Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/409,637

Attachment Interface And Attachments For An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 10, 2024
Priority
Jan 10, 2023 — provisional 63/479,258
Examiner
ALHAWAMDEH, NADER J
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Skydio Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allowance Rate
585 granted / 638 resolved
+23.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
651
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
40.4%
+0.4% vs TC avg
§102
51.0%
+11.0% vs TC avg
§112
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 638 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Thompson et al. (US. 2019/0329903 A1). In Regards to Claim 1: Thompson teaches an unmanned aerial vehicle system (Fig. 20B), comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) that includes an attachment interface (2350); and one or more attachments (2350) configured to removably couple to the attachment interface (2350) and electrically connect to the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) to power the one or more attachments (2350) via a power source of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 2: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments (2350) include a speaker and microphone attachment. In Regards to Claim 3: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 2, wherein the attachment interface (2350) is located on a side surface of a housing (404) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 4: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 3, wherein the attachment interface (2350) includes an attachment surface that is located on, or integrally formed with, the side surface of the housing (404), wherein the speaker and microphone attachment (2350) is configured to mount to the attachment surface. In Regards to Claim 5: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments (2350) include a global positioning system attachment (2320). In Regards to Claim 6: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 5, wherein the attachment interface is located on a top surface or a bottom surface of a housing (404) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 7: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 6, wherein the attachment interface (2350) includes an attachment surface that is located on, or integrally formed with, the top surface or the bottom surface of the housing (404); and wherein the global positioning system (2320) attachment is configured to removably couple to the attachment surface by one or more fasteners. In Regards to Claim 8: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments (2350) includes a spotlight attachment that is configured to project from a side of unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 9: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 8, wherein the spotlight attachment (2350) includes an attachment bracket that is configured to mount to an attachment surface of the attachment interface (2350). In Regards to Claim 10: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 9, wherein the attachment surface is located on the side of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) and disposed on, or integrally formed with, a housing (404) of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 11: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the attachment bracket is coupled to the attachment surface via one or more fasteners that extend through the attachment bracket and into the housing (404). In Regards to Claim 12: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 9, wherein the one or more attachments (2350) includes an infrared light attachment. In Regards to Claim 13: Thompson teaches an unmanned aerial vehicle system (Fig. 20B), comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) that includes attachment interfaces (2350) located on the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000); and attachments (2350) configured to removably couple to the attachment interfaces (2350), wherein the attachments (2350) are interchangeable and include: a global positioning system attachment (2320); a speaker and microphone attachment (2350); a spotlight attachment (2350); and an infrared light attachment (23334). In Regards to Claim 14: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 13, wherein the attachment interfaces (2350) include: a top attachment interface (2350) located on a top surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000); a first side attachment interface (2350) located on a first side surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000); a second side attachment interface (2350) located on a second side surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) that opposes the first side surface; and a bottom attachment interface (2350) located on a bottom surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 15: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 14, wherein the global positioning system attachment (2320) and the infrared light attachment are configured to removably couple to at least one of the top attachment interface (2350) or the bottom attachment interface (2350). In Regards to Claim 16: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 15, wherein the speaker and microphone attachment (2350) and the spotlight attachment are configured to removably couple to at least one of the first side attachment interface (2350) or the second side attachment interface (2350). In Regards to Claim 17: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 13, wherein the attachments (2350) are configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the unmanned aerial vehicle system (Fig. 20B). In Regards to Claim 18: Thompson teaches an unmanned aerial vehicle system (Fig. 20B), comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) that includes an attachment interface (2350) located on a side surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000); and a speaker and microphone attachment (2350) configured to removably couple to the attachment interface (2350) and electrically connect to the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000) to power the speaker and microphone attachment (2350) via a power source of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 19: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 18, wherein the speaker and microphone attachment (2350) includes an attachment bracket that is configured to mount to an attachment surface of the attachment interface (2350) to removably couple the speaker and microphone (2350) attachment to the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). In Regards to Claim 20: Thompson teaches the unmanned aerial vehicle system of claim 19, wherein the attachment surface is located on, or integrally formed with, the side surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle (2000). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NADER J ALHAWAMDEH whose telephone number is (571)270-0571. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9Am - 6Pm EST. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at (571)270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /NADER J ALHAWAMDEH/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2831 /ABDULLAH A RIYAMI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 10, 2024
Application Filed
May 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12700688
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Patent 12695216
SHIELDED JACK, DRAIN WIRE NOTCH AND BUMP DEFLECTION TERMINATION
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Patent 12695235
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2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
92%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+10.1%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 638 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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