Patents by Inventor Felix R. Hoots

Felix R. Hoots 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).

  • Quickdart: operational space debris visualization, characterization, and volume modeling
    Patent number: 10540459
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a 3-dimensional (3D) model to characterize and visualize debris. The computer-implemented method includes defining a bounding surface for one or more debris fields generated by an on-orbit breakup event. The bounding surface is defined by using an upper limit fragment spreading speed predicted by a breakup model and applying the upper limit fragment spreading speed in different directions to generate points on the bounding surface. The computer-implemented method also includes connecting one or more points on the bounding surface to maintain a single bounded 3D mesh. The computer-implemented method further includes applying color and/or transparency to the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Edward George McKennon-Kelly, Felix R Hoots, Jr., Brian Whitelaw Hansen, David Yengle Stodden
  • QUICKDART: OPERATIONAL SPACE DEBRIS VISUALIZATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND VOLUME MODELING
    Publication number: 20180189428
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a 3-dimensional (3D) model to characterize and visualize debris. The computer-implemented method includes defining a bounding surface for one or more debris fields generated by an on-orbit breakup event. The bounding surface is defined by using an upper limit fragment spreading speed predicted by a breakup model and applying the upper limit fragment spreading speed in different directions to generate points on the bounding surface. The computer-implemented method also includes connecting one or more points on the bounding surface to maintain a single bounded 3D mesh. The computer-implemented method further includes applying color and/or transparency to the 3D model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Edward George McKennon-Kelly, Felix R Hoots, JR., Brian Whitelaw Hansen, David Yengle Stodden
  • Analytic Launch Collision Avoidance Methodology
    Publication number: 20100250137
    Abstract: An analytic launch collision avoidance method includes providing a launch collision avoidance report generated by evaluating launch times for a launch vehicle and candidate satellite crossing times for a plurality of satellites based on a geometric formulation in terms of two time variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Felix R. Hoots