TB2 Aerospace offers the Drone Recharging Operational Payload System (DROPS), an autonomous docking, locking and power‑transfer interface that can be added to any UAV or UGV. DROPS enables vehicles to locate, capture, deliver and recover a variety of payloads—including ISR sensors, fuel pods, counter‑UAS modules, munitions, medical supplies and CASEVAC kits—without human intervention, and can recharge docked payloads to extend flight endurance.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Military and commercial operators often need unmanned aerial or ground vehicles to transport, deploy, and retrieve diverse payloads in contested or GPS‑denied environments, but existing solutions require manual handling, external winches, or multiple vehicle types, limiting mission flexibility and increasing risk to personnel.
Solution
TB2 Aerospace’s Drone Recharging Operational Payload System (DROPS) provides an autonomous docking, locking, and power‑transfer interface that can be integrated onto any UAV or UGV regardless of size. The system enables the vehicle to locate, capture, deliver, and recover a wide range of payloads—including ISR sensors, fuel pods, counter‑UAS modules, munitions, medical supplies, and CASEVAC kits—without human intervention. A built‑in terminal guidance module steers the vehicle to the correct payload even when GPS signals are unavailable, while the docking mechanism securely locks the payload without straps. Docked payloads can also supply supplemental power to electric‑propulsion vehicles, extending flight endurance. This modular, open‑systems architecture allows rapid, autonomous payload swaps to support multiple mission profiles from a single platform.
Target Audience
Primary customers are defense and security forces requiring autonomous resupply and multi‑mission payload capabilities for UAVs/UGVs, as well as commercial enterprises seeking secure, unmanned delivery of high‑value goods.
Features
- Autonomous docking and locking interface compatible with any UAV or UGV size
- Internal terminal guidance system for GPS‑denied navigation to payloads
- On‑board power transfer capability that recharges or supplements vehicle energy in flight
- Modular Open Systems Architecture enabling rapid, plug‑and‑play payload interchange (ISR, fuel, counter‑UAS, munitions, medical, CASEVAC)
- Strap‑free secure attachment suitable for integration on combat vehicles, ships, and ground platforms
- Fully autonomous capture, launch, and recovery cycles eliminating the need for human operators