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).

  • Patent number: 12223846
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael Adolf
  • Publication number: 20240144834
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Patent number: 11804140
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ortlieb, Florian-Michael Adolf
  • Publication number: 20220301446
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Patent number: 11450215
    Abstract: 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 f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Florian-Michael Adolf, Markus Ortlieb
  • Publication number: 20220066474
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Publication number: 20210375146
    Abstract: A system and a method for managing aircraft operation, the system including: at least one aircraft (6.4-6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Florian-Michael ADOLF, Sebastien BOMART
  • Publication number: 20210333808
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Marco CIARAMBINO, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Publication number: 20210280072
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Markus ORTLIEB, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Publication number: 20200380873
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Jan-Hendrik BOELENS, Florian-Michael ADOLF
  • Publication number: 20200327814
    Abstract: 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 f
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Florian-Michael Adolf, Markus Ortlieb