Patents by Inventor Brad Lee Vaughn

Brad Lee Vaughn 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: 9908618
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
  • Publication number: 20170036777
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided a tether system for coupling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to an anchor location, the tether system comprising a tether line configured to couple the UAV to the anchor location during flight of the UAV, and an anti-entanglement (AE) member extending along a section of the tether line, the AE member having a first end proximate the UAV and a second end opposite the first end, proximate the anchor location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Richard George Martin, Brad Lee Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20170021915
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
  • Patent number: 9469394
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. Various embodiments may include receiving a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone. A weight-distribution balance profile may be determined, based on the weight-distribution input, for determining whether a repositionable weight should be repositioned among a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions on a balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone. The repositionable weight may be repositioned according to the weight-distribution balance profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
  • Publication number: 20160264234
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. Various embodiments may include receiving a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone. A weight-distribution balance profile may be determined, based on the weight-distribution input, for determining whether a repositionable weight should be repositioned among a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions on a balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone. The repositionable weight may be repositioned according to the weight-distribution balance profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson