Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Vermillion

Christopher R. Vermillion 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: 11230391
    Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where at least one rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, communications, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Altaeros Energies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Benjamin William Glass, Andrew D. Goessling
  • Publication number: 20200024000
    Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where at least one rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, communications, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Benjamin William Glass, Andrew D. Goessling
  • Patent number: 9789947
    Abstract: An aerostat system with an extended flight envelope in which the aerostat system can safely operate is provided. The aerostat system includes an aerostat, multiple tether groups and a base station. Spatially distinct tether groups allow for improved stability and controllability over a wide range of wind conditions. Independent actuation of the tether groups allows for control of the aerostat pitch and roll angle. A rotating platform including rails to rest the aerostat allows docking without auxiliary tethers, minimizing or eliminating the ground crew required to dock traditional aerostat systems. An optional controller allows remote or autonomous operation of the aerostat system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Altaeros Energies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Glass, Christopher R. Vermillion, Ephraim R. Lanford
  • Publication number: 20160139601
    Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where at least one rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, communications, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Benjamin W. Glass, Andrew D. Goessling
  • Patent number: 9187165
    Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where up to two rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Altaeros Energies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Benjamin W. Glass, Andrew D. Goessling
  • Publication number: 20150083849
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved aerostat system including an aerostat, multiple tether groups and a base station. Spatially distinct tether groups allow for improved stability and controllability over a wide range of wind conditions. Independent actuation of the tether groups allows for control of the aerostat pitch and roll angle. A rotating platform including rails to rest the aerostat allows docking without auxiliary tethers, minimizing or eliminating the ground crew required to dock traditional aerostat systems. An optional controller allows remote or autonomous operation of the aerostat system. The invention is intended to extend the flight envelope in which aerostat systems can safely operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Glass, Christopher R. Vermillion, Ephraim R. Lanford
  • Patent number: 7660660
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine output with at least two actuators, including applying inputs to actuators which regulate a variable of an engine, evaluating the response of the system, determining the ability of the actuators to change the engine variable, determining the capability of the actuators to reject a disturbance, calculating an optimum actuator feedforward control function based upon the ability and capability determined and controlling the actuators using the calculated function and a feedforward control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kenneth Roy Butts, Christopher R. Vermillion, Jing Sun
  • Patent number: 7634323
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plant process wherein the plant is over-actuated with N+1 actuators and provides N performance variables is disclosed. The system includes an outer-loop controller operable to compare N performance variable values from the plant with a reference set point and provide a desired virtual control input to an inner-loop controller. The inner-loop controller receives the desired virtual control input from the outer-loop controller and provides real control inputs to the at least N+1 actuators. The N+1 actuators receive the real control inputs and subsequently provide an actual virtual control input to the plant. Upon receiving the actual virtual control input from the N+1 actuators the plant is operable to produce N updated performance variable values in an optimized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Jing Sun, Ken R. Butts
  • Publication number: 20080208371
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plant process wherein the plant is over-actuated with N+1 actuators and provides N performance variables is disclosed. The system includes an outer-loop controller operable to compare N performance variable values from the plant with a reference set point and provide a desired virtual control input to an inner-loop controller. The inner-loop controller receives the desired virtual control input from the outer-loop controller and provides real control inputs to the at least N+1 actuators. The N+1 actuators receive the real control inputs and subsequently provide an actual virtual control input to the plant. Upon receiving the actual virtual control input from the N+1 actuators the plant is operable to produce N updated performance variable values in an optimized manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicants: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Christopher R. Vermillion, Jing Sun, Ken R. Butts
  • Publication number: 20080190384
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine output with at least two actuators, including applying inputs to actuators which regulate a variable of an engine, evaluating the response of the system, determining the ability of the actuators to change the engine variable, determining the capability of the actuators to reject a disturbance, calculating an optimum actuator feedforward control function based upon the ability and capability determined and controlling the actuators using the calculated function and a feedforward control algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kenneth Roy Butts, Christopher R. Vermillion, Jing Sun