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).

  • Patent number: 11939046
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Otto Berry, Graham Bowen-Davies, Madeline Elliott Parker, Cameron Robertson, Christopher Scott Saunders
  • Publication number: 20240045446
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 11815911
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 11708172
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 11485245
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Publication number: 20210362868
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Publication number: 20210356974
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Publication number: 20210300194
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Publication number: 20210300594
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 11111030
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 11106221
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Publication number: 20210221527
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Christopher Scott Saunders, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 10926654
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 10913547
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 9435060
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
    Inventors: Benjamin K. S. Woods, Benjamin Otto Berry, Vladimir Bohdan Stavnychyi
  • Publication number: 20130291709
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Benjamin K.S. Woods, Benjamin Otto Berry, Vladimir Bohdan Stavnychyi