Patents by Inventor Florian-Michael Adolf
Florian-Michael Adolf 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: 12223846Abstract: An all-inclusive method for planning the operation of an aerial vehicle, in particular an eVTOL, which operation is divided into different operational areas each with its own individually validatable and inspectable planning methodology, including (i) pre-processing data on a computer basis on the ground before takeoff of the aerial vehicle; (ii) taking along pre-planned results of the data pre-processing in the form of a database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle, preferably after transferring the pre-planned results into the database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle; (iii) combining the pre-planned results by means of a computer-based decision logic (28) with planning steps at the flying time in accordance with a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors for generating a current flight path; and (iv) controlling the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael Adolf
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Publication number: 20240144834Abstract: A method of controlling an aircraft that operates in a network of fixed landing platforms, includes defining at least one alternate landing area) having an entry point and an exit point; b) pre-planning at least one flight trajectory to the entry point; c) automatically steering the aircraft along the flight trajectory; d) to perform a landing procedure at the alternate landing area, transferring control of the aircraft to an online planning device, preferably on board the aircraft, upon reaching the entry point; e) automatically scanning the alternate landing area, preferably according to a predetermined search pattern, and searching the alternate landing area for a landing site by active sensor technology; f) if a suitable landing site is identified, automatically carrying out a landing procedure of the aircraft at the landing site by the online planning device, otherwise g) automatically steering the aircraft to the exit point.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Patent number: 11804140Abstract: A trajectory planning method for determining a flight trajectory (FB) for an aerial vehicle (1) in a three-dimensional space from a starting point (VP1) to a finishing point (VP2), in which a) a first trajectory planning, confined to a first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a first trajectory planning result with a first trajectory profile (BP1); b) a second trajectory planning, confined to a second plane or area (SE), different from the first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a second trajectory planning result; and c) the first trajectory planning result and the second trajectory planning result are combined to form an overall trajectory planning result for the flight trajectory (FB).Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael Adolf
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Publication number: 20220301446Abstract: An all-inclusive method for planning the operation of an aerial vehicle, in particular an eVTOL, which operation is divided into different operational areas each with its own individually validatable and inspectable planning methodology, including (i) pre-processing data on a computer basis on the ground before takeoff of the aerial vehicle; (ii) taking along pre-planned results of the data pre-processing in the form of a database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle, preferably after transferring the pre-planned results into the database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle; (iii) combining the pre-planned results by means of a computer-based decision logic (28) with planning steps at the flying time in accordance with a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors for generating a current flight path; and (iv) controlling the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Patent number: 11450215Abstract: A motion planning method and system for aircraft, in particular for separately electrically driven, load-carrying and/or people-carrying multicopters, includes: a motion preliminary planning unit that executes a preliminary planning algorithm using a computer on the ground or on board an aircraft in question, by which algorithm a reference trajectory, emergency trajectories are determined at intervals along the reference trajectory and confidence intervals are determined along the reference trajectory, which confidence intervals specify a spatial volume in which to maneuver without a pre-planned path but that the aircraft can't leave or is able to leave only at predefined locations; a data store in which parameters of the reference trajectory, parameters of the confidence intervals and parameters regarding a permissible deviation of the aircraft from the reference trajectory are stored on the aircraft according to instructions of the motion preliminary planning unit; a real-time control unit on the aircraft fType: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Florian-Michael Adolf, Markus Ortlieb
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Publication number: 20220066474Abstract: A method for signal selection for a flight system having an aircraft, and having a signal selection apparatus that receives first and second control signals, wherein at least the first or the second control signal is dependent on a remote control input from a pilot and/or an autopilot, and uses an analysis logic circuit to ascertain a piece of first reliability information for the first control signal and a piece of second reliability information for the second control signal. In step A, a system state of the aircraft is ascertained based on at least a piece of state information and/or a piece of mission information of the aircraft; in step B, an automated, formal decision logic circuit is used to take the first and second reliability information and the system state and a control hierarchy as a basis for prioritizing the first or second control signal; in step C, either the first or second control signal is output in the form of a prioritized control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Publication number: 20210375146Abstract: A system and a method for managing aircraft operation, the system including: at least one aircraft (6.4-6.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Florian-Michael ADOLF, Sebastien BOMART
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Publication number: 20210333808Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft (AC), in particular UAV, for assessing operational risk at a given position in space, including: dissimilarly acquiring (S1.1, . . . ,S1.n) multiple heterogeneous geospatial data sets (DL1, . . . ,DLn); deriving metrics for operational risk from each of the data sets (DL1, . . . ,DLn), thus obtaining multiple corresponding geospatial risk layers (RL1, . . . RLn), by a respective risk model; storing the risk layers (RL1, . . . RLn) in a risk layer database (DB); accessing the risk layer database (DB) during aircraft operation planning and/or during actual aircraft operation to obtain a mission risk map (RMA); operating the aircraft (AC) based on risk information provided in the mission risk map (RMA), preferably including minimizing a mission risk. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Marco CIARAMBINO, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Publication number: 20210280072Abstract: A trajectory planning method for determining a flight trajectory (FB) for an aerial vehicle (1) in a three-dimensional space from a starting point (VP1) to a finishing point (VP2), in which a) a first trajectory planning, confined to a first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a first trajectory planning result with a first trajectory profile (BP1); b) a second trajectory planning, confined to a second plane or area (SE), different from the first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a second trajectory planning result; and c) the first trajectory planning result and the second trajectory planning result are combined to form an overall trajectory planning result for the flight trajectory (FB).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Publication number: 20200380873Abstract: A method and a corresponding system for preventing collisions between registered aircraft (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) and of registered aircraft with unregistered aircraft and with other objects, in particular flying objects (6.4) in an airspace (2). The airspace is continuously captured by at least one ground station (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) by a number of sensors (4.1-4.8) in order to obtain appropriate airspace data. The airspace data are automatically evaluated by a ground computer (7.1-7.3) in the ground station or in a higher-level monitoring station to which the at least one ground station transmits its airspace data, in order to provide flight data, in particular a current position and a predicted movement or flight path of the aircraft and objects. The flight data are provided by the ground computer at least for the registered aircraft. At least the registered aircraft use the flight data for their real-time flight path planning.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Jan-Hendrik BOELENS, Florian-Michael ADOLF
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Publication number: 20200327814Abstract: A motion planning method and system for aircraft, in particular for separately electrically driven, load-carrying and/or people-carrying multicopters, includes: a motion preliminary planning unit that executes a preliminary planning algorithm using a computer on the ground or on board an aircraft in question, by which algorithm a reference trajectory, emergency trajectories are determined at intervals along the reference trajectory and confidence intervals are determined along the reference trajectory, which confidence intervals specify a spatial volume in which to maneuver without a pre-planned path but that the aircraft can't leave or is able to leave only at predefined locations; a data store in which parameters of the reference trajectory, parameters of the confidence intervals and parameters regarding a permissible deviation of the aircraft from the reference trajectory are stored on the aircraft according to instructions of the motion preliminary planning unit; a real-time control unit on the aircraft fType: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: Volocopter GmbHInventors: Florian-Michael Adolf, Markus Ortlieb