Patents by Inventor Benjamin Otto Berry
Benjamin Otto Berry 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: 11939046Abstract: A plurality of propellers generate vertical thrust at least some of the time. An attachment sub-system detachably couples to a vertical connector, where a plurality of vertically-stacked multicopters are configured to detachably couple to the vertical connector in order to transport a load at a bottom end of the vertical connector. There is an opening in a vehicle frame that is configured to: (1) receive the vertical connector prior to the attachment sub-system detachably coupling to the vertical connector and (2) hold the vertical connector while the attachment sub-system is detachably coupled to the vertical connector.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Benjamin Otto Berry, Graham Bowen-Davies, Madeline Elliott Parker, Cameron Robertson, Christopher Scott Saunders
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Publication number: 20240045446Abstract: During a vertical landing state, it is decided whether to switch from the vertical landing state to a self adjusting state. The VTOL vehicle includes the flight controller, the rotor, and a fuselage where the rotor is coupled to the fuselage via a vertical connector. If it is so decided, there is a switch from the vertical landing state to the self adjusting state. During the self adjusting state, a control signal for a rotor is generated where the control signal causes: (1) the rotor to rotate during the self adjusting state and (2) the VTOL vehicle to remain in a fixed position during the self adjusting state, in response to the control signal, and independent of docking infrastructure. During a rotors off state, a rotor off control signal is generated for the rotor that causes the rotor to turn off.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 11815911Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle that includes a flight controller and a rotor. During a vertical landing state, during which the VTOL vehicle is performing a vertical landing, the flight controller decides whether to switch from the vertical landing state to a self adjusting state and in the event it is decided to do so, the flight controller switches from the vertical landing state to the self adjusting state. During the self adjusting state, the flight controller generates a control signal for a rotor where the control signal causes: (1) the rotor to rotate during the self adjusting state and (2) the VTOL vehicle to stay in place during the self adjusting state, such that an occupant is able to enter or exit the VTOL vehicle during the self adjusting state.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 11708172Abstract: A first propeller has a shorter blade length and a lower inertia than a second propeller. An electromagnetic field emitter is coupled to one of the first propeller or the second propeller and an electromagnetic field receptor is coupled to the other one that is not coupled to the electromagnetic field emitter. The electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field. In response to the electromagnetic field: the electromagnetic field receptor and its coupled propeller rotate in a first rotational direction; and the electromagnetic field emitter and its coupled propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction. In response to a second electromagnetic field associated with increasing torque: the first propeller increases and subsequently decreases its rotational speed; and the second propeller increases its rotational speed at a slower rate than the increase in the rotational speed of the first propeller.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 11485245Abstract: An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle is positioned to be in a charging position on the ground, wherein the eVTOL vehicle is capable of performing vertical take-offs and landings. The battery is charged while in the charging position on the ground using a wind turbine that includes the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Publication number: 20210362868Abstract: A first propeller has a shorter blade length and a lower inertia than a second propeller. An electromagnetic field emitter is coupled to one of the first propeller or the second propeller and an electromagnetic field receptor is coupled to the other one that is not coupled to the electromagnetic field emitter. The electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field. In response to the electromagnetic field: the electromagnetic field receptor and its coupled propeller rotate in a first rotational direction; and the electromagnetic field emitter and its coupled propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction. In response to a second electromagnetic field associated with increasing torque: the first propeller increases and subsequently decreases its rotational speed; and the second propeller increases its rotational speed at a slower rate than the increase in the rotational speed of the first propeller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Publication number: 20210356974Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle that includes a flight controller and a rotor. During a vertical landing state, during which the VTOL vehicle is performing a vertical landing, the flight controller decides whether to switch from the vertical landing state to a self adjusting state and in the event it is decided to do so, the flight controller switches from the vertical landing state to the self adjusting state. During the self adjusting state, the flight controller generates a control signal for a rotor where the control signal causes: (1) the rotor to rotate during the self adjusting state and (2) the VTOL vehicle to stay in place during the self adjusting state, such that an occupant is able to enter or exit the VTOL vehicle during the self adjusting state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Publication number: 20210300194Abstract: An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle is positioned to be in a charging position on the ground, wherein the eVTOL vehicle is capable of performing vertical take-offs and landings. The battery is charged while in the charging position on the ground using a wind turbine that includes the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Publication number: 20210300594Abstract: A vertical landing is performed by an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle above a charger where the eVTOL vehicle includes a rotor that is configured to rotate during an occupant change state to keep the eVTOL vehicle stationary during the occupant change state. A vertically-oriented male charging port that is part of the eVTOL vehicle and a female charging port that is part of the charger are detachably coupled and a battery in the eVTOL vehicle is charged using the charger while the vertically-oriented male charging port and the female charging port are detachably coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 11111030Abstract: A system which includes a first propeller, a second propeller, an electromagnetic field emitter that is coupled to the first propeller, and an electromagnetic field receptor that is coupled to the second propeller. The electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field and in response to the electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller rotate in a first rotational direction and the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 11106221Abstract: In response to a change in a state of at least some part of a vehicle, a control signal associated with countering the change in the state while the vehicle is in an occupant change state is generated. The control signal is sent to a rotor in the vehicle while the vehicle is in the occupant change state, wherein the control signal causes the rotor to move in a manner that is counter to the change in the state and the rotor rotates about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and enables the vehicle to perform vertical takeoffs and landings.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Publication number: 20210221527Abstract: A system which includes a first propeller, a second propeller, an electromagnetic field emitter that is coupled to the first propeller, and an electromagnetic field receptor that is coupled to the second propeller. The electromagnetic field emitter emits an electromagnetic field and in response to the electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field receptor and the second propeller rotate in a first rotational direction and the electromagnetic field emitter and the first propeller rotate in a second and counter-rotational direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 10926654Abstract: An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle is positioned to be in a charging position on the ground, wherein the eVTOL vehicle is capable of performing vertical take-offs and landings. The battery is charged while in the charging position on the ground using a wind turbine that includes the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 10913547Abstract: A vertical landing is performed by an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle above a charger where the eVTOL vehicle includes a rotor that is configured to rotate during an occupant change state to keep the eVTOL vehicle stationary during the occupant change state. A vertically-oriented male charging port that is part of the eVTOL vehicle and a female charging port that is part of the charger are detachably coupled and a battery in the eVTOL vehicle is charged using the charger while the vertically-oriented male charging port and the female charging port are detachably coupled.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
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Patent number: 9435060Abstract: Ultra-efficient composite truss structures and methods for manufacturing the same using low cost and high throughput winding processes are presented. The present disclosure describes combining the high structural efficiency of truss structures with the excellent mechanical properties of composite materials using processes that mitigate the high manufacturing costs typical of composite materials. The present disclosure further describes creating the members of the truss structure through continuous winding of either thermoset or thermoplastic matrix, fiber reinforced composite members around a central mandrel. The longitudinal chord members of the truss are held in position by the mandrel, and the web members are wrapped under the chord members, over them, or both. The web members are bonded to the chord members during manufacture to produce a single consolidated truss structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLANDInventors: Benjamin K. S. Woods, Benjamin Otto Berry, Vladimir Bohdan Stavnychyi
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Publication number: 20130291709Abstract: Ultra-efficient composite truss structures and methods for manufacturing the same using low cost and high throughput winding processes are presented. The present disclosure describes combining the high structural efficiency of truss structures with the excellent mechanical properties of composite materials using processes that mitigate the high manufacturing costs typical of composite materials. The present disclosure further describes creating the members of the truss structure through continuous winding of either thermoset or thermoplastic matrix, fiber reinforced composite members around a central mandrel. The longitudinal chord members of the truss are held in position by the mandrel, and the web members are wrapped under the chord members, over them, or both. The web members are bonded to the chord members during manufacture to produce a single consolidated truss structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: University of MarylandInventors: Benjamin K.S. Woods, Benjamin Otto Berry, Vladimir Bohdan Stavnychyi