Autonomous Payload Parsing Management System and Structure for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for making partial deliveries of cargo provisions, the UAV comprising:
- one or more ducted fans;
a cargo pod comprising an outer aerodynamic shell and one or more drive systems for modifying a relative position of one or more cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod;
a structural interconnect connecting the one or more fans to the cargo pod; and
control logic configured to, after delivery of a partial portion of cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod, control the one or more drive systems to vary a position of at least a portion of remaining cargo provisions to maintain a substantially same center of gravity of the UAV after the delivery relative to a center of gravity of the UAV prior to the delivery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for making partial deliveries of cargo provisions includes a UAV having one or more ducted fans and a structural interconnect connecting the one or more fans to a cargo pod. The cargo pod has an outer aerodynamic shell and one or more internal drive systems for modifying a relative position of one or more cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod. Control logic is configured to, after delivery of a partial portion of the cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod, vary a position of at least a portion of the remaining cargo provisions to maintain a substantially same center of gravity of the UAV relative to a center of gravity prior to delivery of the partial portion. Other center of gravity compensation mechanisms may also be controlled by the control logic to aid in maintaining the center of gravity of the UAV.
303 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for making partial deliveries of cargo provisions, the UAV comprising:
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one or more ducted fans; a cargo pod comprising an outer aerodynamic shell and one or more drive systems for modifying a relative position of one or more cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod; a structural interconnect connecting the one or more fans to the cargo pod; and control logic configured to, after delivery of a partial portion of cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod, control the one or more drive systems to vary a position of at least a portion of remaining cargo provisions to maintain a substantially same center of gravity of the UAV after the delivery relative to a center of gravity of the UAV prior to the delivery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of autonomously making deliveries via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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a UAV flying to a first supply destination, the UAV having one or more ducted fans and a structural interconnect connecting the one or more ducted fans to a cargo pod, the cargo pod having an outer aerodynamic shell and one or more drive systems for modifying a relative position of one or more cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod; and the UAV landing in a vertical position at the first supply destination; the UAV opening a portion of the cargo pod and depositing a portion of the cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod; the UAV varying a position of at least a portion of remaining cargo provisions so as to maintain a substantially same center of gravity of the UAV after the delivery relative to a center of gravity of the UAV prior to the delivery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification