a predetermined number of times, at which point the control system may operate the motor to detach the tether from the spool, leaving both the tether and the payload behind.

公开(公告)号：US20190193855A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-27

申请号：US15850705

申请日：2017-12-21

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Adam Woodworth

IPC: B64D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06F21/31

CPC classification number: B64D1/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G06F21/31

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to door-enabled loading and release of payloads in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which could be a type of UAV in a group of UAVs that is assigned to carry out certain transport tasks. In particular, the UAV may include a fuselage having a first side and a second side, as well as a chamber formed within the fuselage and arranged to house a payload. A first door may be arranged on the first side of the fuselage, such that an opening of the first door enables loading of the payload into the chamber. And a second door may be arranged on the second side of the fuselage, such that an opening of the second door enables release of the payload from the chamber. Moreover, the UAV may include a control system configured to control flight of the UAV, and possibly opening and/or closing of door(s).

公开(公告)号：US20190152604A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-23

申请号：US16256524

申请日：2019-01-24

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Trevor Shannon ,  Andre Prager

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B66D1/60 ,  B66D1/12 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.

公开(公告)号：US10232940B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-19

申请号：US15389326

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Trevor Shannon ,  Andre Prager

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B66D1/60 ,  B66D1/12

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.

公开(公告)号：US12168512B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-17

申请号：US17865078

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Andre Prager ,  Evan Twyford ,  Ivan Qiu ,  Jasper Lewin

IPC: B64D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64U10/25 ,  B64U101/60

Abstract: A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage including a top, a bottom, a cavity that forms a cargo bay between the top and the bottom, and a lower access opening in the bottom for lowering a payload from the cargo bay. A movable stage is coupled to the fuselage and adjustable between an upper position in which the stage is above the cargo bay and a lower position in which the stage is at the bottom of the fuselage, the stage including an opening extending through the stage. The UAV also includes a winch disposed in the fuselage and a tether coupled to the winch. The winch is configured to be secured to the payload and is movable through the opening in the stage so as to raise or lower the payload.

公开(公告)号：US20240017825A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US17865058

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Andre Prager ,  Evan Twyford ,  Ivan Qiu ,  Jasper Lewin

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C1/20 ,  B64D9/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C1/20 ,  B64D9/003 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64D1/02

Abstract: A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage body including a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, an upper access opening for receiving the payload into the cargo bay from a first direction, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay. The UAV also includes an upper door associated with the upper access opening that is movable between a closed position in which the upper access opening is obstructed and an open position providing a path for the payload into the cargo bay. The upper door includes a winch configured to unwind or retract a tether secured to the payload.

公开(公告)号：US11618565B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-04

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: B64C39/00 ,  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：US11447371B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US17213738

申请日：2021-03-26

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager

IPC: B64C1/22 ,  B66C1/22 ,  B64D1/22

Abstract: A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions, an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot, a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing. A method of retracting a payload coupling apparatus during UAV flight is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US11447249B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US17061589

申请日：2020-10-02

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Trevor Shannon ,  Andre Prager ,  Zhefei Li ,  Kyle Liske

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64D1/12 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B66D1/12 ,  B66D1/60

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system is provided including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage, a tether having a first end secured to a winch system positioned in the UAV and a second end secured to a payload coupling apparatus, a payload coupling apparatus receptacle positioned in the fuselage of the UAV, a payload having a handle, wherein the handle of the payload is positioned within a slot in the payload coupling apparatus. A method of securing a payload to a UAV is also provided.