US 12434822 B2 / Oct 7, 2025

Method of assemblying and operating an autorotating payload delivery device

A method of assembling a delivery payload assembly configured to be deployed from an aircraft and travel along a flight path to a predetermined landing destination includes attaching a tail-kit assembly to a first end of a payload, the tail-kit assembly including a rotor blade assembly including a plurality of rotor blades having a central axis of rotation, and a flight control and navigation system configured to control a collective pitch angle of each of the plurality of rotor blades of the rotor blade assembly, configured to control an axial thrust force of the rotor blade assembly, the axial thrust force being at an angle with respect to the central axis of rotation of the rotor blade assembly, and configured to navigate the delivery payload assembly along the flight path to the predetermined landing destination. The method further includes removing the tail-kit assembly from the payload after the payload is delivered to the predetermined landing destination.

Publication details

Recorded assignee
AeroVironment, Inc.
Publication number
US 12434822 B2
Publication type
Utility patent grant
Publication date
Oct 7, 2025
Filing date
Dec 16, 2021
CPC classes
B64C27/028, B64U70/20, B64C27/02, B64C27/022, B64D1/14, B64U30/24, B64U30/291, B64U30/293, G05D1/105, G05D1/461, B64D19/02, B64U10/13, B64U2101/60, B64U2201/10
Inventors
Ifill; Joel, Taylor; Zach, Litzinger; Jason, Stahlhuth; Phil, Berte; Marc

Party names reflect the published document. Current ownership and legal status can change.

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