IP Library Granted Patent US 11,781,931
Granted Patent B2
US 11,781,931 · App. 16/942,969 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Center of gravity based positioning of items within a drone

Inventor: Lee Priest (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Metal Raptor, LLC
G01M1/125B64C39/024B64D9/00G08G5/0069B64U2101/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,781,931
App. No.
16/942,969
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for loading an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with one or more items is disclosed. The method includes positioning one or more items in specific positions within one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and a container configured to be carried by the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based on a Center of Gravity of each of the one or more items. The method also includes securing the one or more items in the specific positions within the one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the container to prevent the one or more items from shifting and changing a combined Center of Gravity of the one or more items combined with the one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the container during a flight of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Claims (12)

1. A method for loading an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with one or more items, comprising:

positioning one or more items in specific positions within one of the UAV and a container configured to be carried by the UAV based on a Center of Gravity (COG) of each of the one or more items; and

securing the one or more items in the specific positions within the one of the UAV and the container to prevent the one or more items from shifting and changing a combined COG of the one or more items combined with the one of the UAV and the container during a flight of the UAV, wherein the one or more items are secured in specific positions by inserting one or more shelves into one of the UAV and the container and securing the one or more items to the one or more shelves using at least one of straps, wrapping material, fastening devices, spacers, filler material, adhesive, and cardboard.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more items are secured in specific positions using straps connected to one or more walls of the one of the UAV and the container.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more items are positioned in the specific positions using one or more spacers.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more spacers include a region for holding a weight used to further balance a combined COG including the COG of the UAV and the COG of the one or more items.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more items are secured in specific positions using an adhesive.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the adhesive is an adhesive gel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the specific positions for each of the one or more items based on a COG of each of the one or more items and a COG of the one of the UAV and the container.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the specific positions for one or more items being placed in the container is also based on the COG of the UAV selected to transport the container.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein positioning each of the one or more items in the specific positions is also based on a weight of each of the one or more items.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning each of the one or more items in the specific positions is further based on a weight of the one of the UAV and the container.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 29, 2023
From: METAL RAPTOR LLC
To: METAL RAPTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 065786/0781 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2021
From: PRIEST, LEE
To: METAL RAPTOR, LLC
Reel/Frame 056048/0388 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2021
From: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: PRIEST, LEE
Reel/Frame 055598/0694 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2020
From: PRIEST, LEE
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053352/0779 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation In Part 16752849 · Jan 27, 2020
Continuation In Part 16100296 · Aug 10, 2018
Continuation In Part 16000950 · Jun 6, 2018
Continuation In Part 15985996 · May 22, 2018
Continuation In Part 15800574 · Nov 1, 2017
Continuation In Part 15338559 · Oct 31, 2016
Continuation In Part 15292782 · Oct 13, 2016
Continuation In Part 15268831 · Sep 19, 2016
Continuation In Part 15255672 · Sep 2, 2016
Continuation In Part 15217135 · Jul 22, 2016
Continuation In Part 15244023 · Aug 23, 2016
Continuation In Part 15193488 · Jun 27, 2016
Continuation In Part 15185598 · Jun 17, 2016
Continuation In Part 15179188 · Jun 10, 2016
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