Patent Description:
Current heavy lift external operations are accomplished by aging manned conventional helicopters or heavy construction equipment, such as cranes. These methods, while functional, fail to provide performance in heavy lift capacity due to a number of drawbacks. For example, helicopters may suffer from technical problems, human occupancy, and various safety factors. Furthermore, helicopters with suspended loads may need to be visible from the cockpit, and as a result, support lines may have a limited length, which could lead to damage to structures since helicopters will be limited by the distance they can fly over various obstacles. Cranes and other lifting equipment also block roadways, cause property damage, be difficult to transport, and have high costs for seemingly minor operations. <CIT> discloses an unmanned remotely piloted aircraft. <CIT> discloses an unmanned multimode helicopter. <CIT> discloses an azimuthal propulsion-control system. <CIT> discloses a tether compensated airborne delivery. <CIT> package transport by unmanned aerial vehicles. <CIT> discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle including a removable parcel carrier. <CIT> discloses a payload-release device and operation thereof.

Applicants recognized the problems noted above herein and conceived and developed embodiments of systems and methods, according to the present disclosure, for UAV lifting systems. According to the present invention, an unmanned aerial vehicle for transporting items between locations is provided according to claim <NUM>.

The present technology will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The foregoing aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be further appreciated when considered with reference to the following description of embodiments and accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the appended drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms used.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Any examples of operating parameters and/or environmental conditions are not exclusive of other parameters/conditions of the disclosed embodiments. Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "certain embodiments", or "other embodiments" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, reference to terms such as "above", "below", "upper", "lower", "side", "front", "back", or other terms regarding orientation or direction are made with reference to the illustrated embodiments and are not intended to be limiting or exclude other orientations or directions. Like numbers may be used to refer to like elements throughout, but it should be appreciated that using like numbers is for convenience and clarity and not intended to limit embodiments of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems for utilizing UAVs, for heavy lift operations. In various embodiments, the UAVs may include reinforced frame structures, which may be separate from structures supporting operational equipment of the UAVs, as load attachment points. For example, a frame structure may include reinforcements, such as gussets, cross-braces, material modifications, and the like, to function as an anchor point for the attachment of a load, which may be suspended from the UAV during operation. In various embodiments, the frame structure may separate and/or remove the load from the transmission or motor of the UAV, thereby reducing stresses and also separating the load from critical components of the UAV. Furthermore, in embodiments, the load support area may further include features to facilitate coupling of the load such that loads may be quickly and efficiently coupled to the frame.

In various embodiments, systems may also be directed toward utilizing a load location device and a placement location device to direct the loads to a particular location. For example, the UAVs may include one or more control systems, which may be referred to as an avionics component or a flight computer that receives a signal from the placement location device. The placement location device may be a destination for the load supported by the UAV. As the UAV is directed toward the placement location device, the UAV may receive the signal and then navigate the load toward the placement location device. The load location device may enable the UAV to effectively determine a location of the UAV (e.g., a vertical distance higher than the placement location, an offset from the placement location, etc.) in order to navigate toward the placement location device. In various embodiments, such a system may enable delivery to remote locations and/or facilitate a staging or loading area for later transportation via one or more methods, such as additional UAVs, truck, rail, ship, or the like.

In various embodiments, systems of the present disclosure may be used to provide heavy lift operations in a variety of different situations. For example, offshore platforms, such as those used for oil and gas exploration, may receive shipments of supplies and equipment utilizing UAVs. As a result, helicopter or shipping transportation to these locations may be reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, in embodiments, UAVs may be utilized to deliver items to rural locations, where other shipping methods may have difficulty traveling. For example, mountainous regions may not have roadways large enough to support trucks or the like, and as a result, many different shipments may be utilized to provide supplies and equipment. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize the UAVs to provide goods and equipment to these regions. Furthermore, in various embodiments, UAVs may be utilized with construction efforts in high-density areas, such as cities. During construction of buildings, such as high rises, cranes and the like may be utilized to lift items, such as air conditioning units and the like, to rooftop locations. These cranes may lead to road closures and may be cost-prohibitive. UAVs may be utilized to quickly and efficiently lift the items upward to rooftop locations without the same drawbacks as cranes and other lifting devices. Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure may be used for military operations to provide supplies to soldiers that may be in otherwise inaccessible or hostile regions. As a result, supply lines may be made available to these soldiers. Furthermore, the UAVs may be used to pick up operations, such as extraction missions, and also drop off operations, such as deployment. Additionally, in various embodiments, the UAVs of the present disclosure may be used during disaster or relief efforts. For example, UAVs may provide supplies and personnel to flooded regions where roadways are inaccessible due to high waters. Additionally, other natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, and the like may also benefit from UAVs of the present disclosure where staging areas and supplies may be provided without traditional infrastructure in place.

It should be appreciated that while various embodiments of the present disclosure may describe UAVs, that in embodiments other aerial vehicles may also be utilized. Moreover, UAVs may include aerial vehicles that are unmanned but are controlled by human operators.

<FIG> is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of an environment <NUM> in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced. The illustrated environment <NUM> includes a loading area <NUM>, which may be associated with a location where items may be prepared for delivery and/or transport. As will be understood, there are a variety of methods that may be utilized to transport an item <NUM> from a first location to a second location, such as ships <NUM>, trucks <NUM>, rail cars <NUM>, and heavy equipment <NUM>, such as cranes where the location is a substantially different vertical position, as opposed to a different horizontal position. A transport destination <NUM> may also vary, for example, such as rural areas <NUM>, offshore platforms <NUM> or other water-based locations, and high-density areas <NUM>, such as cities, among others. As will be appreciated, certain transportation methods may be preferable to others for various reasons. For example, rural areas <NUM> may not be accessible by ship <NUM>. Similarly, trucks <NUM> are unable to delivery to offshore platforms <NUM>. Accordingly, improved transportation methods are needed to facilitate transportation to a variety of different locations.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include UAVs <NUM> to deliver the item <NUM> to various different transport destinations <NUM>. UAVs <NUM> do not suffer from the same drawbacks as other methods, as they can access essentially any area. Furthermore, UAVs <NUM> can move items over long distances and also different vertical heights. As a result, the UAVs <NUM> may combine operations of various other transportation methods, such as acting as both a truck <NUM> and crane <NUM> at a transport destination <NUM>. As noted above, helicopters may currently be used to deliver items to various different locations. However, UAVs <NUM> offer the benefit of being un-manned, thereby reducing risk associated with human operators conducting transport operations. For example, the UAVs <NUM> may be controlled, such as from a ground location, semi-autonomous, such as including partial control by a human operator, or fully autonomous. Additionally, UAVs <NUM> may be smaller and more cost effective than helicopters.

<FIG> is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a UAV <NUM>, which may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various features have been removed for clarity with the following discussion. As described above, the UAV <NUM> may be manually controlled, for example by a human operator at a ground location, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous. In various embodiments, the UAV <NUM> may not carry human passengers, but rather, cargo and the like. However, in various embodiments, the UAVs <NUM> may transport human passengers. The illustrated UAV <NUM> includes a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> includes a load support area <NUM>, which may be used to suspend or otherwise support various features of the UAV <NUM>, such as a hanging load, other components of the UAV <NUM>, or a combination thereof. Further illustrated is a transmission mount <NUM> that couples a transmission <NUM> to the frame <NUM>, for example, to the load support area <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, the transmission mount <NUM> may not be coupled to the load support area <NUM>. In other words, the transmission mount <NUM> may be coupled to the frame <NUM>, but not directly to the load support area <NUM>. The transmission <NUM> receives motive energy (e.g., operational energy) from one or more input shafts <NUM>, which may be coupled to motors (not pictured), to provide rotational energy to a mast <NUM>. It should be appreciated that while only one transmission <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, that there may be one or more transmissions <NUM> utilized by the UAV. The illustrated mast <NUM> includes a first section <NUM> and second section <NUM>. In various embodiments, rotor blades (not pictured) coupled to the mast <NUM> may rotate in opposite directions, thereby providing a coaxial rotor having counter-rotating blades. For example, the first section <NUM> may rotate in a first direction <NUM> about an axis <NUM> while the second section <NUM> rotates in a second direction <NUM> about the axis <NUM>. The illustrated UAV <NUM> further includes landing gear <NUM>, which may include wheels, skids, or the like. The landing gear <NUM> includes landing supports <NUM> extending at an angle <NUM> toward feet <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the landing gear <NUM> extends outward from the frame <NUM> to provide a sturdy structure for landing and supporting the UAV <NUM>.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the frame <NUM> includes the load support area <NUM>, which has improved structural strength or rigidity when compared to other components of the frame <NUM>. For example, the load support area <NUM> may be formed from a different material, such as a stronger metal, composition materials, combinations of materials, or the like. Additionally, the load support area <NUM> may include structure reinforcements, such as cross bracing, gussets, joints, additional material or layers or material, and the like. Furthermore, in embodiments, the load support area <NUM> may also include one or more biasing members arranged between the load support area <NUM> and the remainder of the frame <NUM>, thereby providing different harmonic properties of the load support area <NUM>. As will be described below, in various embodiments, loads coupled to the load support area <NUM> may not be directed through or coupled directly to the transmission <NUM>, which may reduce stresses or possible misalignment from the transmission <NUM> to improve reliability of the UAV <NUM>. It should be noted that, because the transmission <NUM> is facilitating lifting of the load, that the transmission <NUM> will necessarily be influenced by the load. However, embodiments of the present disclosure may direct the load and an associated coupling point to the load support area <NUM>, rather than directly to the transmission <NUM>. Furthermore, loads may be increased due the use of the load support area <NUM>, which may expand the operational capabilities of the UAV <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view of an embodiment of the UAV <NUM>. Again, various components have been removed for clarity. The illustrated embodiment includes motors <NUM> (e.g., power devices) for providing motive power to the transmission <NUM>. While the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of motors <NUM>, it should be appreciated that any number of motors <NUM> may be used (e.g., <NUM> motor, <NUM> motors, <NUM> motors, etc.). Furthermore, in embodiments, the motors <NUM> may be gas powered, electric, or any other type of motor. It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, the motors may include turbine engines that couple directly to the transmission <NUM>, via the input shafts <NUM>, and as a result, a <NUM>-degree gearbox or other gearing system may not be included. Furthermore, in embodiments, the transmission <NUM> may include a plurality of yaw control devices for rotating the UAV in yaw about the axis <NUM>, thereby eliminating complex differential collective yaw mechanisms. However, in various embodiments, gearing systems such as planetary gear sets and the like may be incorporated into the transmission, or separate from the transmission, to regulate operation of motor <NUM>. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that various sensors may be incorporated to monitor operations of the motor <NUM>, transmission <NUM>, and the like. For example, a rotation speed of the motor, vibration, power level, and the like may be monitored.

In the illustrated embodiment, the motors <NUM> are coupled to the frame <NUM> via motor mounts <NUM>. In various embodiments, the motor mounts <NUM> may further be coupled to the load support area <NUM>. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the motor mounts <NUM> are positioned separate from the load support area <NUM>.

The load support area <NUM> includes a mounting location <NUM>, which may include an eyelet or the like to receive a tether <NUM> coupled to a load <NUM>. As illustrated, the mounting location <NUM> is centered along the axis <NUM>. However, it should be appreciated that the mounting location <NUM> may be positioned at any location within the load support area <NUM>. Furthermore, there may be multiple mounting locations <NUM> distributed along the load support area <NUM> and/or the frame <NUM>. In operation, forces generated by the load <NUM> are directed toward the load support area <NUM> and are substantially isolated from the transmission <NUM> and/or the motors <NUM>, which may improve reliability and improve lifting capacity of the UAV <NUM>.

In various embodiments, a load location device <NUM> is arranged proximate the load <NUM>. The load location device <NUM> may be a transceiver that sends and/or receives signals indicative of a location of the load <NUM>. The location may be relative to the frame <NUM>, relative to a starting location, or relative to a desired ending or transport location. For example, the load location device <NUM> may be utilized to navigate to the desired end location. As a result, operation may be substantially automated such that the UAV <NUM> may receive the load, take off, and follow prompts to transport the load <NUM> to an ending location based, at least in part, on signals from the load location device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top plan view of an embodiment of the UAV <NUM>. As noted above, various features have been omitted for clarity with the following discussion. As shown, the landing gear <NUM> is arranged radially outward from the frame <NUM>. Such an arrangement facilitates a sturdy base for the UAV <NUM> for landing. The illustrated landing gear <NUM> includes the previously discussed landing supports <NUM> and feed <NUM>. As will be described below, in various embodiments, the rotor blades of the UAV <NUM> may extend radially outward from the landing gear <NUM> (e.g., having a larger outer diameter than the landing gear <NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, the load support area <NUM> is arranged within the frame <NUM> and has a smaller area than the totality of the frame <NUM>. The load support area <NUM> is centered about the axis <NUM> and may include the mounting location <NUM> to center loads along the UAV <NUM>. It should be appreciated that multiple mounting locations <NUM> may be included on the UAV <NUM>. For example, mounting locations may be arranged at various points along the load support area <NUM> and/or the frame <NUM>. In one example, the UAV <NUM> may include four mounting locations <NUM> that converge to center at the axis <NUM>. Furthermore, in embodiments, the load may not center at the axis <NUM>. While this may produce an uneven load, operation may be adjusted through various features of the UAV <NUM>, such as the control system that regulates yaw, pitch, or roll control of the UAV <NUM>. For example, in various embodiments, the load may shift during transportation and the control system may adjust various features of the UAV <NUM> to continue operation.

<FIG> is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a portion of the propulsion system <NUM> of the UAV <NUM>. The illustrated portion includes rotors <NUM>, <NUM> coupled to the mast <NUM> at the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the propulsion system <NUM> may also include the transmission <NUM>, motors <NUM>, and various other components. As illustrated, the rotors <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged coaxially along the axis <NUM>. In operation, the rotors <NUM>, <NUM> may rotate in opposite directions, enabling generation of high amounts of lift while balancing torque effects.

It should be appreciated that respective lengths <NUM>, <NUM> of the rotors <NUM>, <NUM> may be particularly selected based on other dimensions of the UAV <NUM>. For example, larger UAVs <NUM> may utilize larger rotors <NUM>, <NUM>. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that each rotor <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed from a plurality of blades <NUM>, which may also vary based on intended operating conditions.

It should be appreciated that various components of the UAV <NUM> may be constructed from lightweight materials in order to provide advantageous carrying capabilities. For example, the lighter the UAV <NUM> then the greater payload the UAV <NUM> may deliver. The UAV <NUM> may be constructed from metals, such as aluminum, steels, and the like. Furthermore, the UAV <NUM> may include plastics or composite materials. Additionally, combinations of materials may be used to form portions of the frame <NUM>, load support area <NUM>, and the like.

In various embodiments, the UAV <NUM> is used to transport items between a first location and a second location. The items may include containers to provide a uniform size and/or mounting location for the UAV <NUM>. Furthermore, in embodiments, the UAV <NUM> may further be utilized to carry people or animals. For example, the UAV <NUM> may be utilized to provide extractions, such as for soldiers or for victims of environmental disasters, such as flooding or the like. Accordingly, the loads described herein may refer to containers, individual items, people, or the like.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an environment <NUM> illustrating operation of the UAV <NUM> via a load locating system <NUM>. The illustrated load locating system <NUM> includes a load positioning controller <NUM>, which may be positioned on the UAV <NUM>. For example, the UAV <NUM> may include a mount for various electronic components, and may include a power supply, processor, memory, and the like. The load positioning controller <NUM> may receive signals from the load location device <NUM>, which is arranged proximate the load <NUM>, as described above. Furthermore, various placement location devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned at different physical locations within the environment <NUM>. In various embodiments, each of the load location device <NUM> and placement location devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include transceivers that can send and/or receive information, for example, from the load positioning computer <NUM>. The information may be transmitted through a variety of wireless communication protocols, such as cellular signals, near field communications signals, wireless internet signals, radio signals, and the like. For example, in various embodiments, each of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be associated with a global positioning system (GPS) that provides relative locations of each of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to one another.

In operation, the load <NUM> may be intended for the location associated with the placement location device <NUM>. As a result, the load location device <NUM> may be specified, for example via the load positioning controller <NUM>, for placement at the placement location device <NUM>. Accordingly, instructions may be provided to the UAV <NUM>, for example via the load positioning controller <NUM>, to guide the UAV <NUM> toward the location associated with placement location device <NUM>. In this manner, the load <NUM> may be transmitted to the desired location and may be guided toward that location. In various embodiments, the devices may have power saving features such that signals are only transmitted at intermittent times or when the load location device <NUM> is within a certain distance. For example, a course may be charted toward the placement location device <NUM>, but the load location device <NUM> and/or the placement location device <NUM> may remain in a low power operating condition (or off) until the load location device <NUM> is within a predetermined distance from the placement location device <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, placement location devices <NUM>, <NUM> may serve as beacons along the route to the placement location device <NUM> to provide information regarding the charted course for the UAV <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that, in various embodiments, different modes of operation may be utilized with the load positioning controller <NUM>. For example, a human operation may instruct the UAV <NUM> of the desired placement location device <NUM>. The UAV <NUM> may enter an autonomous mode until the UAV <NUM> is within a distance of the placement location device <NUM>. At that point, a second human operator may regain control of the UAV <NUM> to guide the UAV <NUM> to land at a desired location. It should be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the UAV <NUM> may be fully human operated or fully autonomous.

<FIG> is an example environment <NUM> where for embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, a UAV environment <NUM> includes a load positioning controller <NUM>, which may be similar to the load positioning controller of <NUM>. The load positioning controller <NUM> may determine a location of a load, for example via a load location device <NUM>. In various embodiments, the position of the load may be with respect to the UAV, a starting location, an ending location, a mid-point beacon, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the load location device <NUM> is positioned proximate a load being transmitted by the UAV <NUM> and may communicate with the load positioning controller <NUM> via a wireless communication protocol. The UAV environment <NUM> further includes a guidance system <NUM>, which may be used to navigate the UAV to a desired location. For example, the guidance system <NUM> may receive information from the data store <NUM> to navigate or otherwise control the UAV. The data store <NUM> may include information such as operating conditions of the engine, operating conditions of the transmission, altitude, wind speed, weather reports, regulations limiting operation of the UAV, or the like. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the data store <NUM> may include information to geofence the UAV within a predetermined boundary. It should be appreciated that this information may be obtained from a variety of sensors arranged along the UAV, which have not been included for simplicity. The UAV environment <NUM> further includes an interface <NUM> for communicating, via a network <NUM>, with a control center <NUM>. The control center <NUM>, for example, may provide instructions to the UAV. In various embodiments, different control centers <NUM> may be arranged at a starting location and an ending location for the UAV. Furthermore, control centers <NUM> may be arranged along the path of the UAV. For example, in various embodiments the UAV may operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLS). As a result, control centers <NUM> may be arranged along the path or at a third location that is communicatively coupled to the UAV, but is also different than the starting location and/or the ending location. For example, the control center <NUM> may be a central command that transmits instructions to various UAVs. In one non-limiting example, coastal operations may utilize UAVs stationed at various locations but that are controlled from a central command that is distance from the stationed locations of the UAVs.

The illustrated control center <NUM> includes a navigation system <NUM>, which may be used to plot a course for the UAV. In various embodiments, flight paths may be restricted, for example, by government entities, and as a result, the navigation system <NUM> may be used to determine an appropriate flight path for the UAV. The flight path may be transmitted to the UAV and may, in various embodiments, be updated during the flight to accommodate for emergency situations, weather, and the like. The control center <NUM> further includes an instruction module <NUM>. The instruction module <NUM> may be used to transmit particular instructions to the UAV, which may be different for various different clients or loads. For example, a rules data store <NUM> may include different rules and regulations for various situations. By way of example only, the rules data store <NUM> may have altitude restrictions, weight restrictions for certain distances, and the like. As a result, flights may be planned that comply with various regulations.

The illustrated embodiment further includes a manual override <NUM>, which may be used to take control of the UAV, for example for take offs, landings, emergency maneuvers, and the like. Furthermore, a shipment data store <NUM> may track different shipments to different customers, and may, in various embodiments, store different placement location devices <NUM> associated with particular customers and/or shipping locations. In embodiments, the placement location devices <NUM> may transmit signals to either the control centers <NUM> or the UAV environment <NUM>, via the network <NUM>, to facilitate placement of the loads associated with various UAVs. Furthermore, in embodiments, a user device <NUM> may be used to transmit instructions to the UAV environment <NUM> and/or the control centers <NUM>. For example, the user device <NUM> may be a controller to utilize the manual override of the UAV. Additionally, the UAV may track inventory or the like at a desired location to designate where to place the load. As noted above with respect to the interface <NUM>, communication with the control center <NUM> may be conducted through the interface <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that, while various modules of the present embodiment have been illustrated as separate, that in other embodiments they may be incorporated into one another and one module may perform additional tasks. Furthermore, additional features may also be included within the various environments, such as power systems and the like. Furthermore, the data stores may not be stored locally and may be remotely accessible, for example, via a cloud system.

Furthermore, while embodiments of the present disclosure may describe multiple systems, it should be appreciated various components and/or modules may be removed in certain embodiments. For example, in an embodiment, the UAV may operate independent of a load positioning system. That is, the UAV may utilize a GPS and flight software to transport an object (or the UAV along) to a set of received coordinates. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the UAV may utilize more or fewer components. In embodiments, fewer components may reduce the costs associated with the UAV, which may be desirable to some consumers or in certain operations.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an environment <NUM> where embodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized to form a staging area <NUM>. In various embodiments, the staging area <NUM> may be utilized to replace one or more traditional facilities, which may be useful but cost prohibitive or otherwise difficult to construct. For example, it may be challenging to build new harbors, due to the depth requirements and infrastructure investments. However, many locations may have other appropriate infrastructure, such as highways and rail lines, as well as skilled labor forces, and may also be arranged close by to areas that could benefit from materials that are shipped, such as rural farming areas or industrial areas, such as oil and gas exploration operations. Moreover, military operations may benefit from being able to transport supplies to personnel arranged at beach locations, which may provide a strategic advantage, but where forming a port or other supply line may be dangerous or otherwise difficult. Furthermore, providing staging areas may be advantageous for environmental disasters, which may be difficult to reach due to damage to infrastructure, such as flooded roads or the like.

The illustrated embodiment includes the staging area <NUM> having a first location <NUM> and a second location <NUM>. The first location <NUM> includes rows of storage containers <NUM>, but it should be appreciated that other items may also be staged at the location, such as equipment, vehicles, or the like. In various embodiments, the containers <NUM> may be stacked or otherwise organized at the first location <NUM>. Furthermore, any number of containers <NUM> may be included and the number of containers <NUM> in the embodiment of <FIG> is for illustrative purposes only. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second locations <NUM>, <NUM> are close by to other infrastructure, including roads for trucks <NUM> and rail line for trains <NUM>. A ship <NUM> is arranged a distance <NUM> from the staging area <NUM>. The ship <NUM> may not be able to dock at the staging area <NUM>, for a variety of reasons, but the ship <NUM> may include supplies that may be advantageous to position at the staging area <NUM>. Accordingly, embodiments of the present location may utilize a UAV <NUM> to transport the containers <NUM> from the ship <NUM> to the staging area <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the UAV <NUM> receives the container <NUM> from the ship <NUM> and is directed toward the placement location device <NUM> within the first location <NUM>. As described above, in various embodiments, operation may be autonomous, manually controlled, or semi-autonomous. For example, the UAV <NUM> may receive the container <NUM> and the location associated with the placement location device <NUM> may be uploaded to the UAV <NUM>. The UAV <NUM> may then navigate to the location associated with the placement location device <NUM> to deposit the container <NUM>. Accordingly, the staging area <NUM> may be established to serve as a harbor, without the infrastructure associated with the harbor, such as docks and the like. In this manner, virtually any location may be utilized as a staging area <NUM> to establish shipping and receiving operations.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> for transporting an item via a UAV. It should be appreciated that the method may include more or additional steps. Furthermore, the steps or the method may be performed in parallel or in a different order, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The example includes forming a frame of the UAV <NUM>. For example, the frame may be formed from a lightweight material, with sufficient strength capacity, to support various components of the propulsion system. In embodiments, at least a portion of the frame is reinforced or structurally strengthened, as described above <NUM>. For example, the portion of the frame may receive additional gussets or strengthening materials. Furthermore, the portion of the frame that is reinforced may be formed from a different material than the rest of the frame. The propulsion system is mounted to the frame <NUM>. For example, various mounts and the like may be utilized to secure the propulsion system to the frame to facilitate movement of the UAV. Then, the load is secured to the load support area of the frame <NUM>. For example, the load support area may include a mounting location for receiving the load. Advantageously, securing the load to the load support area instead of the transmission or portion of the propulsion system may provide improved reliability of the propulsion system.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> for transporting a load from a first location to a second location. The example includes activating a load location device <NUM>. In various embodiments, the load location device determines a relative position of the load, for example relative to a desired location, a starting location, a frame of the UAV, or the like. The desired location for the load is determined <NUM>. The desired location may be predetermined, for example, based on a customer order or the like. The UAV is then navigated to the desired location <NUM>. For example, flight paths may be determined for the UAV to approximate the desired location. A position of a placement location device is determined <NUM>. For example, as the UAV is within a threshold distance of the placement location device, the placement location device may transmit a signal to the UAV. The load is then aligned with an area associated with the placement location device <NUM>. For example, the placement location device may be associated with a particular area or region. The load is then positioned at the desired location <NUM>. For example, the load may be positioned on the ground and decoupled from the UAV. In this manner, the load may be guided toward a desired location from a starting position.

Claim 1:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for transporting items between locations, comprising:
a frame (<NUM>) having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness from the top surface to the bottom surface;
a propulsion system (<NUM>) coupled to the frame (<NUM>), the propulsion system (<NUM>) including at least one transmission (<NUM>) and at least one motor (<NUM>),
characterised in that:
the at least one motor (<NUM>) is horizontally mounted such that an input shaft (<NUM>) of the at least one motor (<NUM>) is coupled to the at least one transmission (<NUM>) to provide rotational energy to a mast such that the input shaft (<NUM>) is perpendicular to the mast (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the at least one transmission (<NUM>); and
the frame includes a load support area (<NUM>) planar to the top surface and the bottom surface of the frame (<NUM>) at a fixed position relative to the propulsion system, the load support area (<NUM>) comprising at least one of a different material than the frame with higher structural strength or rigidity than the frame (<NUM>), and the load support area (<NUM>) being centered along an axis (<NUM>) of the propulsion system (<NUM>) coinciding with the yaw axis, wherein the forces generated by a load (<NUM>) secured to the load support area, from the items, are isolated from at least one of the at least one transmission (<NUM>) and the at least one motor (<NUM>), and directed toward the load support area.