Patents by Inventor Andrew Royds Hayes

Andrew Royds Hayes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11542036
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are described. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe, a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventors: James Statelar McGrew, Matthew David Grubb, Andrew Keith Dickson, Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20210347480
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an airframe, a plurality of rotors, and an optical sensor. The rotors are coupled to the airframe and configured to support the UAV in hover. The optical sensor is coupled to the airframe and configured to monitor a position of the UAV within a surrounding environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, Darcy Lynn Davidson, JR., Rolf Theodoor Rysdyk
  • Patent number: 11066185
    Abstract: Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for lofting a payload includes directing a lifting device upward, releasing a parachute from the lifting device, with the parachute carrying a pulley and having a flexible line passing around the pulley. The flexible line is connected between a tension device (e.g., a winch) and the payload. The method further includes activating the tension device to reel in the flexible line and accelerate the payload upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Dennis, Jacob Allen, Andrew Royds Hayes, Jesse Drake Kiewit
  • Publication number: 20210163138
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are described. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe, a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: James Statelar McGrew, Matthew David Grubb, Andrew Keith Dickson, Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 10933997
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes directing a first, multi-rotor carrier aircraft to carry a second, carried aircraft aloft, and release the second aircraft for flight, while powering the first aircraft with an on-board battery. The method can further include directing the first aircraft to position a capture line in a flight path of the second aircraft to capture the second aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 10839582
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems may be used to automatically declutter a map. In an example, operations may be effectuated that include displaying a map of a region with a plurality of objects and responsive to receiving an alert within the region, automatically providing instructions to display a subset of the plurality of objects. The subset of the plurality of objects may be selected based on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 10836509
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventors: James Statelar McGrew, Matthew David Grubb, Andrew Keith Dickson, Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20200111243
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems may be used to automatically declutter a map. In an example, operations may be effectuated that include displaying a map of a region with a plurality of objects and responsive to receiving an alert within the region, automatically providing instructions to display a subset of the plurality of objects. The subset of the plurality of objects may be selected based on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20190337640
    Abstract: Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for lofting a payload includes directing a lifting device upward, releasing a parachute from the lifting device, with the parachute carrying a pulley and having a flexible line passing around the pulley. The flexible line is connected between a tension device (e.g., a winch) and the payload. The method further includes activating the tension device to reel in the flexible line and accelerate the payload upwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Brian D. Dennis, Jacob Allen, Andrew Royds Hayes, Jesse Drake Kiewit
  • Patent number: 10380775
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems may be used to automatically declutter a map. In an example, operations may be effectuated that include displaying a map of a region with a plurality of objects and responsive to receiving an alert within the region, automatically providing instructions to display a subset of the plurality of objects. The subset of the plurality of objects may be selected based on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20190233088
    Abstract: A user interface presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be presented to facilitate the ease of operation of the UAV. The information displayed in the user interface may be customized by the operator to display selected data. The display configuration data may be saved and imported into other systems for future use. Various entities related to one or more UAVs may be presented in a hierarchical tree structure illustrating the relationship between the entities. Electronic checklists may be presented to a user to facilitate addressing common and emergency situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, Darcy Lynn Davidson, JR.
  • Patent number: 10252788
    Abstract: A user interface presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be presented to facilitate the ease of operation of the UAV. The information displayed in the user interface may be customized by the operator to display selected data. The display configuration data may be saved and imported into other systems for future use. Various entities related to one or more UAVs may be presented in a hierarchical tree structure illustrating the relationship between the entities. Electronic checklists may be presented to a user to facilitate addressing common and emergency situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, Darcy Lynn Davidson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180162528
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: James Statelar McGrew, Matthew David Grubb, Andrew Keith Dickson, Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 9816816
    Abstract: A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20170305535
    Abstract: A user interface presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be presented to facilitate the ease of operation of the UAV. The information displayed in the user interface may be customized by the operator to display selected data. The display configuration data may be saved and imported into other systems for future use. Various entities related to one or more UAVs may be presented in a hierarchical tree structure illustrating the relationship between the entities. Electronic checklists may be presented to a user to facilitate addressing common and emergency situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, Darcy Lynn Davidson, JR.
  • Patent number: 9738394
    Abstract: A zero fuel time is determined and presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Zero fuel time may be determined based on a fuel burn rate and an amount of remaining fuel. A return to base time is determined and presented to an operator of a UAV. Return to base time may be determined based on a location of the UAV and a location of a base. Zero fuel time and return to base time are presented to an operator of a UAV proximate to one another using contrasting and/or varying visual characteristics to ease comparison and identification of this data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Publication number: 20170225784
    Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes directing a first, multi-rotor carrier aircraft to carry a second, carried aircraft aloft, and release the second aircraft for flight, while powering the first aircraft with an on-board battery. The method can further include directing the first aircraft to position a capture line in a flight path of the second aircraft to capture the second aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, James Statelar McGrew, Wayne David Goodrich, Jeffrey Hugh Knapp, Charles Lawrence Guthrie, Bradley Louis Schrick, Darcy Lynn Davidson, Peter Josef Kunz, Rolf Theodoor Rysdyk
  • Patent number: 9685091
    Abstract: A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 9676472
    Abstract: A user interface presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be presented to facilitate the ease of operation of the UAV. The information displayed in the user interface may be customized by the operator to display selected data. The display configuration data may be saved and imported into other systems for future use. Various entities related to one or more UAVs may be presented in a hierarchical tree structure illustrating the relationship between the entities. Electronic checklists may be presented to a user to facilitate addressing common and emergency situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Royds Hayes, Darcy Lynn Davidson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160364991
    Abstract: A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes