US Army Submits Patent on Mechanical Box

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A team of engineers from the United States Army have recently invented and patented a mechanical box that allows small quadcopter drones to be instantly deployed from moving vehicles. The invention first went public when it was filed as a  patent.

The box houses the drone whenever it’s not in use, thus protecting it. The box features special vents that manage the airflow so that the drone’s rotors stay relatively stable during take-off and landing, allowing for take-off even when the vehicle is in motion. 

The mechanical box makes it possible for drones to be quickly launched whenever needed and when on the move. Making it useful mainly for aerial surveillance and vehicle security from non-line-of-sight threats.

The box is relatively simple to mount onto vehicles and protects the relatively delicate drone when in a military environment.

This technology has several applications, ranging from the military, border patrol, law enforcement, and even civilian usage, such as photography on the move.

Techlinkcenter.org mentions that private businesses can leverage the Army’s research through a patent license agreement to integrate the mechanical box into their own products and services.