Mechanisms for lowering a payload to the ground from a UAV
US9957046B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/104
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.