| CPC B64F 1/362 (2013.01) [B64C 19/00 (2013.01); B64C 29/00 (2013.01); B64F 1/12 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
|
1. An apparatus for automatically and autonomously anchoring Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing (VTOL) Aerial Vehicles (AVs) to a parking pad after landing, and automatically and autonomously un-anchoring VTOL AVs from the parking pad prior to take-off, comprising:
a protuberant member connected to an underside of an AV—that comprises four wedges and an anchor hole, wherein a first cross-section of the four wedges forms a trapezoid, and a second cross-section orthogonal to the first cross-section forms another trapezoid, wherein the first cross-section is longer than the second cross-section, wherein the anchor hole has a cross-section that is a complete circle, and the anchor hole extends completely through the protuberant member;
a receptacle member connected to an upper surface of the parking pad, defining an anchor receiver, sized to engage and receive the four wedges and the anchor hole of the protuberant member; and
a locking member within the receptacle member, configured to selectively engage the anchor hole of the protuberant member to prevent separation of the protuberant member from the receptacle member;
wherein the four wedges and the anchor hole of the protuberant member are surrounded by and fully enclosed within the receptacle member when the locking member is engaged with the protuberant member;
wherein the protuberant member has a third cross-section that is orthogonal to both the first and second cross-sections, and the third cross-section forms an oblong rectangle; and
wherein the locking member passes through one side of the protuberant member and out the opposite side of the protuberant member via the anchor hole.
|