Landing and payload loading structures

US11312490B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Wing Aviation LLC · US

Inventors

• Jesse Blake · Sunnyvale, US
• Jim Schmalzried · San Jose, US
• Trevor Shannon · Menlo Park, US
• Michael Simonian · San Francisco, US
• Sindre Klepp · San Francisco, US
• Stephen Benson · Mountain View, US
• Adam Woodworth · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 12, 2020
• Grant date: Apr 26, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2201/104
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.