Patents by Inventor Chris Townsend

Chris Townsend 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: 12145724
    Abstract: An electric aircraft having fixed pitch lift includes a plurality of flight components, wherein the plurality of flight components further comprises at least a lift propulsor component, wherein the lift propulsor component comprises a plurality of blades configured at an angle of attack, and a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is configured to calculate a flight element using an intermediate representation, and transmit the flight element to the plurality of flight components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Patent number: 12006024
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for redundant flight control configured for use in an aircraft. More specifically, a system is provided that includes a plurality of actuators that are configured to move a flight component of an aircraft such that one actuator is configured to move the flight component if the other actuator fails to move the flight component upon receipt of an attitude command from a pilot control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11999467
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BETA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11803195
    Abstract: Aspects relate to methods and systems for reversionary flight control for an electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. An exemplary system includes a pilot control, a sensor configured to sense and transmit analog control data associated with a pilot interaction with the pilot control, a pilot interface module configured to receive the analog control data, convert the analog control data to digital control data, and transmit digital control, an actuator, and a flight controller. The flight controller may be configured to receive the digital control data, determine a primary command datum as a function of the digital control data, transmit the primary command datum to the actuator, determine that the digital control signal is non-functional, receive the analog control data, determine a reversionary command datum as a function of the analog control data, and transmit the reversionary command datum to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Publication number: 20230312085
    Abstract: In an aspect a system for fly-by-wire flight control configured for use in electric aircraft including at least a sensor, wherein the sensor is communicatively connected a pilot control and configured to detect a pilot input from the pilot control and generate, as a function of the pilot input, command datum. A system includes a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device and configured to perform a voting algorithm, wherein performing the voting algorithm includes determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor, wherein determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor includes determining that the command datum is an active datum, determining the command datum is an admissible datum, generating, as a function of the command datum and the allowed sensor, a control surface datum wherein the control surface datum is correlated to the pilot input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Townsend, Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
  • Patent number: 11724797
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in electric aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the electric aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11713109
    Abstract: In an aspect a system for fly-by-wire flight control configured for use in electric aircraft including at least a sensor, wherein the sensor is communicatively connected a pilot control and configured to detect a pilot input from the pilot control and generate, as a function of the pilot input, command datum. A system includes a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device and configured to perform a voting algorithm, wherein performing the voting algorithm includes determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor, wherein determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor includes determining that the command datum is an active datum, determining the command datum is an admissible datum, generating, as a function of the command datum and the allowed sensor, a control surface datum wherein the control surface datum is correlated to the pilot input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Townsend, Joshua E Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
  • Patent number: 11702192
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems and methods for fly-by-wire reversionary flight control including a pilot control, a plurality of sensors configured to: sense control data associated with the pilot control, and transmit the control data, a first actuator communicative with the plurality of sensors configured to receive the control data, determine a first command datum as a function of the control data and a distributed control algorithm, and actuate a first control element according to the first command datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20230054141
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for redundant flight control configured for use in an aircraft. More specifically, a system is provided that includes a plurality of actuators that are configured to move a flight component of an aircraft such that one actuator is configured to move the flight component if the other actuator fails to move the flight component upon receipt of an attitude command from a pilot control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend
  • Publication number: 20220404842
    Abstract: Aspects relate to methods and systems for reversionary flight control for an electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. An exemplary system includes a pilot control, a sensor configured to sense and transmit analog control data associated with a pilot interaction with the pilot control, a pilot interface module configured to receive the analog control data, convert the analog control data to digital control data, and transmit digital control, an actuator, and a flight controller. The flight controller may be configured to receive the digital control data, determine a primary command datum as a function of the digital control data, transmit the primary command datum to the actuator, determine that the digital control signal is non-functional, receive the analog control data, determine a reversionary command datum as a function of the analog control data, and transmit the reversionary command datum to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Publication number: 20220363368
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems and methods for fly-by-wire reversionary flight control including a pilot control, a plurality of sensors configured to: sense control data associated with the pilot control, and transmit the control data, a first actuator communicative with the plurality of sensors configured to receive the control data, determine a first command datum as a function of the control data and a distributed control algorithm, and actuate a first control element according to the first command datum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363404
    Abstract: In an aspect systems and methods for monitoring health of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle include at least a flight component, a first sensor, a computing device, and a pilot display. The first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic associated with the at least a flight component and transmit the first characteristic. The computing device is communicative with the first sensor, and is configured to: receive the first characteristic, analyze the first characteristic, and determine a condition of the at least a flight component as a function of the first characteristic. The pilot display is communicative with the first sensor and the computing device and is configured to: receive the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component and display the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363405
    Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure: In an aspect systems and methods for monitoring health of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle include at least a flight component, a first sensor, a computing device, and a pilot display. The first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic associated with the at least a flight component and transmit the first characteristic. The computing device is communicative with the first sensor, and is configured to: receive the first characteristic, analyze the first characteristic, and determine a condition of the at least a flight component as a function of the first characteristic. The pilot display is communicative with the first sensor and the computing device and is configured to: receive the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component and display the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363377
    Abstract: An electric aircraft having fixed pitch lift includes a plurality of flight components, wherein the plurality of flight components further comprises at least a lift propulsor component, wherein the lift propulsor component comprises a plurality of blades configured at an angle of attack, and a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is configured to calculate a flight element using an intermediate representation, and transmit the flight element to the plurality of flight components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363369
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11479344
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in electric aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the electric aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Publication number: 20220315206
    Abstract: In an aspect a system for fly-by-wire flight control configured for use in electric aircraft including at least a sensor, wherein the sensor is communicatively connected a pilot control and configured to detect a pilot input from the pilot control and generate, as a function of the pilot input, command datum. A system includes a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device and configured to perform a voting algorithm, wherein performing the voting algorithm includes determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor, wherein determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor includes determining that the command datum is an active datum, determining the command datum is an admissible datum, generating, as a function of the command datum and the allowed sensor, a control surface datum wherein the control surface datum is correlated to the pilot input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Townsend, Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
  • Publication number: 20220266985
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in electric aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the electric aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Publication number: 20220266988
    Abstract: A system of fall back flight control configured for use in electric aircraft includes an input control configured to receive a pilot input and generate a control datum. System includes a flight controller communicatively coupled to the input control and configured to receive the control datum and generate an output datum. The system includes the actuator having a primary mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the electric aircraft as a function of the output datum and a fall back mode in which the actuator is configured to move the at least a portion of the aircraft as a function of the control datum. The actuator configured to receive the control datum, receive the output datum, detect a loss of communication with the flight controller, and select the fall back mode as a function of the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Richter, Andrew Giroux, Joseph Trovato, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11407496
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for redundant flight control configured for use in an aircraft. More specifically, a system is provided that includes a plurality of actuators that are configured to move a flight component of an aircraft such that one actuator is configured to move the flight component if the other actuator fails to move the flight component upon receipt of an attitude command from a pilot control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend