公开(公告)号：US12179902B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-31

申请号：US17864975

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

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

IPC: B64C1/14 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64U101/60

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect when the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door.

公开(公告)号：US20240217658A1

公开(公告)日：2024-07-04

申请号：US18400653

申请日：2023-12-29

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Elizabeth Marshman ,  Jasper Lee Lewin ,  Ivan Qiu

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64U10/60

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B64U10/60 ,  B64U2101/66

Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus having a base, an autoloader assembly mounted to the base including: a payload holder configured to hold a payload for retrieval by a UAV, a channel coupled to the payload holder configured to direct a payload retriever suspended from the UAV to the payload holder, and a locking feature configured to lock access to the payload on the payload holder that includes has a movable end that extends through a wall of the channel into an interior of the channel, wherein when the payload retriever contacts the movable end of the locking member, the movable end moves outwardly thereby unlocking the payload on the payload holder, wherein the payload holder is positioned such that when the payload retriever exits the channel, the payload retriever engages a handle of the payload and removes the payload from the payload holder.

公开(公告)号：US12209884B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-28

申请号：US17812854

申请日：2022-07-15

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Ivan Qiu ,  Louis Kenneth Dressel

IPC: G01C5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/08 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64U101/60

Abstract: A method includes obtaining sensor data indicating a tension experienced by a tether while a payload coupling apparatus connected to the tether is lowered from an aerial vehicle using the tether. The method also includes determining, based on the sensor data, a ground contact time at which the payload coupling apparatus or a payload coupled thereto made initial contact with a ground surface. The method additionally includes determining a length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method further includes determining a tether-based altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the tether-based altitude.

公开(公告)号：US20240150016A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-09

申请号：US17980513

申请日：2022-11-03

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： André Prager ,  Ivan Qiu

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02

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

Abstract: A payload receiver apparatus including a base configured to receive a payload suspended from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), an extending member having an upper end positioned above the base, a first tether engager that extends in a first direction from the extending member, wherein the base includes a payload platform positioned below the first tether end of the channel and configured to receive a payload thereon, wherein the first tether engager is adapted to guide a tether having a first end attached to the UAV and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus to a position above the payload platform.

公开(公告)号：US20240017827A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

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

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

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：US11767111B1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-26

申请号：US17865003

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

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

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C1/14 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64U101/60

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C1/1415 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64U2101/60

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload; an access opening positioned in the cargo bay adapted to receive the payload; a winch system positioned in an upper portion of the fuselage body above the cargo bay, the winch system configured to suspend the payload within the cargo bay; wherein a tether has a first end attached to the winch system and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus that includes a downwardly extending slot positioned above a lip of the payload coupling apparatus, the lip of the payload coupling apparatus is configured to extend through an opening in the handle of the payload to secure the payload to the handle of the payload; and wherein the upper portion of the fuselage body includes a vertical handle slot for receiving the handle of the payload.

公开(公告)号：US20250053175A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18929561

申请日：2024-10-28

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Ivan Qiu

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64D47/02 ,  B64U101/30 ,  G06F18/2413 ,  G06T7/70

Abstract: A method includes causing an aerial vehicle to deploy a tethered component to a particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle by releasing a tether connecting the tethered component to the aerial vehicle. The method also includes obtaining, from a camera connected to the aerial vehicle, image data that represents the tethered component while the tethered component is deployed to the particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle. The method additionally includes determining, based on the image data, a position of the tethered component within the image data. The method further includes determining, based on the position of the tethered component within the image data, a wind vector that represents a wind condition present in an environment of the aerial vehicle. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the wind vector.

公开(公告)号：US12164308B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-10

申请号：US17812758

申请日：2022-07-15

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Ivan Qiu

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64D47/02 ,  G06F18/2413 ,  G06T7/70 ,  B64U101/30

Abstract: A method includes causing an aerial vehicle to deploy a tethered component to a particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle by releasing a tether connecting the tethered component to the aerial vehicle. The method also includes obtaining, from a camera connected to the aerial vehicle, image data that represents the tethered component while the tethered component is deployed to the particular distance beneath the aerial vehicle. The method additionally includes determining, based on the image data, a position of the tethered component within the image data. The method further includes determining, based on the position of the tethered component within the image data, a wind vector that represents a wind condition present in an environment of the aerial vehicle. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the wind vector.

公开(公告)号：US20240019246A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US17812854

申请日：2022-07-15

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Ivan Qiu ,  Louis Kenneth Dressel

IPC: G01C5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/08 ,  G05D1/10

CPC classification number: G01C5/005 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64D1/08 ,  B64C39/022 ,  G05D1/101 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: A method includes obtaining sensor data indicating a tension experienced by a tether while a payload coupling apparatus connected to the tether is lowered from an aerial vehicle using the tether. The method also includes determining, based on the sensor data, a ground contact time at which the payload coupling apparatus or a payload coupled thereto made initial contact with a ground surface. The method additionally includes determining a length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method further includes determining a tether-based altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the length of the tether released from the aerial vehicle at the ground contact time. The method yet further includes causing the aerial vehicle to perform an operation based on the tether-based altitude.

公开(公告)号：US20240017814A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US17864975

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

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

IPC: B64C1/14 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C1/1415 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect when the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door.