Patents Assigned to Vector Launch Inc.
  • Patent number: 10084534
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite system comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and a satellite control system configured to operate logistical control elements of the satellite system. The satellite system further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the satellite system as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 10072612
    Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bostwick, John Garvey, Christopher Anderson, Eric Besnard
  • Patent number: 10069935
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for satellite platforms. In one example, a satellite platform includes a plurality of satellite devices, with one or more of the satellite devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the satellite devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target satellite devices among the plurality of satellite devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target satellite devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target satellite devices for performing the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9998207
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying communication networks in clusters of satellite devices. In one example, a first subset of satellite devices is configured to orbit in a first orbital layer, and a second subset of satellite devices is configured to orbit in a second orbital layer. A communication network is formed among the satellite devices and is configured to selectively exchange communications among the first orbital layer and the second orbital layer based at least in part on an operational status of the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9991951
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellites. In one example, a satellite device includes a communication interface and a virtualized execution system. The virtualized execution system is configured to receive state information via the communication interface from at least a peer satellite device related to execution of one or more software payloads by the peer satellite device, and execute one or more virtual nodes based at least on the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9960837
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platform. In one example, an orbital satellite platform includes a plurality of satellite devices configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous window corresponding to an underlying zone of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a designated software payload from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window. During orbital passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices are configured to execute the designated software payload in accordance with the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9875091
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying software applications in satellites. In one example, a control system may receive user input indicative of deployment requirements for a software application, and identify an availability of resources present in a plurality of satellites deployed as an orbiting satellite platform. The control system further determines deployment options for deployment of the software application based on the deployment requirements and the availability of resources in the plurality of satellites, and provides the deployment options for the software application via a user interface for deployment of the software application onto the orbiting satellite platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9876563
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite system comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and a satellite control system configured to operate logistical control elements of the satellite system. The satellite system further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the satellite system as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9819742
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platforms. In one example, an orbital satellite platform includes a plurality of satellite devices each comprising a virtualized execution system configured to execute one or more software payloads as associated virtual nodes. An active satellite device is provided among the plurality of satellite devices and is configured to execute at least an active virtual node, determine state information related to the execution of the active virtual node, and periodically update the state information in a storage satellite device. The storage satellite device is configured to select a level of statefulness for delivery of the state information to a peer satellite device designated as an operational backup for the active satellite device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9740465
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying software applications in satellites. In one example, a control system may receive user input indicative of deployment requirements for a software application, and identify an availability of resources in a plurality of satellites deployed as an orbiting satellite platform. The control system further determines deployment options for deployment of the software application based on the deployment requirements and the availability of resources in the plurality of satellites, and provides the deployment options to a developer of the software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9722692
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellites. In one example, a satellite may receive software applications capable of execution as virtual nodes on the satellite, and receive a resource schedule associated with the software applications. The satellite may further execute the software applications on the satellite based on the resource schedule, wherein the resource schedule allocates processing resources and user sensor resources to the software applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
  • Patent number: 9641238
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellites. In one example, a satellite may receive software applications capable of execution as virtual nodes on the satellite, and receive a resource schedule associated with the software applications. The satellite may further execute the software applications on the satellite based on the resource schedule, wherein the resource schedule allocates processing resources and user sensor resources to the software applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber