Patents by Inventor James M. Barbour

James M. Barbour 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).

  • Evaluating aileron deflection while an unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight
    Patent number: 9284043
    Abstract: A technique is directed to operating a UAV. The technique involves launching (or guiding) the UAV into flight. The technique further involves performing a series of aileron (or other control surface) deflection evaluations while the UAV is in flight. The technique further involves performing a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of aileron deflection evaluations indicating abnormal aileron behavior, e.g., the UAV can send a warning message to a ground control station (GCS), land the UAV at a target location, deploy a chute, and so on. Such operation enables detection of an unexpected change in the UAV's center of gravity, e.g., due to a blocked fuel bladder connection, icing on one side of the UAV, mechanical failure of an aileron, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Barbour
  • EVALUATING AILERON DEFLECTION WHILE AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE IS IN FLIGHT
    Publication number: 20150142223
    Abstract: A technique is directed to operating a UAV. The technique involves launching (or guiding) the UAV into flight. The technique further involves performing a series of aileron (or other control surface) deflection evaluations while the UAV is in flight. The technique further involves performing a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of aileron deflection evaluations indicating abnormal aileron behavior, e.g., the UAV can send a warning message to a ground control station (GCS), land the UAV at a target location, deploy a chute, and so on. Such operation enables detection of an unexpected change in the UAV's center of gravity, e.g., due to a blocked fuel bladder connection, icing on one side of the UAV, mechanical failure of an aileron, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: AAI Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Barbour