IP Library Granted Patent US 11,845,530
Granted Patent B2
US 11,845,530 · App. 17/703,815 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Compact foldable multicopter unmanned aerial vehicle for cargo delivery

Inventors: Stephen Morris (Sunnyvale, CA); Jean-Francois Clavreul (Berkeley, CA)
Assignee: Sierra Nevada Corporation
B64C1/30B64C39/024B64U30/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,845,530
App. No.
17/703,815
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage having a first side and a second side, a first arm disposed on a first side of the fuselage, wherein the first arm is coupled to one or more first propellers, wherein the first arm is adapted to move between a first folded position in which the first arm is in a folded state inside the fuselage and a first extended position in which a first section of the first arm and the one or more first propellers are outside the fuselage, and a second arm disposed on the second side of the fuselage, wherein the second arm is coupled to one or more second propellers, wherein the second arm is adapted to move between a second folded position in which the second arm is in a folded state inside the fuselage and a second extended position in which a second section of the second arm and the one or more second propellers are outside the fuselage.

Claims (21)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a fuselage having an internal volume;

an arm adapted to move between a stored position and an extended position, wherein the arm comprises:

a first portion coupled to the fuselage; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion; and

at least one propeller coupled to the second portion of the arm;

wherein:

the first portion and the second portion are adapted to move between a folded configuration and an extended configuration;

the first portion and the second portion are in the folded configuration, and the first portion, the second portion, and the at least one propeller fit within the internal volume, when the arm is in the stored position; and

the first portion and the second portion are in the extended configuration, the second portion extends outside the internal volume, and the at least one propeller is outside the fuselage, when the arm is in the extended position;

the first portion and the second portion are in the folded configuration and define a first plane, when the arm is in the stored position;

the first portion and the second portion are in the extended configuration and define a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, when the first portion and second portion are in an extended position; and

four rods coupled to the second portion;

four propellers, each propeller coupled to a respective one of the four rods;

wherein each of the plurality of rods is adapted to move between a first, folded position and a second, extended position when the arm is in the extended position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the internal volume is adapted to hold items of cargo when the arm is in the extended position.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of doors disposed in a surface of the fuselage, wherein the plurality of doors are adapted to open and close, wherein the plurality of doors allow access to the internal volume when open, wherein the plurality of doors protect items inside the internal volume when closed.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plate disposed in the internal volume, the plate being attached to the fuselage;

wherein the first portion of the arm is coupled to the plate.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 12, 2024
From: SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
To: SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067096/0337 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064179/0058 →
TRANSFER STATEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061954/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2022
From: MORRIS, STEPHEN; CLAVREUL, JEAN-FRANCOIS
To: VOLANSI, INC.
Reel/Frame 059395/0468 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63165156 · Mar 24, 2021
Related Publication 20220306272A1 · Sep 29, 2022