Patents Assigned to Aerovironment Inc.
  • AIR VEHICLE FLIGHT MECHANISM AND CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20180079504
    Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
  • System for charging an electric vehicle (EV)
    Patent number: 9914364
    Abstract: A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV) includes receiving a user's authentication code in an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) from a user's mobile device, comparing in the EVSE the user's authentication code to a whitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes, and enabling an electric vehicle (EV) charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparing of the user's authentication code to the whitelist so that a user's authentication code is authenticated to enable the EV charging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Ryan Shumaker, Lovlesh Tandon, Herman Joseph Steinbuchel, IV, Robert Salazar, Jr., Larry Hayashigawa
  • Utility ground detection
    Patent number: 9915692
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a missing utility ground detection circuit includes a pair of balanced resistors each connected to receive utility voltage from a different one of a pair of utility power lines, the balanced resistors being connected together at a summing node to be capable of summing the voltages from the pair of utility power lines. It includes an unbalance resistor connected to shunt voltage from one of the utility power lines. It has a summing amplifier with an input coupled to the summing node and to a reference voltage, and an input coupled to a second reference voltage. It has an averaging circuit connected at the output of the summing amplifier. A comparator is provided having an input connected to the averaging circuit an input connected to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Flack, Scott Garret Berman
  • Aircraft system for reduced observer visibility
    Patent number: 9902489
    Abstract: An aircraft apparatus is disclosed that has a fuselage boom having proximal and distal ends, a wing coupled to a proximal end of the fuselage boom and at least one transparent stabilizer coupled to a distal end of the fuselage boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Steven Bradley Chambers, Pavil Belik, Austin Craig Gunder, John Peter Zwaan
  • Electrical plug adapter having socket key safety system
    Patent number: 9882313
    Abstract: An electric vehicle (“EV”) charger plug adapter apparatus includes an adapter housing, a socket extending into a first side of the adapter housing, the socket configuration defined by a first technical standard for use with at least one of a first current or voltage rating, a plug extending from a second side of the adapter housing, the plug configuration defined by a second technical standard for use with at least one of a second current or voltage rating, and a key extending from the first side of the adapter housing, wherein the key prevents seating of a second plug into the socket if the second plug does not have a complementary key socket to fit the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Herman Joseph Steinbuchel, IV, Larry Hayashigawa, Ronald Lee Norton, David Paul Soden, Thomas Michael Zevin, Albert Joseph Flack
  • Geographic survey system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
    Patent number: 9880563
    Abstract: A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request having: a first geographic coverage area; and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area; planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod; and deploying the UAV pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee, William Arden Lott
  • Launch tube restraint system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
    Patent number: 9873526
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial launch vehicle (UAV) launch apparatus is disclosed that includes a UAV (400) having an exterior surface, an aerial vehicle (AV) tab (510) extending from the exterior surface, a tube (440) containing the UAV (400), the tube (440) including a tab stop (515) configured to controllably hinder travel of the AV tab (510) past the tab stop (515), and a pair of opposing tab guides (700, 705) configured to position the AV tab (510) for travel over the tab stop (515).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Guan H Su, Marcos Henry Rodriguez
  • Power and communication interface for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
    Patent number: 9873524
    Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee, William Arden Lott
  • MOTOR AIR FLOW COOLING
    Publication number: 20180006517
    Abstract: In one possible embodiment, an aircraft electric motor cooling system is provided having an airflow path through a spinner which includes a first airflow path between an inner rotor and a stator, a second airflow path between an outer rotor the stator and a third airflow path along an outer surface of the outer rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Lindsay Aspinwall SHEPPARD, Bart Dean HIBBS
  • Reactive replenishable device management
    Patent number: 9849788
    Abstract: Reactive replenishable device management comprises receiving device measurement data from at least one device, updating one or more device usage profiles associated with the at least one device, and if an analysis of the one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of the at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of: controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of the at least one device, issuing one or more device management recommendations to a user of the at least one device, and issuing one or more user alerts to the user. The at least one device comprises at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with the one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with the one or more replenishable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Blake Dickinson, Lisa Lei Horiuchi, Nathaniel Jordan Ramer
  • UAV payload module camera assembly and retraction mechanism
    Patent number: 9850004
    Abstract: In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Pavel Belik, Manolis Dimotakis, Christopher J. D'Aquila
  • THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT AVIONICS BAY
    Publication number: 20170367221
    Abstract: A system for managing heat transfer is provided by the present disclosure, which in one form includes a cavity having an inner wall portion, at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity, and a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another. Each heat conducting member includes a resilient core and an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core. The outer shell is made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, and the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs
  • High altitude, long endurance, unmanned aircraft and methods of operation thereof
    Patent number: 9834307
    Abstract: Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft capable of persistent station-keeping having one or more electromagnetic (IR/Visual/RF) sensor elements or suites for purposes of survey and/or signal gathering. Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft capable of persistent station-keeping having a directable laser. Embodiments include a group of four or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft configured as GPS repeaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Edward Oscar Rios
  • Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air vehicle
    Patent number: 9834305
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing and first starboard wing, a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing, and a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Dana J. Taylor, Phillip T. Tokumaru, Bart Dean Hibbs, William Martin Parks, David Wayne Ganzer, Joseph Frederick King
  • Cryogenic liquid tank
    Patent number: 9829155
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Nelson Brooks, Bart Dean Hibbs, David Robert Thompson
  • Compressed motor winding
    Patent number: 9825497
    Abstract: In one possible embodiment, a motor winding is provided having a high density multi-conductor wire bundle with a compacted Litz wire bundle. The compacted Litz wire bundle has a serpentine configuration with a central portion having compacted Litz wire and end turns having non-compacted Litz wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally Ewald Rippel, Zaher Abdallah Daboussi, Bradford M. Hori, Scott Garret Berman, Bart Dean Hibbs
  • STATOR WINDING HEAT SINK CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20170331339
    Abstract: In one possible implementation, a motor is provided including a rotor and a stator. Front cooling fins are thermally coupled to a front of the stator, and rear cooling fins are thermally coupled to a rear portion of the stator. The winding is between the front and rear cooling fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Zaher Abdallah DABOUSSI, Lindsay Aspinwall SHEPPARD, Bart Dean HIBBS, Wally Ewald RIPPEL
  • Interactive weapon targeting system displaying remote sensed image of target area
    Patent number: 9816785
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining a predicted impact point of a selected weapon and associated round based on stored ballistic information, provided elevation data, provided azimuth data, and provided position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: John C. McNeil, Earl Clyde Cox, Makoto Ueno, Jon Andrew Ross
  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION WITH CABLE RETAINING ENCLOSURE
    Publication number: 20170302092
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an enclosure for a charging station is provided having a peripheral casing configured to retain a charging cable on an upward facing surface of the peripheral casing between a front user interface side and a charging station mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Holden Alexander Bonwit, Greg A. Petrie
  • Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) winged air vehicle with complementary angled rotors
    Patent number: D813143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Belik, Andrew Logan, Henry Won, Jeremy Tyler