US 11,858,637 B2
Unmanned aerial vehicle and cargo attachment system for the unmanned aerial vehicle
Joshua B. Jarvis, St. Louis, MO (US); Roger W. Lacy, Philadelphia, PA (US); Brian Charles Gray, St. Louis, MO (US); David H. Mason, Glenmoore, PA (US); Douglas Mikita, Philadelphia, PA (US); Justin Fowler Rogers, Ridley Park, PA (US); Brandon Brown, Malvern, PA (US); Eric Hathaway, Philadelphia, PA (US); Eric J. Schulze, Hockessin, DE (US); and Corey Seidel, Marthasville, MO (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/784,906.
Prior Publication US 2021/0245881 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 1/22 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/12 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo attachment system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having at least four laterally-arranged rotors, the system comprising:
a support beam structure comprising a plurality of support beams, at least one of the plurality of support beams being affixed to an underside of the UAV, the support beam structure further comprising:
an alignment feature connected to a support beam of the plurality of support beams, the alignment feature defining a lumen; and
an electric wire having a first end and a second end and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the intermediate portion extends through the lumen of the alignment feature; and
an attachment device coupled to at least one of the plurality of support beams, the attachment device being electrically controllable, wherein the second end of the electric wire is connected to the attachment device and electrically couples the attachment device to a control unit on the UAV.