Patents by Inventor Eric Allison
Eric Allison 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).
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Patent number: 11945576Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 11932384Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20230025665Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20230026170Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 11407509Abstract: In various embodiments, a tilt-wing aircraft includes a fuselage; a first wing tiltably mounted at or near a forward end of the fuselage; and a second wing rotatably mounted to the fuselage at a position aft of the first wing. A first plurality of rotors is mounted on the first wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the first wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage; and a second plurality of rotors mounted on the second wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the second wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage. A flight control system generates a set of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve desired forces and moments.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: Ilan Kroo, Herve Martins-Rivas, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 11358713Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 11358712Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10903535Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20200156781Abstract: In various embodiments, a tilt-wing aircraft includes a fuselage; a first wing tiltably mounted at or near a forward end of the fuselage; and a second wing rotatably mounted to the fuselage at a position aft of the first wing. A first plurality of rotors is mounted on the first wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the first wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage; and a second plurality of rotors mounted on the second wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the second wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage. A flight control system generates a set of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve desired forces and moments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Ilan KROO, Herve MARTINS-RIVAS, Eric ALLISON
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Patent number: 10562620Abstract: In various embodiments, a tilt-wing aircraft includes a fuselage; a first wing tiltably mounted at or near a forward end of the fuselage; and a second wing rotatably mounted to the fuselage at a position aft of the first wing. A first plurality of rotors is mounted on the first wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the first wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage; and a second plurality of rotors mounted on the second wing at locations on or near a leading edge of the second wing, with two or more rotors being mounted on wing portions on each side of the fuselage. A flight control system generates a set of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve desired forces and moments.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: Ilan Kroo, Herve Martins-Rivas, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20190322364Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20190322378Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an after end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an after end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10364024Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Kitty CorporationInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10364036Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is disclosed. The multicopter includes a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an after end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an after end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10281890Abstract: A flight control system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a flight control system includes a data storage device configured to store an aerodynamic model; and a processor coupled to the data storage device and configured to use the aerodynamic model to determine a set of actuators and for each actuator in the set a corresponding set of one or more actuator parameters to achieve a desired set of forces and moments. The aerodynamic model provides for each actuator in the set of actuator corresponding force and moment data for each of a first set of operating conditions based on a first set of simulations performed by varying one or more actuator parameters while holding other actuators at a baseline value and a second set of simulations to determine interactions between the actuator and said other actuators under each of a second set of operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Ilan Kroo, Marshall Gusman, Neel Vora, Jim Bungener, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20190097282Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10177424Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison
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Patent number: 10101719Abstract: A flight control system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a flight control system includes a data storage device configured to store an aerodynamic model; and a processor coupled to the data storage device and configured to use the aerodynamic model to determine a set of actuators and for each actuator in the set a corresponding set of one or more actuator parameters to achieve a desired set of forces and moments. The aerodynamic model provides for each actuator in the set of actuator corresponding force and moment data for each of a first set of operating conditions based on a first set of simulations performed by varying one or more actuator parameters while holding other actuators at a baseline value and a second set of simulations to determine interactions between the actuator and said other actuators under each of a second set of operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Ilan Kroo, Marshall Gusman, Neel Vora, Jim Bungener, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20180105267Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20180105279Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an after end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an after end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison