US 11,953,916 B2
Transportation pod that deploys from an aircraft or vehicle
Brian Dale Laughlin, Wichita, KS (US); and John William Glatfelter, Kennett Square, PA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/778,409.
Prior Publication US 2021/0240204 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. G05D 1/04 (2006.01); B64D 5/00 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B64D 17/34 (2006.01); B64D 17/80 (2006.01); B64D 25/00 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/042 (2013.01) [B64D 5/00 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); B64D 17/34 (2013.01); B64D 17/80 (2013.01); B64D 25/00 (2013.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01); G05D 1/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a pod that is attached to an aircraft or vehicle, the method comprising:
during flight of the aircraft or vehicle, deploying the pod from the aircraft or vehicle while at an elevation above ground, the pod comprising walls that extend around and form a contained interior space that houses one or more travelers or cargo containers;
determining a landing location for the pod to safely land;
after deployment, prompting the one or more travelers how the pod is to be steered;
while the pod is descending from the elevation and in response to the prompting, controlling the pod from a computing device that is remotely located with the computing device steering the pod towards the landing location; and
landing the pod at the landing location.