Patents by Inventor Forrest Peter Ryan

Forrest Peter Ryan 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).

  • Sticky boom non-cooperative capture device
    Patent number: 8979034
    Abstract: A device for non-cooperatively capturing an object is provided. The device includes a boom having a fixed end coupled to a structure and a free end. The boom also includes boom deployers for moving the fixed end of the boom relative to the structure. The device also includes a capture head, coupled to the free end of the boom, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus controls the boom deployers and capture head to move the capture head in close proximity to the object. The control apparatus moves the capture head in closer proximity to the object if the capture head is not close enough to the object to capture the object. The control apparatus minimizes forces applied to the object, and activates a non-cooperative capture device. The non-cooperative capture device makes initial contact with the object, establishes intimate contact with the object, and captures the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Altius Space Machines
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Goff, Michael Ivan Judson, Jr., William George Bolton, Steven Wendell Hoyt, Forrest Peter Ryan
  • Sticky Boom Non-Cooperative Capture Device
    Publication number: 20120076629
    Abstract: A device for non-cooperatively capturing an object is provided. The device includes a boom having a fixed end coupled to a structure and a free end. The boom also includes boom deployers for moving the fixed end of the boom relative to the structure. The device also includes a capture head, coupled to the free end of the boom, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus controls the boom deployers and capture head to move the capture head in close proximity to the object. The control apparatus moves the capture head in closer proximity to the object if the capture head is not close enough to the object to capture the object. The control apparatus minimizes forces applied to the object, and activates a non-cooperative capture device. The non-cooperative capture device makes initial contact with the object, establishes intimate contact with the object, and captures the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Goff, Michael Ivan Judson, JR., Steven Wendell Hoyt, Forrest Peter Ryan, William George Bolton