US 12,168,512 B2
UAV with open cargo bay and method of operation
Jesse Blake, Palo Alto, CA (US); Andre Prager, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Evan Twyford, Mountain View, CA (US); Ivan Qiu, Redwood City, CA (US); and Jasper Lewin, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to Wing Aviation, LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Wing Aviation LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/865,078.
Prior Publication US 2024/0017827 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 1/10 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 1/10 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
a fuselage including a top, a bottom, a cavity that forms a cargo bay between the top and the bottom, and a lower access opening in the bottom for lowering a payload from the cargo bay;
a movable stage coupled to the fuselage and adjustable between an upper position in which the stage is above the cargo bay and a lower position in which the stage is at the bottom of the fuselage, the stage including an opening extending through the stage;
an attachment structure coupled to the movable stage and configured to secure a payload under the movable stage;
a winch disposed in the fuselage; and
a tether coupled to the winch and configured to be secured to the payload, wherein the tether is movable through the opening in the stage so as to raise or lower the payload.