Patents by Inventor Damon Vander Lind

Damon Vander Lind 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).

  • Parachute deployment system using decoupled tow and release lines
    Patent number: 10065742
    Abstract: A parachute system includes a release that detachably couples a self-propelled projectile and parachute canopy to each other. The release detaches the two from each other in response to a triggering of the release. There is also a first path between the release and a payload where the first path includes the parachute canopy and a suspension line between the parachute canopy and the payload. At least part of the suspension line is bound such that the first path is effectively shorter than a second path. In response to the first path being drawn taut, the suspension line becomes unbound so that the first path becomes effectively longer than the second path. In response to the second path being drawn taut after the suspension line becomes unbound, the release is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Swan, Craig Western, Damon Vander Lind, Amy Qian
  • Power surge landing system
    Patent number: 10054954
    Abstract: An aircraft landing system is disclosed. In various embodiments, an aircraft landing system as disclosed herein includes a processor that determines to start a final stage of descent for the aircraft. The processor determines a set of commands for actuators of the aircraft, based on the determination to start the final stage of descent, to flare the aircraft while wings of the aircraft are substantially in a forward flight position followed by transitioning to a vertical tilt position and completing the landing in substantially vertical flight. The commands are provided to the actuators of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn, Thomas Van Alsenoy
  • STOPPED ROTOR AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20180194461
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a wing which is configured to provide lift during a wing-borne mode of flight and a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade. The stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation during a hover mode of flight and stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward at least some of the time during the wing-borne mode of flight. The aircraft also includes a combination rotor which rotates about a longitudinal axis of rotation in a first direction at least some of the time during the hover mode of flight and in a second direction at least some of the time during the wing-borne mode of flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn
  • Stopped rotor aircraft
    Patent number: 10017246
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a wing which is configured to provide lift during a wing-borne mode of flight and a stoppable rotor which includes a first blade and a second blade. The stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation during a hover mode of flight and stop with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward at least some of the time during the wing-borne mode of flight. The aircraft also includes a combination rotor which rotates about a longitudinal axis of rotation in a first direction at least some of the time during the hover mode of flight and in a second direction at least some of the time during the wing-borne mode of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn
  • Methods and systems for transitioning an aerial vehicle between hover flight and crosswind flight
    Patent number: 9994314
    Abstract: A method includes operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method includes positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method includes transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method includes operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Erik Christopher Chubb, Damon Vander Lind
  • Parachute deployment system using decoupled tow and release lines
    Patent number: 9981749
    Abstract: A parachute system includes a parachute which is coupled to a rocket via a first load path, which includes a tow line, one or more upper parachute lines, and one or more lower parachute lines, and a second load path, which includes a release line. The rocket is configured to tow the parachute via the tow line. There is a lower parachute line restrainer which when released permits the lower parachute lines to extend to full length. There is also a release which is configured to open in the event a load switches from the first load path to the second load path; when the release is open, the parachute and the rocket are permitted to separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Swan, Craig Western, Damon Vander Lind, Amy Qian
  • PNEUMATIC PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180141668
    Abstract: A pneumatic parachute deployment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a pneumatic parachute deployment system as disclosed herein includes a bladder configured to control a parachute's expansion in at least one dimension, and an inflation mechanism configured to inflate the bladder. The bladder is inflated when the parachute is deployed, and in various embodiments may be used to speed deployment of the parachute and/or restrict the parachute to opening at least initially only to a limited extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventor: Damon Vander Lind
  • CINCHED PARACHUTE
    Publication number: 20180141667
    Abstract: A cinched parachute is disclosed. In various embodiments, a cinched parachute as disclosed herein includes a canopy comprising one or more sections of canopy material, and a device integrated with the canopy that controls dimensions of the canopy material. For example, in some embodiments the device may be used to control the size of an opening atop the parachute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Cameron Robertson
  • Tiltwing multicopter with foldable and non-foldable propellers
    Patent number: 9975631
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a front tiltwing which in turn includes two non-foldable outer propellers and four foldable inner propellers. The four foldable inner propellers are rotating at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a vertical takeoff and landing position. The four foldable inner propellers are stowed at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a forward flight position. The aircraft also includes a back tiltwing which includes two non-foldable back propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Campbell McLaren, Damon Vander Lind, Pranay Sinha, Thomas Van Alsenoy
  • Control system for a stopped rotor aircraft
    Patent number: 9975629
    Abstract: While an aircraft is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with a stoppable rotor is calculated where the stoppable rotor includes a first and second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. A process to stop the stoppable rotor is started, while the aircraft is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, where the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Mainland Horn, Damon Vander Lind
  • Systems and Methods for Controlling Rotation and Twist of a Tether
    Publication number: 20180127113
    Abstract: A system may include a tether, a slip ring, a tether gimbal assembly, a drive mechanism, a control system. The tether may include a distal tether end coupled to an aerial vehicle, a proximate tether end, and at least one insulated electrical conductor coupled to the aerial vehicle. The slip ring may include a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, where the rotatable portion is coupled to the tether. The tether gimbal assembly may be rotatable about at least one axis and is coupled to the fixed portion of the slip ring. The drive mechanism may be coupled to the slip ring and configured to rotate the rotatable portion of the slip ring. And the control system may be configured to operate the drive mechanism to control twist in the tether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Elias Wolfgang Patten, Damon Vander Lind, Bryan Christopher GilroySmith, Brian Hachtmann
  • DISTRIBUTED PARACHUTE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180118354
    Abstract: A distributed parachute system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a parachute is at least partially deployed along one or more dimensions. A deployment mechanism configured to deploy the parachute is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Damon Vander Lind
  • BIMODAL PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180118353
    Abstract: A parachute deployment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes an interface configured to receive sensor information; a parachute load limiting device; and a parachute load limiting device state controller. The parachute load limiting device state controller sets a state of the parachute load limiting device to a state associated with a corresponding amount of load based at least in part on the sensor information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Cameron Robertson
  • Bimodal propeller aircraft
    Patent number: 9957042
    Abstract: A bimodal propeller aircraft is disclosed. In various embodiments, the aircraft is flown using a cruise propeller and a hover propeller. The hover propeller has one or more folding blades optimized to provide lift to the aircraft in a first flight mode. The cruise propeller is optimized to provide thrust in a second flight mode. In the second flight mode, the one or more folding blades of the hover propeller may remain in a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn
  • Flight configuration for payload and lift aircraft
    Patent number: 9958876
    Abstract: A flight configuration is disclosed. The flight configuration includes a lift configuration in which a lift aircraft lifts a powered payload via a tether. The flight configuration comprises a series of steps for transitioning from the lift configuration to a forward flight configuration. In the forward flight configuration, the lift aircraft and the powered payload are in horizontal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn
  • Tethers for airborne wind turbines using electrical conductor bundles
    Patent number: 9947434
    Abstract: A tether may include a core, a hybrid layer surrounding the core, and a jacket surrounding the hybrid layer. The hybrid layer may include a plurality of strength members, and a plurality of electrical conductor bundles. Each electrical conductor bundle of the plurality of electrical bundles may include a compliant element, a plurality of electrical conducting elements surrounding the compliant element, and an insulating layer surrounding the plurality of electrical conducting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Elias Wolfgang Patten, Damon Vander Lind
  • Stopped rotor aircraft
    Patent number: 9944387
    Abstract: A stoppable rotor, which includes a first and second blade and rotates about a substantially vertical axis, is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward while the aircraft is mid-flight. Anti-torque is provided using a set of one or more combination rotors in a first mode of operation in order to counter torque produced by the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor is rotating where the set of combination rotors rotate about a substantially longitudinal axis. Forward thrust is provided using the set of combination rotors in a second mode of operation when the stoppable rotor is not rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn
  • Geometry-based flight control system
    Patent number: 9908616
    Abstract: A geometry-based flight control system is disclosed. The geometry-based flight control system receives a set of inputs associated with a requested set of forces and moments to be applied to the aircraft and computes an optimal mix of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve to an extent practical the requested forces and moments. Computing the optimal mix of actuators and associated actuator parameters includes taking into consideration dynamically varying effectiveness of one or more actuators based on a dynamic state of the aircraft. For example, the dynamic state may comprise an angle of a tiltwing of the aircraft or an angle of a tilt rotor of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Mainland Horn, Damon Vander Lind
  • Tethers for airborne wind turbines
    Patent number: 9899127
    Abstract: A tether may include a core, a plurality of electrical conductors wound around the core, and a jacket surrounding the plurality of electrical conductors. The plurality of electrical conductors may include at least two groups of electrical conductors. Each group of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of electrical conductors may define a respective electrical path, where the respective electrical path is different from the electrical paths defined by other groups of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of the electrical conductors. Moreover, each group of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of electrical conductors is located around a respective portion of the core, such that a cross-section of each group of electrical conductors of the at least two or more electrical conductors defines a respective arc around the respective portion of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Elias Wolfgang Patten, Damon Vander Lind, Leo Casey
  • Kite configuration and flight strategy for flight in high wind speeds
    Patent number: 9896201
    Abstract: An airborne tethered flight system including a base unit, a tether having a first end attached to the base unit and a second end attached to a kite, wherein the kite comprises a main wing, a tail wing, and a tail boom attached to said main wing on a first end, said tail boom coupled to said tail wing on a second end, a plurality of vertical pylons attached to the main wing, said pylons comprising vertical airfoils adapted to provide lift, turbine driven generators mounted on the vertical airfoils attached to the main wing, and an additional vertical airfoil extending between the tail boom and tail wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Damon Vander Lind