Patents by Inventor Geoffrey S. Sommer

Geoffrey S. Sommer 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: 9387926
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Sommer
  • Patent number: 9079663
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a main wing pivotally coupled to an aft portion of the fuselage, and a canard coupled to a forward portion of fuselage, wherein the main wing and the canard are configured to be connected together for supersonic flight and disconnected from each other for subsonic flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. Sommer, Kenneth A. Cote
  • Publication number: 20140239117
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a main wing pivotally coupled to an aft portion of the fuselage, and a canard coupled to a forward portion of fuselage, wherein the main wing and the canard are configured to be connected together for supersonic flight and disconnected from each other for subsonic flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. Sommer, Kenneth A. Cote
  • Publication number: 20120048990
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. SOMMER
  • Patent number: 7975958
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Sommer
  • Publication number: 20110144834
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Sommer
  • Patent number: 7789339
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Sommer
  • Publication number: 20100193625
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Sommer