Patents by Inventor John J. Viniotis

John J. Viniotis 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).

  • Autonomous aircraft with disconnectable tether
    Patent number: 9045218
    Abstract: Systems and methods to launch an aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises an electrically powered buoyant aircraft, a control system to maneuver the aircraft and a tether adapted to couple to the aircraft and to a ground-based power supply to provide power to the aircraft while the aircraft is coupled to the tether. The aircraft can disconnect autonomously from the tether in response to a command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Childress, John J. Viniotis