Scalable Drone hoist for the Delivery and Recovery of 50-500 lb Payloads

As unmanned drones become more prolific and capable across many missions, demand for drones capable of precisely delivering and retrieving loads is rapidly growing. Notably, commercial drone delivery is gaining traction across the US with numerous services providing rapid air-based delivery in many cities. A key feature enabling drone delivery across the broadest range of possible delivery zones is lowering the payload to the target with a small winch as the drone hovers high overhead. While this works for small packages, current drone-specific hoists rely on designs that foul at heavier loads. Atlas Devices has been a world leader in high tension synthetic line handling since 2005 and is developing a scaled-down version of their hoisting technology suitable for deployment on drones. This innovation will enable the Air Force to take advantage of drone delivery benefits with loads up to 500 lbs, unlocking logistical benefits by dramatically reducing the current reliance on full size helicopter use for many logistical moves.