Payload assembly for mobile platforms

Inventors: Warner Allen Miller (Boca Raton, FL); Michael Lange (Melbourne, FL); Victor Bucklew (Richmond, VA); Samuel Knarr (Melbourne, FL)

Assignees: Eagle Technology, LLC; Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees

B64U20/80 B64U2201/104 B64U2201/20

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12686511
App. No.: 18/431,223
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

In an embodiment, a payload assembly is independent of a corresponding mobile platform (e.g. small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV), etc.). The payload assembly includes a flight controller (FC), a global positioning system (GPS) unit, a radio frequency (RF) telemetry unit, an RF antenna, a companion computer, and a power distribution system, thereby enabling both mobile platform and payload agnostic capabilities.

Claims (36)

1 . A payload assembly for a mobile platform, the payload assembly comprising:

a carrier structure containing a payload and configured as a landing structure for the mobile platform, the carrier structure including:

a front frame and a rear frame each with upper portions coupled to a bar extending between sides of the front and rear frames;

a gimbal mechanism suspended from the bar and configured to support and control orientation of the payload relative to the carrier structure; and

a quick release mechanism disposed on the bar to secure the payload assembly to the mobile platform; and

a payload support system disposed on the carrier structure and comprising:

one or more sensors to obtain measurements of the payload assembly directly measured on the payload assembly;

a communication unit configured to communicate with one or more external devices, wherein the one or more external devices include a payload assembly controller remote from the payload assembly and mobile platform and configured to directly send commands to the payload assembly; and

a flight controller configured to control operation of the gimbal mechanism and the payload to perform a task based on the measurements of the payload assembly from the one or more sensors and the commands received from the payload assembly controller, wherein the payload assembly is operational with different mobile platforms each having a different software and/or hardware configuration.

2 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mobile platform is an aerial vehicle.

3 . The payload assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flight controller is independent of the mobile platform.

4 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the payload assembly is operable independent of the mobile platform.

5 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the payload support system further includes a computing device to control the payload to perform programmable operations and provide communication with a ground unit.

6 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a global positioning system unit to receive signals indicating a location of the payload assembly.

7 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller processes measurements from the one or more sensors of the payload support system and at least one sensor of the mobile platform to control the payload.

8 . The payload assembly of claim 7 , wherein the flight controller determines a location of the payload assembly based on global positioning signals received by the payload support system and the mobile platform.

9 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the payload assembly controller directly controls operation of the payload assembly independent of the mobile platform.

10 . The payload assembly of claim 1 , wherein the payload assembly controller uses a frequency band for communicating with the payload assembly different than a frequency band used by a mobile platform controller for communicating with the mobile platform.

11 . A method of controlling a payload of a payload assembly for a mobile platform, the method comprising:

supporting the payload on a carrier structure of the payload assembly, wherein the carrier structure is configured as a landing structure for the mobile platform and includes a front frame and a rear frame each with upper portions coupled to a bar extending between sides of the front and rear frames, a gimbal mechanism suspended from the bar and configured to support and control orientation of the payload relative to the carrier structure, and a quick release mechanism disposed on the bar to secure the payload assembly to the mobile platform;

obtaining measurements of the payload assembly via one or more sensors of a payload support system of the payload assembly, wherein the payload support system is disposed on the carrier structure and the one or more sensors directly measure the payload assembly;

communicating with one or more external devices via a communication unit of the payload support system, wherein the one or more external devices include a payload assembly controller remote from the payload assembly and mobile platform to directly send commands to the payload assembly; and

controlling operation of the gimbal mechanism and the payload by a flight controller of the payload support system to perform a task based on the measurements of the payload assembly from the one or more sensors and the commands received from the payload assembly controller, wherein the payload assembly is operational with different mobile platforms each having a different software and/or hardware configuration.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mobile platform is an aerial vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the flight controller is independent of the mobile platform.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the payload assembly is operable independent of the mobile platform.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the payload support system further includes a computing device, and the method further comprises:

controlling the payload to perform programmable operations and providing communication with a ground unit via the computing device.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors include a global positioning system unit to receive signals indicating a location of the payload assembly.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling operation of the payload further comprises:

processing, via the flight controller, measurements from the one or more sensors of the payload support system and at least one sensor of the mobile platform to control the payload.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein controlling operation of the payload further comprises:

determining, via the flight controller, a location of the payload assembly based on global positioning signals received by the payload support system and the mobile platform.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

directly controlling operation of the payload assembly independent of the mobile platform via the payload assembly controller.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the payload assembly controller uses a frequency band for communicating with the payload assembly different than a frequency band used by a mobile platform controller for communicating with the mobile platform.