Patents by Inventor Edward Dale Steakley

Edward Dale Steakley 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).

  • Publication number: 20180190132
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for generation of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle flight plans based on triggered sensor information. One of the methods includes accessing information correlated from sensors monitoring features of weather events, and determining an upcoming weather event, the determination comprising one or more areas expected to be affected by the weather event. A likelihood of damage associated with the weather event is determined to be greater than a threshold in the areas. The weather event is monitored while areas in which the likelihood is greater than the threshold are updated accordingly. Subsequent to the weather event, properties to be inspected by unmanned aerial vehicles are determined based on severity information associated with the weather event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Caity Cronkhite, Brent Davidson, Kartik Ghorakavi, Lauren Gimmillaro, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20180096609
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for fleet management of unmanned aerial vehicles, including flight authorization. One of the methods includes maintaining one or more rules associated with authorizing UAVs to implement flight plans. A request to generate a flight plan associated with a job is received, the request including information indicating a flight pattern comprising, at least, one or more waypoints associated with geospatial references. The flight plan is generated based on the request, and an initial authorization check is determined based on the maintained rules and the generated flight plan. Upon a positive determination, access to the generated flight plan is provided by a ground control system, and the flight plan is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Jason de la Cruz, Brad Mandala, Charles Taylor, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20180025473
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification are methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on non-transitory computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight operation and privacy controls. Based on geofence types, and UAV distance from a geofence, sensors and other devices connected to a UAV are conditionally operational. Image data collected during a UAV flight may be obfuscated by the UAV while in flight, or via a post-flight process using log data generated by the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Unmanned Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Livonia Contreras, Lucas Palage Doyle, Justin Eugene Kuehn, Volkan Gurel, Eric David Johnson, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20180025649
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification are methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on non-transitory computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight operation and privacy controls. Based on geofence types, and UAV distance from a geofence, sensors and other devices connected to a UAV are conditionally operational. Image data collected during a UAV flight may be obfuscated by the UAV while in flight, or via a post-flight process using log data generated by the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Unmanned Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Livonia Contreras, Lucas Palage Doyle, Justin Eugene Kuehn, Volkan Gurel, Eric David Johnson, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20180003656
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and program products of inspecting solar panels using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. A UAV can obtain a position of the Sun in a reference frame, a location of a solar panel in the reference frame, and an orientation of the solar panel in the reference frame. The UAV can determine a viewing position of the UAV in the reference frame based on at least one of the position of the Sun, the location of the solar panel, and the orientation of the solar panel. The UAV can maneuver to the viewing position and point a thermal sensor onboard the UAV at the solar panel. The UAV can capture, by the thermal sensor, a thermal image of at least a portion of the solar panel. A server onboard the UAV or connected to the UAV can detect panel failures based on the thermal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Unmanned Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Michini, Fabien Blanc-Paques, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20170357273
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations. In an embodiment, a flight planning system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can identify handoff zones along a UAV flight corridor for transferring control of the UAV between ground control stations. The start of the handoff zones can be determined prior to a flight or while the UAV is in flight. For handoff zones determined prior to flight, the flight planning system can identify suitable locations to place a ground control station (GCS). The handoff zone can be based on a threshold visual line of sight range between a controlling GCS and the UAV. For determining handoff zones while in flight, the UAV can monitor RF signals from each GCS participating in the handoff to determine the start of a handoff period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Bernard J. Michini, Logan Cummings, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Publication number: 20170229022
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle visual line of sight flight operations. A UAV computer system may be configured to ensure the UAV is operating in visual line of sight of one or more ground operators. The UAV may confirm that it has a visual line of sight with the one or more user devices, such as a ground control station, or the UAV may ensure that the UAV does not fly behind or below a structure such that the ground operator would not be able to visually spot the UAV. The UAV computer system may be configured in such a way that UAV operation will maintain the UAV in visual line of sight of a base location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Unmanned Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Volkan Gurel, Bernard J. Michini, Edward Dale Steakley
  • Patent number: 9588516
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle visual line of sight flight operations. A UAV computer system may be configured to ensure the UAV is operating in visual line of sight of one or more ground operators. The UAV may confirm that it has a visual line of sight with the one or more user devices, such as a ground control station, or the UAV may ensure that the UAV does not fly behind or below a structure such that the ground operator would not be able to visually spot the UAV. The UAV computer system may be configured in such a way that UAV operation will maintain the UAV in visual line of sight of a base location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Unmanned Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Volkan Gurel, Bernard J. Michini, Edward Dale Steakley