UAV drop-plate for drop-payloads

1. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) drop-plate, comprising:

a frame that extends along a plane, the frame includes a plurality of frame members separated by

a plurality of openings that extend through the frame; and

a plurality of lugs attached to the frame, the plurality of lugs configured to extend along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame in an unfolded configuration and rotate to extend along the plane of the frame in a folded configuration, each lug of the plurality of lugs configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of a UAV Mechanical Release Device (MRD).

2. The UAV drop-plate of claim 1 , wherein the frame and the plurality of lugs are formed of glass-filled Nylon or polycarbonate.

3. The UAV drop-plate of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the frame.

4. The UAV drop-plate of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of straps attached to the plurality of buckles.

5. The UAV drop-plate of claim 1 , wherein in the folded configuration, each lug of the plurality of lugs is located within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings.

6. The UAV drop-plate of claim 5 , wherein in the folded configuration, each lug of the plurality of lugs has a top surface that is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the frame and a bottom surface that is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface of the frame.

7. The UAV drop-plate of claim 6 , further including a plurality of lug latches, each lug of the plurality of lugs having a corresponding lug latch to maintain the lug extending along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

8. A method of attaching a payload to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), comprising:

attaching the payload to a drop-plate that extends along a plane, the drop-plate having a plurality of drop-plate lugs extending perpendicular to the plane;

rotating the plurality of drop-plate lugs from a folded configuration into an unfolded configuration in which the plurality of drop-plate lugs extend perpendicular to the plane;

subsequently, laterally aligning the plurality of drop-plate lugs and corresponding openings of a Mechanical Release Device (MRD) of the UAV while a payload latch mechanism of the MRD is in an open position;

subsequently, vertically aligning the plurality of drop-plate lugs and corresponding engagement features of the payload latch mechanism of the MRD while the payload latch mechanism of the MRD is in the open position; and

subsequently, moving the payload latch mechanism of the MRD from the open position to a closed position such that the plurality of drop-plate lugs are engaged by the corresponding engagement features.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein attaching the payload to the drop-plate includes placing one or more straps that extend from the drop-plate around the payload.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the drop-plate is formed of frame members with openings between frame members and attaching the payload to the drop-plate includes extending one or more straps or chords through the openings and around frame members.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

subsequently, flying the UAV to a destination; and

dropping the drop-plate and payload from the UAV by moving the payload latch mechanism to the open position at the destination.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein dropping the drop-plate and payload from the UAV is in response to receiving a command from a remote control of the UAV.

13. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) drop-plate, comprising:

a frame that extends along a plane, the frame includes a plurality of frame members separated by a plurality of openings that extend through the frame; and

a plurality of lugs attached to the frame, each lug of the plurality of lugs is configurable between an unfolded configuration in which the lug extends perpendicular to the plane and a folded configuration in which the lug extends parallel to the plane within an opening, each lug of the plurality of lugs having a hole to engage a corresponding engagement feature of a UAV Mechanical Release Device (MRD).

14. The UAV drop-plate of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the frame, each buckle holding a strap to attach a payload to the UAV drop-plate.

15. The UAV drop-plate of claim 13 , wherein the frame and the plurality of lugs are formed of glass-filled Nylon or polycarbonate.

16. The UAV drop-plate of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of lug latches, each lug of the plurality of lugs having a corresponding lug latch to maintain the lug in the unfolded configuration.

17. The UAV drop-plate of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of lugs consists of four lugs in a rectangular pattern.