Sep 23, 2025

US12422227 - Payload delivery apparatus

An apparatus for deploying a payload to a hostile target. The payload may be separable from the apparatus or may be internal to the apparatus. The apparatus has two outboard drive wheels flanking a hollow body. A payload delivery mechanism is disposed on a frame inside and concealed by the hollow body. The payload delivery mechanism has a first, retracted position inside the hollow body and extends through a port to a second position to deliver a payload to a hostile target. The payload may be separable from the apparatus or may be internal to the apparatus. If the payload is internal to the apparatus, upon attachment to a hostile target the payload delivery mechanism may retract to be less visually conspicuous.

Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
Inventors: Jacob Echevarria, Michael Anderson, Katherine Fitzpatrick, Evan Pomfret, Abigail Price, Sarah Galyon Dorman
Filing date: 2023-06-22

The patent describes a payload delivery apparatus designed for deploying payloads to hostile targets, featuring a hollow body with a concealed payload delivery mechanism that can extend through a port. It includes two drive wheels, a gravity-stable frame, and a remote control system for operation, allowing for discreet movement and delivery of the payload.

Claim 1

An apparatus for delivering a payload in a hostile environment, the apparatus comprising: a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a port therethrough; a longitudinally elongate gravity stable frame disposed within the hollow body; the frame having an upper surface and a lower surface opposed thereto; two longitudinally opposed, axially rotatable wheels operably associated with the body; a battery powered motor rotatably associated with each wheel; a controller for controlling the battery powered motor; a receiver for receiving remote control signals from an operator and feeding the control signals to the controller; at least one counterweight joined to the frame below the longitudinal axis, whereby the at least one counterweight is adapted to keep the frame gravity stable; a payload delivery mechanism (PDM), the PDM being concealable within the hollow body while the hollow body is in motion and being configured to discharge a payload from inside the hollow body, through the port and to a target at the point of deployment; and a battery for powering the apparatus and being connected to the frame. a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a port therethrough; a longitudinally elongate gravity stable frame disposed within the hollow body; the frame having an upper surface and a lower surface opposed thereto; two longitudinally opposed, axially rotatable wheels operably associated with the body; a battery powered motor rotatably associated with each wheel; a controller for controlling the battery powered motor; a receiver for receiving remote control signals from an operator and feeding the control signals to the controller; at least one counterweight joined to the frame below the longitudinal axis, whereby the at least one counterweight is adapted to keep the frame gravity stable; a payload delivery mechanism (PDM), the PDM being concealable within the hollow body while the hollow body is in motion and being configured to discharge a payload from inside the hollow body, through the port and to a target at the point of deployment; and a battery for powering the apparatus and being connected to the frame.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12422227

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12422227