US 11,753,137 B2
Utilizing a customizable fuselage assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle
Aaron Nathaniel Blevins, Colora, MD (US); Charles David Haskin, II, Taneytown, MD (US); and William Gwathmey Bruner, IV, Towson, MD (US)
Assigned to Textron Systems Corporation, Hunt Valley, MD (US)
Filed by Textron Systems Corporation, Hunt Valley, MD (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/462,395.
Prior Publication US 2023/0065140 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 1/064 (2013.01) [B64C 1/14 (2013.01); B64C 1/22 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a fuselage assembly;
a further portion that attaches with the fuselage assembly; and
a propulsion assembly coupled with the further portion, the propulsion assembly being constructed and arranged to provide propulsion for the UAV; the fuselage assembly including:
a fuselage body constructed and arranged to operate as a forward portion of the UAV,
lateral stringers coupled with the fuselage body and extending laterally along the fuselage body, and
a set of interchangeable covers to cover at least a portion of a payload bay opening defined by the fuselage body;
wherein the fuselage body includes a nose section, a rear section constructed and arranged to attach to a further portion of the UAV, a left side wall, and a right side wall, each of the left and right side walls extending from the nose section to the rear section;
wherein the fuselage body defines a payload bay to house equipment;
wherein the lateral stringers include:
a left structural member that runs within the payload bay along the left side wall of the fuselage body, and
a right structural member that runs within the payload bay along the right side wall of the fuselage body;
wherein each of the left and right structural members defines mounting holes to enable the equipment to fasten to the structural members of the fuselage assembly within the payload bay; and
wherein the payload bay is internal to the fuselage body.