Patents by Inventor Dino A. Cerchie

Dino A. Cerchie 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: 9157744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing movement. A navigation system comprises a first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device having a first inertial measurement unit with a first level of accuracy in a first vehicle and is configured to provide first information that identifies a position of the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle. The navigation system further comprises a second inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device in the first vehicle having a second inertial measurement unit with a second level of accuracy that is greater than the first level of accuracy and is configured to provide second information that identifies the position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle. The navigation system further comprises a controller that is configured to perform an action based on a desired level of accuracy of the first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William Mark Hardesty, Don G. Caldwell, Dino A. Cerchie
  • Patent number: 8052096
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft of a type including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft for unmanned flight operations includes first and second actuators, each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, first and second clutches, each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to or from the pilot control during flight, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled during flight to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches and thereby provide unmanned operation of the aircraft, or of being disabled, thereby providing for manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dino A. Cerchie, Gregory E. Dockter, William Mark Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20100286847
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft of a type including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft for unmanned flight operations includes first and second actuators, each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, first and second clutches, each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to or from the pilot control during flight, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled during flight to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches and thereby provide unmanned operation of the aircraft, or of being disabled, thereby providing for manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dino A. Cerchie, Gregory E. Dockter, William Mark Hardesty
  • Patent number: 7784741
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft of a type including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft for unmanned flight operations includes first and second actuators, each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, first and second clutches, each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to the pilot control, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches and thereby provide unmanned operation of the aircraft, or of being disabled, thereby providing for manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dino A. Cerchie, Gregory E. Dockter, William Mark Hardesty
  • Patent number: 7624943
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft for unmanned flight, the aircraft including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft, the apparatus comprising a first actuator and a second actuator each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, a first clutch and a second clutch each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to the pilot control, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches providing unmanned operation of the aircraft or disabled providing manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dino A. Cerchie, Gregory E. Dockter, William Mark Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20090045296
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft of a type including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft for unmanned flight operations includes first and second actuators, each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, first and second clutches, each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to the pilot control, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches and thereby provide unmanned operation of the aircraft, or of being disabled, thereby providing for manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Dino A. Cerchie, Gregory E. Dockter, William Mark Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20070221782
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a manned aircraft for unmanned flight, the aircraft including at least one pilot control capable of manipulation to affect operation of the aircraft, the apparatus comprising a first actuator and a second actuator each configured to selectively provide movement or resistance to movement in a first manner including linear or rotational motion, a first clutch and a second clutch each configured to selectively couple movement of the associated actuator to the pilot control, and a vehicle controller capable of being selectively enabled to operate the pilot control actuators and clutches providing unmanned operation of the aircraft or disabled providing manned operation of the aircraft. The first actuator has a first scope describing a first amount of allowable movement, while the second actuator has a second scope larger than the first scope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Dino Cerchie, Gregory Dockter, William Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20050127245
    Abstract: An active flow control device and method are disclosed for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of airfoils. The device and method pertain to the application of hybrid intermittent suction or intake of low-energy boundary layer fluid into an airfoil through one or more inlet openings while also applying intermittent blowing or expulsion of fluid out of such an airfoil into the boundary layer through one or more outlet openings for the purpose of delaying or eliminating boundary layer separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Ahmed Hassan, Ram JanakiRam, Dino Cerchie
  • Patent number: 6899302
    Abstract: An active flow control device and method for improving the aerodynamic efficiency of airfoils. The device and method pertain to the application of hybrid intermittent suction or intake of low-energy boundary layer fluid into an airfoil through one or more inlet openings while also applying intermittent blowing or expulsion of fluid out of such an airfoil into the boundary layer through one or more outlet openings for the purpose of delaying or eliminating boundary layer separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ahmed A. Hassan, Ram D. JanakiRam, Dino A. Cerchie