公开(公告)号：US20190100314A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US15853664

申请日：2017-12-22

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Andre Prager ,  Trevor Shannon ,  Evan Twyford ,  Alexander Miller

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B66D1/60 ,  B66D1/40

Abstract: A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing. The housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether. The apparatus further includes a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot. The slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect touchdown of the payload and a transmitter configured to send a touchdown confirmation signal to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a touchdown detection by the sensor.