Patents by Inventor Gary L. Westerlund

Gary L. Westerlund 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).

  • Steering method for taxiing aircraft
    Patent number: 9475588
    Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and aircraft for aircraft taxiing are provided. A particular method determines a location of an aircraft relative to a taxiway having a curved section. The method determines a first nose gear steering angle to steer the aircraft through at least a first portion of the curved section. The first nose gear steering angle is selected to cause nose gear of the aircraft to depart a taxiway centerline. The first nose gear steering angle is selected to keep a steering point of the aircraft substantially over the taxiway centerline as the aircraft traverses at least the first portion of the curved section. The steering point is located between the nose gear and main gear of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Westerlund
  • STEERING METHOD FOR TAXIING AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20120145823
    Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and aircraft for aircraft taxiing are provided. A particular method determines a location of an aircraft relative to a taxiway having a curved section. The method determines a first nose gear steering angle to steer the aircraft through at least a first portion of the curved section. The first nose gear steering angle is selected to cause nose gear of the aircraft to depart a taxiway centerline. The first nose gear steering angle is selected to keep a steering point of the aircraft substantially over the taxiway centerline as the aircraft traverses at least the first portion of the curved section. The steering point is located between the nose gear and main gear of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Westerlund