UAV capture of micro cargo aloft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751627-B2
Application number	US-201514631025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2012
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transport of micro cargo comprising:
loading a micro cargo into a micro cargo container;
suspending the micro cargo container on a tether in a vertical state;
constraining the micro cargo container with a securing line to position the micro cargo container with respect to a surface in a first system state;
directing a UAV having a tether capture device to the tether for engagement;
in a transition state, contacting the tether with a leading edge of at least one main wing of the UAV;
sliding the tether to the capture device attached to the main wing;
engaging the tether with the tether capture device; and
towing the micro cargo container with the UAV in a second system state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising rupturing a suspension link and a lower link freeing the tether and securing line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of suspending the micro cargo container comprises suspending the micro cargo container from a balloon.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of suspending the micro cargo container comprises suspending the micro cargo container from suspension arm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of suspending the micro cargo container comprises suspending the micro cargo container from natural object.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the tether remains attached to the balloon which is aerodynamically streamlined for tow.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the balloon is punctured for flagging during tow.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the tether is achieved by flying a nose of the UAV into an open loop in the tether for a symmetric flight configuration.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising reeling the tether in to closely hold the micro-cargo near or in the UAV for more efficient flight.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Bernhardt Roger D

Classifications

• B64D1/22 Primary

  Taking-up articles from earth's surface · CPC title

• B64D1/12

  Releasing · CPC title

• B64D37/32

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title