US 12,071,240 B2
Dual ISR-payload capable UAV
Emily Agostino, Walnut Creek, CA (US); Curtis Leo, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Stephen Morris, Suunyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Sierra Nevada Company, LLC, Sparks, NV (US)
Filed by Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sparks, NV (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/246,133.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,390, filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339859 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64D 1/10 (2006.01); B64D 37/00 (2006.01); B64D 47/08 (2006.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 20/40 (2023.01); B64U 20/87 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 1/22 (2013.01) [B64D 1/10 (2013.01); B64D 37/005 (2013.01); B64D 47/08 (2013.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 20/40 (2023.01); B64U 20/87 (2023.01); B64C 2211/00 (2013.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual use unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV comprising:
a fuselage, the fuselage having a forward positioned interface integrally formed with a bottom area of the fuselage, the forward positioned interface configured to receive at least a first modular intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) unit, and a rearward positioned interface integrally formed with the bottom area of the fuselage, the rearward positioned interface configured to receive at least a first modular cargo unit and wherein the rearward positioned interface is configured to interchangeably receive a second modular cargo unit in place of the first modular cargo unit;
an electrical power source located at the fuselage;
a primary processor located at the fuselage and powered by the electrical power source;
the first modular ISR unit comprising a first video camera, the first modular ISR unit removably coupled to the forward positioned interface, wherein the first modular ISR unit is capable of communication with the primary processor;
a second modular ISR unit comprising a second video camera, wherein the first video camera is movably mounted on a first gimbal and the second video camera is movably mounted on a second gimbal and wherein the first video camera and the second video camera have relative, coordinated motions such that the first video camera faces in an opposite direction from the second video camera at all times; and
the first modular cargo unit, comprising a cargo pod, the first modular cargo unit configured to be removably coupled to the rearward positioned interface, wherein the first modular cargo unit is capable of communication with the primary processor, and wherein the primary processor is configured to:
identify whether the first modular cargo unit or the second modular cargo unit is coupled to the rearward positioned interface;
identify that the second modular cargo unit is a larger cargo pod than the first modular cargo unit and further identify a cargo pod type of the second modular cargo unit;
cause the first video camera of the first modular ISR unit to behave differently depending on whether the first modular cargo unit or the second modular cargo unit is coupled to the rearward positioned interface, and wherein such difference in behavior causes tilting and rotation of the first video camera and automatic adjustment of an applicable field of view for the first video camera based on a physical dimension of the second modular cargo unit.