US 12,404,047 B2
Drone loading system
Christopher John Crockford, Colchester (GB)
Assigned to Digital & Future Technologies Limited, Colchester (GB)
Filed by Digital & Future Technologies Limited, Colchester (GB)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,422.
Claims priority of application No. 2203602 (GB), filed on Mar. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0294849 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B64U 60/40 (2023.01); B64U 20/83 (2023.01); B64U 101/64 (2023.01); B64U 101/67 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 20/83 (2023.01) [B64U 60/40 (2023.01); B64U 2101/64 (2023.01); B64U 2101/67 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for transporting a payload comprising:
a vehicle body;
a retractable rail exposed on an underside of the vehicle body;
a retraction mechanism coupling the rail to the vehicle body for causing the rail to raise to a raised position and lower to a lowered position relative to the vehicle body;
a barrier located on the vehicle body so as to confront the rail when the rail is in the raised position to block the removal of a payload slidably engaged with the rail and the barrier is located on the vehicle body so as to not confront the rail when the rail is in the lowered position; and
a mechanism for moving the payload along the rail, the mechanism comprising a motor.