Patents by Inventor Michael Piedmonte
Michael Piedmonte 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).
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Patent number: 11693407Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Patent number: 11124286Abstract: An aerial vehicle may include adjustable shrouds to selectively provide protection for propellers of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable shrouds may be moved to an extended configuration around a periphery of one or more propellers during generally vertical flight or hovering operations, when delivery a payload, and/or upon detecting objects in proximity. Likewise, the adjustable shrouds may be moved to a retracted configuration that eliminates or minimizes adverse aerodynamic effects during generally horizontal flight operations, when operating at high altitude, and/or upon detecting no objects in proximity. The adjustable shrouds may include various designs, such as fan shrouds, telescoping shrouds, folding shrouds, and deployable arm shrouds.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Piedmonte, David Moro Ludena, Cyriel Notteboom, Christopher Gornall, James Thomas
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Patent number: 11021234Abstract: Various mechanisms for adjusting pitches of propeller blades are described. For example, the pitch adjustment mechanism may include a propeller hub enclosing a geared mechanism that cooperates with a compound gearbox having first and second planetary stages to adjust pitches of propeller blades. Alternatively, the pitch adjustment mechanism may include a propeller hub enclosing a pitch adjustment assembly that utilizes tension cables and torsion springs, or rack-and-pinion structures, to adjust pitches of propeller blades. Using any of the various mechanisms, the pitches of propeller blades may be rotated at least 90 degrees, and up to and exceeding 360 degrees, in order to effect thrust reversals and/or adjust thrust profiles.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Gornall, David Moro Ludena, Cyriel Notteboom, Michael Piedmonte, James Thomas
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Patent number: 10810501Abstract: Data captured during evolutions performed by aerial vehicles prior to one or more missions, and data regarding outcomes of the missions, may be used to train a machine learning system to predict data regarding an outcome of a mission of an aerial vehicle based on the performance of the aerial vehicle during one or more evolutions. The data may be captured by sensors provided aboard an aerial vehicle, or in association with a testing facility, and may include data captured during both pre-flight and/or in-flight evolutions performed by the aerial vehicle. The evolutions may include any pre-flight operation of motors, propellers and/or control surfaces, or any other components, as well as the in-flight operation of such components. If a machine learning system determines that a mission is unlikely to succeed, the mission may be canceled, delayed until further inspections may be performed, or assigned to another aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gur Kimchi, Michael Piedmonte, Liam Stewart Cavanaugh Pingree, Joshua White Traube
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Publication number: 20200301422Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Patent number: 10696392Abstract: An aerial vehicle having a single wing is configured for vertical-flight and forward-flight operations. The wing has a substantially high aspect ratio. The aerial vehicle includes tilt motor assemblies disposed at a forward end and an aft end of a fuselage. The tilt motor assemblies are configured to orient motors and rotors vertically, horizontally, or at any angle between vertical and horizontal. A pair of parallel booms are mounted beneath the wing on either side of the fuselage. Each of the booms has at least one vertically oriented motor and rotor associated therewith, and a vertical fin extending thereunder. Additionally, a forward tilt motor assembly includes a rotatable extension that is deployed when the motor assembly is configured for vertical flight, enabling the aerial vehicle to land on the vertical fins and the landing rotatable extension.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ubaldo Bova, Christopher Gornall, David Moro Ludena, Cyriel Notteboom, Michael Piedmonte, James Thomas
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Patent number: 10676176Abstract: An aerial vehicle may include adjustable configurations to selectively provide protection for propellers of the aerial vehicle. Portions of the wing and/or the tail plane of the aerial vehicle may be reconfigured to an extended configuration around a periphery of one or more propellers during generally vertical flight or hovering operations, when delivery a payload, and/or upon detecting objects in proximity. Likewise, the portions of the wing and/or the tail plane may be reconfigured to a retracted configuration that eliminates or minimizes adverse aerodynamic effects during generally horizontal flight operations, when operating at high altitude, and/or upon detecting no objects in proximity. During the reconfiguration, portions of the leading edge of the wing may be extended or retracted, and/or portions of the tail plane may be extended, retracted, and/or rotated.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Piedmonte, David Moro Ludena, Cyriel Notteboom, Christopher Gornall, James Thomas
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Patent number: 10642270Abstract: An aircrew automation system and method for use in an aircraft. The aircrew automation system comprises one or more processors, an optical perception system, an actuation system, and a human-machine interface. The optical perception system monitors, in real-time, one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft visually to generate flight situation data. The actuation system mechanically engages at least one flight control of the aircraft in response to the one or more flight commands. The human-machine interface provides an interface between a human pilot and the aircrew automation system. The human-machine interface comprises a display device to display a status of the aircraft and the actuation system.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Publication number: 20200064840Abstract: An aircrew automation system and method for use in an aircraft. The aircrew automation system comprises one or more processors, an optical perception system, an actuation system, and a human-machine interface. The optical perception system monitors, in real-time, one or more cockpit instruments of the aircraft visually to generate flight situation data. The actuation system mechanically engages at least one flight control of the aircraft in response to the one or more flight commands. The human-machine interface provides an interface between a human pilot and the aircrew automation system. The human-machine interface comprises a display device to display a status of the aircraft and the actuation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Patent number: 10450062Abstract: An aerial vehicle having a single wing is configured for vertical-flight and forward-flight operations. The wing has a substantially high aspect ratio. The aerial vehicle includes tilt motor assemblies disposed at a forward end and an aft end of a fuselage. The tilt motor assemblies are configured to orient motors and rotors vertically, horizontally, or at any angle between vertical and horizontal. A pair of parallel booms are mounted beneath the wing on either side of the fuselage. Each of the booms has at least one vertically oriented motor and rotor associated therewith, and a vertical fin extending thereunder. Additionally, a forward tilt motor assembly includes a rotatable extension that is deployed when the motor assembly is configured for vertical flight, enabling the aerial vehicle to land on the vertical fins and the landing rotatable extension.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ubaldo Bova, Christopher Gornall, David Moro Ludena, Cyriel Notteboom, Michael Piedmonte, James Thomas
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Patent number: 10359779Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Publication number: 20170277185Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Jessica E. Duda, John Tylko, David Mindell, Fabrice Kunzi, Michael Piedmonte, John Allee, Joshua Torgerson, Jason Ryan, James Donald Paduano, John Brooke Wissler, Andrew Musto, Wendy Feenstra
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Publication number: 20080018443Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIPInventors: Dean Kamen, Robert Ambrogi, James Dattolo, Robert Duggan, J. Field, Richard Heinzmann, Matthew McCambridge, John Morrell, Michael Piedmonte, Richard Rosasco
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Publication number: 20050121866Abstract: A controller for providing user input of a desired direction of motion or orientation for a transporter. The controller has an input for receiving specification by a user of a value based on a detected body orientation of the user. User-specified input may be conveyed by the user using any of a large variety of input modalities, including: ultrasonic body position sensing; foot force sensing; handlebar lean; active handlebar; mechanical sensing of body position; and linear slide directional input. An apparatus that may include an active handlebar is provided for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2004Publication date: June 9, 2005Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Dean Kamen, Robert Ambrogi, James Dattolo, Robert Duggan, J. Field, Richard Heinzmann, Matthew McCambridge, John Morrell, Michael Piedmonte, Richard Rosasco