Of Pilotless Aircraft Patents (Class 244/190)
  • Patent number: 11977380
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for a safety system including: selecting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command on a controller, the controller comprising a first processor with addressable memory; presenting a first activator and a second activator on a display of the controller for the selected UAV command, wherein the second activator is a slider; and sending the UAV command to a UAV if the first activator and the second activator are selected, the UAV comprising a second processor with addressable memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Thaddeus Benjamin Matuszeski, William Arden Lott, Derek Lisoski
  • Patent number: 11953904
    Abstract: There is provided a control device including an image display unit configured to acquire, from a flying body, an image captured by an imaging device provided in the flying body and to display the image, and a flight instruction generation unit configured to generate a flight instruction for the flying body based on content of an operation performed with respect to the image captured by the imaging device and displayed by the image display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohtaro Sabe, Yasunori Kawanami, Kenta Kawamoto, Tsutomu Sawada, Satoru Shimizu, Peter Duerr, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11873090
    Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering goods through an unmanned aerial vehicle group including a plurality of aircraft respectively connected to delivery target goods. The method comprises identifying, by a master aircraft of the unmanned aerial vehicle group, an actual load applied to each of the aircraft by the goods while the unmanned aerial vehicle group is flying to deliver the goods, and controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle group by the master aircraft to adjust the actual load applied to each of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: PABLO AIR Co., Ltd., PABLO AIR International, INC.
    Inventors: Seung Han Lim, Youngjoon Kim, Dong Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11797000
    Abstract: Being unable to restart when it collides with an object or crashes, an unmanned aerial vehicle, control system thereof and control program, for preventing damage caused by uncontrollable restarts and crashes is provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a plurality of rotating bodies, a plurality of motors individually driving and rotating the plurality of rotating bodies, and a flight controller individually controlling the plurality of motors. The flight controller includes a collision/crash detection unit detecting collision or crash on the basis of a signal from a sensor, and a power cut-off command unit cutting off a power supply on the basis of a detection signal from the collision/crash detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NILEWORKS INC.
    Inventors: Chihiro Wake, Hiroshi Yanagishita, Atsunori Saito
  • Patent number: 11691721
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system for propeller parking control for an electric aircraft. The system include at least a sensor and a computing device. A sensor may be configured to generate angular datum. The computing device may be configured to generate a trajectory command as a function of angular datum. The computing device may also be configured to initiate the transition from hover to fixed-wing flight as a function of a trajectory command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Collin Freiheit
  • Patent number: 11630457
    Abstract: A self-propelled device can include at least a wireless interface, a housing, a propulsion mechanism, and a camera. Using the camera, the self-propelled device can generate a video feed and transmit the video feed to a controller device via the wireless interface. The self-propelled device can receive an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed. In response to the input, the self-propelled device can initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location indicated in the video feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Berberian, Ian Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Kevin Hemmings, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 11618595
    Abstract: A flight controller of a drone calculates a target attitude of the drone on a port based on the result of acquisition by an anemometer. The flight controller of the drone controls each of a plurality of rotors independently, and controls each of the rotors so as to make the drone on the port take a target attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okuno, Kenta Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11467399
    Abstract: This invention relates to tracking of hand-held devices and vehicles with respect to each other, in circumstances where there are two or more users or existent objects interacting in the same share space (co-location). It extends conventional global and body-relative approaches to “cooperatively” estimate the relative poses between all useful combinations of user-worn tracked devices such as HMDs and hand-held controllers worn (or held) by multiple users. Additionally, the invention provides for tracking of vehicles such as cars and unmanned aerial vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Welch, Gerd Bruder
  • Patent number: 11407508
    Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle, which comprises a plurality of lift propellers respectively arranged at the top sides of a left linear support and a right linear support, and a left additional lift propeller and a right additional lift propeller respectively arranged on the bottom sides of the left linear support and the right linear support. According to the aerial vehicle provided by the disclosure, the takeoff and landing power of the aerial vehicle is effectively improved and the maximum take-off weight and effective load of the aerial vehicle are improved by using multiple groups of lift motors on the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Patent number: 11391267
    Abstract: A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Gunnar K. Storgaard Pedersen, Christian Skov Frederiksen, Anton Bech, Gerner Larsen, Ivar J. B. K. Jensen, Klaus Lynge Petersen
  • Patent number: 11390382
    Abstract: A system for deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle in a target region. The system includes a pod configured to be deployed from an air craft in a first region remote from the target region. The pod includes a capsule housing portion and a capsule ejection system in operative communication with the capsule housing portion. A capsule is dimensioned and configured to be disposed in the capsule housing portion as the pod is deployed from the aircraft and is ejected from the capsule housing portion by the capsule ejection system in a second region remote from the first region and the target region. The capsule includes a UAV housing portion dimensioned and configured to encase the unmanned aerial vehicle and a UAV ejection system in operative communication with the UAV housing portion for deploying the unmanned aerial vehicle in the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael Anderson, Benjamin Stark, Jeffrey Burnett, Tyler Copien, Candice Roberts
  • Patent number: 11340608
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle having a drive unit for enabling the flight of the aerial vehicle in air space and having a flight control unit, which is configured to receive control information from a radio remote control or to control positions of the aerial vehicle in air space that employ stored position information in order to control the flight course of the aerial vehicle. A modular flight formation control unit has a first interface with the flight control unit and a second radio interface to a flight formation ground control unit or with flight formation control units of other aerial vehicles, and the flight formation control unit configured to generate or send control information corresponding to the radio remote control and is configured to output, via the first interface, flight formation control information relevant for the formation flight of at least two aerial vehicles to the flight control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ARS ELECTRONICA LINZ GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Horst Hortner
  • Patent number: 11325707
    Abstract: An automation system, comprising a control device for controlling at least one machine, and at least one unmanned aircraft. The control device is designed to control the unmanned aircraft to support an operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 11262444
    Abstract: A method includes at least a preliminary step of storing a set of tracking algorithms as a function of types of targets and of environments, each tracking algorithm being a function of a type of target in a given environment; a step of detecting signals backscattered by the targets resulting in primary detections being obtained; the detection step being followed, for each detected target: by a step: of characterizing the detected target into types of target on the basis of the primary detections; and of analysing the environment of the targets in order to determine in which given environment each detected target is located; a step of adapting the tracking to each detected target, the adapting being completed by selecting the tracking algorithm as a function of the type of target to which the target belongs and of the given environment in which it is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Clément Magnant, Vincent Corretja, Julien Petitjean, Stéphane Kemkemian
  • Patent number: 11132909
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Just
  • Patent number: 11122670
    Abstract: A computing system for controlling a plurality of exterior lights on a flying vehicle is disclosed. The computing system is configured to: determine a flying vehicle status for the flying vehicle; determine an environment status for the flying vehicle; determine a current flight phase for the flying vehicle; determine, for each of a plurality of the exterior lights that is in an automatic lighting control mode, a desired lighting state for the exterior light by applying a predefined lighting pattern that identifies, based on the flying vehicle status, environmental status, and the current flight phase, a first subset of the exterior lights to cause to enter a first lighting state and a second subset of the exterior lights to cause to enter a second lighting state; and cause the first subset of exterior lights to be in the first lighting state and the second subset of exterior lights to be in the second lighting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Rui Tong, Guo Qing Wang, Shuai Chen, Jianhua Zhou
  • Patent number: 11107306
    Abstract: A remotely-controlled (RC) and/or autonomously operated inspection device, such as a ground vehicle or drone, may capture one or more sets of imaging data indicative of at least a portion of an automotive vehicle, such as all or a portion of the undercarriage. The one or more sets of imaging data may be analyzed based upon data indicative of at least one of vehicle damage or a vehicle defect being shown in the one or more sets of imaging data. Based upon the analyzing of the one or more sets of imaging data, damage to the vehicle or a defect of the vehicle may be identified and corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan Knuffman, Bradley A. Sliz, Lucas Allen
  • Patent number: 11099556
    Abstract: An example system for racing aircraft systems includes: a plurality of autonomous synchronized unmanned aircraft systems configured to form a swarm at a race course through which the aircraft systems are to navigate; and a controller configured to be operatively coupled to at least one unmanned aircraft system of the swarm, the controller configured to control the swarm to form an element of the race course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: COLUMBIAD LAUNCH SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Haroon B. Oqab, George B. Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11100810
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Just
  • Patent number: 10942026
    Abstract: A UAV data processing and management system is provided including an encoder broadcaster and data manager which provides end users with a single interface for searching and sharing any video or imagery source, from any device with no client software required. Data inputs to the resource can include UAV video, photos, traffic cameras, fixed surveillance systems, iOS and Android device pictures, and other data (e.g., texts, emails) and inputs from all forms of social media, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. The cloud based manager is built with collaboration and sharing in mind while at the same time maintaining data privacy, security protection, chain-of-custody control and audit trail maintenance. Analytic tools are integrated accordingly as “plug-ins” or as a store of available app resources which are easily removed, added and customized based on user needs and system requirements and cost constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KSI Data Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Barton, Jon Gaster
  • Patent number: 10943153
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for gathering information on the health of individuals trapped in an accident to provide actionable information to a first responder system. In some implementations, a monitoring system monitors a property that includes sensors located at the property and generate first sensor data. A monitor control unit receives the first sensor data and generates an alarm event for the property based on the first sensor data. Based on generating the alarm event for the property, the monitor control unit dispatches an autonomous drone. The autonomous drone is configured to navigate the property. Using an onboard sensor, the autonomous drone generates second sensor data. Based on the second sensor data, the autonomous drone determines a location within the property where a person is likely located. The autonomous drone provides, for output, data indicating the location within the property where the person is likely located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Innocent Djiofack
  • Patent number: 10909864
    Abstract: System and techniques for drone obstacle avoidance using real-time wind estimation are described herein. A wind metric is measures at a first drone and communicated to a second drone. In response to receiving the wind metric, a flight plan of the second drone is modified based on the wind metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael De La Guardia Gonzalez, Daniel Pohl, David Gomez Gutierrez, Andreas Hippelein, Leobardo Campos Macias, Rodrigo Aldana Lopez, Jose Parra Vilchis, Jan Willem Vervoorst
  • Patent number: 10899444
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus comprising a body including a cavity for storing one or more packages, and a conveyor belt disposed above a top surface of the body. The belt is shaped to receive one or more packages, and the belt is controllable to rotate a package placed on the belt either from the top surface to the cavity for storage or from the cavity to the top surface for dispatch. A package comprises at least one of a drone and a payload transported by the drone. The apparatus further comprises a landing mechanism for stabilizing a drone landing on the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeanette L. Blomberg, Eric K. Butler, Anca A. Chandra, Pawan R. Chowdhary, Thomas D. Griffin, Divyesh Jadav, Sunhwan Lee, Robert J. Moore, Hovey R. Strong, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10863096
    Abstract: There is provided a control device including an image display unit configured to acquire, from a flying body, an image captured by an imaging device provided in the flying body and to display the image, and a flight instruction generation unit configured to generate a flight instruction for the flying body based on content of an operation performed with respect to the image captured by the imaging device and displayed by the image display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohtaro Sabe, Yasunori Kawanami, Kenta Kawamoto, Tsutomu Sawada, Satoru Shimizu, Peter Duerr, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10816640
    Abstract: A following method and device for an unmanned aerial vehicle and a wearable device are provided. The following method comprises: installing a plurality of receiving sensors on the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the plurality of receiving sensors match with one transmitting sensor in a smart control device at the user side; receiving a distance signal transmitted by the user in real time by using the receiving sensors, and calculating a relative position of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the user according to the distance signal; and adjusting the horizontal position of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the relative position, so that the relative position of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the user agrees with a preset position, to realize automatic following of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventors: Fuli Xie, Pengcheng Su
  • Patent number: 10820395
    Abstract: A method for operating a robotic agent swarm system. The method includes: sending, via a communication network, a reconfiguration instruction from an orchestration controller to a number of robotic luminaire agents, each of the robotic luminaire agents of the swarm system being held at least periodically against an architectural surface comprising a holonomic operational area by a suspension and having a light source configured to illuminate a region in a proximity of the architectural surface. The method also includes changing one or more operating conditions of one or more of the robotic luminaire agents in response to the reconfiguration instruction, including holonomically moving at least one of the robotic luminaire agents from a first position on the holonomic operational area to a second position on the holonomic operational area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Jenish S. Kastee, Youssef F. Baker, Sean P. White, Nathaniel W. Hixon, Daniel M. Megginson, Niels G. Eegholm
  • Patent number: 10759534
    Abstract: A method is provided. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be operated in an autonomous mode, performing course corrections from sensor data using an object detection processor and a decision processor. The UAV can then enter a hover mode if an override condition is present and enter a remote-control mode once the UAV is in the hover mode. In the remote-control mode, flight control commands can be received via the cellular module so as to position the UAV in response to the flight control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: George A. Miller
  • Patent number: 10732623
    Abstract: A remotely operated mobile robot includes a movement controller, a notification unit, and a switching unit. The movement controller is configured to be remotely operated by a terminal device connected to the remotely operated mobile robot through a communication line so as to control movement of the remotely operated mobile robot. The notification unit is configured to notify a terminal device, other than the terminal device connected to the remotely operated mobile robot, of a request for operation of the remotely operated mobile robot, if a predetermined condition is satisfied. If the terminal device notified of the request for operation of the remotely operated mobile robot makes an operation demand, the switching unit switches to a state of the movement controller to a state in which the movement controller is operable by the terminal device that makes the operation demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tsubota, Kunitoshi Yamamoto, Tsutomu Ishii, Hideto Nomiyama, Hideki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10665116
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Just
  • Patent number: 10633102
    Abstract: A screen device includes a screen, a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements, a flying object, a support member, and a controller. The plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements are on the screen and are arranged at an outermost periphery, in a frame shape, of an area in which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged. The plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements are on the screen and are arranged inside the area at the outermost periphery covered by the plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements. The flying object is configured to be powered by electric power generated by the plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements. The support member connects the screen with the flying object. The controller is configured to control the flying object based on an evaluation of the electric power generated by the plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Adachi, Motonobu Yoshikawa, Masahiro Inata, Norikazu Katsuyama, Ryo Okumura, Fumio Muramatsu, Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 10627524
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a positioning system for use with a corresponding one of a plurality of UAVs, the positioning system operable to receive at least one Low Bit Rate (LBR) signal that includes satellite location data from at least one satellite via a receiver of the UAV. Current location data is generated based on the at least one LBR signal. A global positioning system (GPS) signal is generated based on the current location data for transmission, via a transmitter of the UAV, for reception by a GPS receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Thomas M. Willis, III, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10610145
    Abstract: A method for monitoring physical conditions of an operator of a driving apparatus is described. The method includes obtaining an identity of the operator, acquiring signals indicating a physical condition of the operator, and determining whether the physical condition as indicated by the signals has breached a predetermined threshold. Further, when it is determined that the physical condition as indicated by the signals has breached a predetermined threshold, the method includes generating a first status indicating the operator suffers an abnormal physical condition, obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus, generating a first notification based on the first status, the first notification indicating the identity of the operator and the current location of the driving apparatus, the first notification describing the first user suffers the abnormal physical condition, and transmitting the first notification to a data receiver in a healthcare facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Wellen Sham
  • Patent number: 10564649
    Abstract: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of transmission tower 10, phase conductors 12, insulators 14, and shield wires 16. They are to be inspected by unmanned aerial vehicle UAV 20 with embedded processor and memory 22, radio 24, location rover 26, and camera 28. Base station 30 has processor and memory 32, radio 34, and location base 36. The relative location between UAV 20 and base station 30 can be accurately calculated by location base 36 and location rover 26 communicating over radios 24 and 34. Camera 28 on UAV 20 is first used to capture two or more orientation images 38 and 39 of tower 10; lines 12 and 16; and insulators 14 from different vantage points. Terrestrial or close-range photogrammetry techniques are used create a three dimensional model of tower 10; lines 12 and 16; and insulators 14. Based on inspection resolution and safety objectives, a standoff distance 50 is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Izak Jan van Cruyningen
  • Patent number: 10557718
    Abstract: An auxiliary control method and an auxiliary control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. The auxiliary control method for the UAV includes steps of: based on a flight attitude and a flight speed of the UAV, predicting a flight path of the UAV in a scheduled time; and providing information about the flight path of the UAV in the scheduled time to an operator of the UAV. The auxiliary control method and system for the UAV provided by the present invention are able to provide the information about the flight path of the UAV in the scheduled time to the operator of the UAV, so as to help the operator of the UAV make a control decision for the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Haoxiang Electric Energy (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Tian, Wenyan Jiang
  • Patent number: 10518408
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a robot joint structure that includes a servo and a connection part. The servo includes a servo main body and an output shaft, and one end of the output protruding out of the servo main body. The servo main body includes a servo plate at one side surface thereof. The servo plate is fixed to the output shaft and capable of rotating together with the output shaft. The connection part includes a first connection arm, and the first connection arm defines at least one connection chamber allowing the servo plate to be inserted therein and mating tightly with the servo plate, to fix the connection part to the servo plate. The servo and the connection part of the robot joint structure mate tightly with each other, which avoids the disengagement during rotation. The assembling process is simple, which enhances the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yang Wang, Youjun Xiong, Wenquan Shu
  • Patent number: 10509417
    Abstract: Inspections of towers with unmanned aerial vehicles is challenging because judging the distance to narrow tower members, phase conductors, or guy wires is very difficult for people. These flights may be automated by first creating a three dimensional model of the tower from a scan; determining a safe standoff distance for the unmanned aerial vehicle; generating flight segments to provide complete inspection coverage of the tower while maintaining the standoff distance; and then safely and accurately flying the segments in most wind conditions by using location correction messages from remote reference stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Izak Van Cruyningen
  • Patent number: 10501195
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided herein for improving the power performance of vehicle. A hybrid power system may comprise a power controller adapted to be in communication with a first power source, a second power source, and a load. The power controller may be configured to detect whether a current drawn by the load exceeds a predetermined threshold, control discharging of the first power source without permitting discharging of the second power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is less than the predetermined threshold current, and control discharging of the first power source and the second power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is greater than the predetermined threshold current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Wentao Wang, Dayang Zheng, Juncheng Zhan, Yuancai Liu
  • Patent number: 10496089
    Abstract: An aircraft control device and a remote controller aircraft are disclosed. The aircraft control device includes a first channel configured to receive first control information outputted by a remote controller and transmit the first control information to an aircraft; a second channel configured to receive second control information outputted by the remote controller and transmit the second control information to a camera and/or a gimbal; and a switch unit configured to switch that the first control information is received by the second channel and transmitted to the aircraft when the first channel is disturbed or a distance between the remote controller and the aircraft is larger than a distance threshold. The present invention is able to switch the transmission route of the first control information between the first channel and the second channel in accordance with situations of the first channel and the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Haoxiang Electric Energy (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Tian, Wenyan Jiang
  • Patent number: 10497108
    Abstract: One or more processing elements may be trained to identify vehicle damages or vehicle damages based upon training data. A remotely-controlled (RC) and/or autonomously operated inspection device, such as a ground vehicle or drone, may capture one or more sets of imaging data indicative of at least a portion of an automotive vehicle, such as all or a portion of the undercarriage. The one or more sets of imaging data may be analyzed using the trained processing elements to identify a damage to the vehicle or defect of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan Knuffman, Bradley A. Sliz, Lucas Allen
  • Patent number: 10489575
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to identity verification using autonomous vehicles. A security policy may be used to determine when identity verification using autonomous vehicles is required. The autonomous vehicle may be deployed to a location to verify the identity of the user based on one or more of images, audio data, biometric data, and wireless data connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mossoba, Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira, Joshua Edwards
  • Patent number: 10481276
    Abstract: A point location method for a vehicle moving on a constrained trajectory, implemented by a location device comprises tachometry means, odometry means, a group of at least one satellite geopositioning receiver and a time base synchronized to a satellite geopositioning system, the location device detecting the passage of the vehicle closest to a predetermined position by exploiting knowledge of the displacement of the vehicle, by predicting the form of a set of satellite geopositioning signals at the predetermined position and by testing the match between the predicted signals and those received by the group of at least one satellite geopositioning receiver, the displacement of the vehicle being determined from data supplied by the odometry means and a mapping of the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Marc Revol
  • Patent number: 10467376
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system to design an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on an intended task, comprising: UAS component database and a design control circuit configured to: obtain a first set of multiple task parameters corresponding to a requested task that the UAS is being designed to perform; identify at least one primary type of UAS component to be included in the UAS being designed; identify a first set of one or more secondary types of UAS components to support the primary type of UAS component while implementing the task; and provide a design plan of the designed UAS designed to be utilized to implement the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Thompson, Donald R. High, Nathan G. Jones
  • Patent number: 10429490
    Abstract: A system for bistatic radar target detection employs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a ramjet providing supersonic cruise of the UAV. Deployable antenna arms support a passive radar receiver for bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses. The UAV operates with a UAV flight profile in airspace beyond a radar range limit. The deployable antenna arms have a first retracted position for supersonic cruise and are adapted for deployment to a second extended position acting as an airbrake and providing boresight alignment of the radar receiver. A mothership aircraft has a radar transmitter for transmitting radar pulses and operates with an aircraft flight profile outside the radar range limit. A communications data link operably interconnects the UAV and the tactical mothership aircraft, transmitting data produced by the bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses in the UAV radar antenna to the mothership aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Inyoung Daniel Kim, Ryan S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10429834
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a system and a graphical user interface configured to enable an Ux V operator (e.g. an APCS operator) to direct the Ux V to view a selected object from a desired viewing angle, notwithstanding the fact that the desired viewing angle of the object is not exposed in a displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Moshe Sabato
  • Patent number: 10379203
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a phased array system including a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) configured to fly in an array formation having an array lattice spacing. The UAVs can include a puck having a phased array element and a signal processing module configured to receive and process a signal to achieve for the array lattice spacing a spacing that is less than a wavelength of operation of the phased array elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: John P. Gianvittorio
  • Patent number: 10371794
    Abstract: A system for bistatic radar target detection employs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a ramjet providing supersonic cruise of the UAV. Deployable antenna arms support a passive radar receiver for bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses. The UAV operates with a UAV flight profile in airspace beyond a radar range limit. The deployable antenna arms have a first retracted position for supersonic cruise and are adapted for deployment to a second extended position acting as an airbrake and providing boresight alignment of the radar receiver. A mothership aircraft has a radar transmitter for transmitting radar pulses and operates with an aircraft flight profile outside the radar range limit. A communications data link operably interconnects the UAV and the tactical mothership aircraft, transmitting data produced by the bistatic reception of reflected radar pulses in the UAV radar antenna to the mothership aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Inyoung Daniel Kim, Ryan S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10371567
    Abstract: An intelligent noise monitoring device includes a self-flying moving module, a noise measurement module equipped in the moving module to measure noise of a target to be detected, a control module configured to control the moving module and the noise measurement module; and a communication module configured to communicate with a ground control center, wherein the intelligent noise monitoring device flies to a location to be detected to measure the noise of the location to be detected so as to determine whether or not the measured noise is in an abnormal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Sang Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10353403
    Abstract: An autonomous flying device that tracks a moving object and flies includes a sensor that obtains first information related to a velocity of the moving object, a controller that controls flight of the autonomous flying device, and a driver that drives the autonomous flying device, the controller setting a velocity of the autonomous flying device in accordance with the first information so that the velocity of the autonomous flying device increases as a distance between the moving object and the autonomous flying device increases, the driver causing the autonomous flying device to fly at the velocity set by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongjie Shi
  • Patent number: 10353389
    Abstract: Cross-cueing systems allow users to instantly understand the geographic location of objects in the video scene, as well as instantly understand the location within the scene of objects on a map. This provides an unprecedented level of situation awareness for unmanned vehicle operators and video surveillance system operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: RAPID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Patent number: 10338610
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for distributing a plurality of drones to form an aerial image. The systems and methods may include: receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, location data and drone data; distributing, by the computing device, a plurality of drones based on the aspects of an aerial image such that, during flight, the plurality of drones form the aerial image; and exporting, by the computing device, coordinates for each of the plurality of drones. The location data may define aspects of the aerial image to be formed by the plurality of drones. The drone data may include a number of drones within the plurality of drones. The coordinate for each of the plurality of drones may define a location for a respective drone within the aerial image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventor: Tobias Gurdan