US 12,252,269 B2
Urban air mobility cargo module swapping system
Bruno Mombrinie, Forestville, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/753,965
Filed by Bruno Mombrinie, Forestville, CA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 22, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/070561
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/062434, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/904,328, filed on Sep. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371746 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 1/32 (2006.01); B64C 1/20 (2006.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B64U 101/64 (2023.01)
CPC B64F 1/322 (2020.01) [B64C 1/20 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); B64U 2101/64 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo bin swapping system for an electric short take-off and landing (ESTOL) aircraft, comprising:
an ESTOL aircraft having a central fuselage with a forward portion with a cockpit, front and rear landing gear, and a tail assembly, and configured for selectively coupling to an decoupling from one of a plurality of cargo bins, each configured to function as the aft portion of the central fuselage;
a swapping robot, namely an autonomously driven robotic vehicle and material handler, for transporting, carrying, positioning, orienting, aligning, inserting, and removing cargo bins to and from said forward portion of said ESTOL; and
wherein said swapping robot further comprises:
an autonomously maneuverable mobile platform on wheels; and
first and second spaced apart robotic arms disposed on said platform, each of said robotic arms having a grip configured with an end coupling element to engage and operate coupling fittings on said cargo bin to enable placement and removal of said cargo bin from said forward portion and to hold said cargo bin during transport.