Patents by Inventor Jim Schmalzried
Jim Schmalzried 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: 11873091Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WING AVIATION LLCInventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth
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Publication number: 20230192296Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus is provided including a channel having a first end and a second end provided with a curved portion, wherein the channel has a tether slot therein and is configured to receive a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV; and a payload holder positioned at the second end of the channel on the curved portion, wherein the payload holder is adapted to hold a payload having a handle with an opening therein, wherein the curved portion is configured to change an exit angle of the payload retriever such that a lip of the payload retriever is angled upwardly to ease entry of the lip into the opening of the handle of the payload.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Andre Prager, Jim Schmalzried, Jasper Lewin
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Publication number: 20230144864Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, André Prager, Evan Twyford
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Patent number: 11572169Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: WING AVIATION LLCInventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, André Prager, Evan Twyford
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Publication number: 20220250748Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth
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Patent number: 11312490Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: WING AVIATION LLCInventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth
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Publication number: 20210269153Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2020Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, André Prager, Evan Twyford
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Patent number: 10882410Abstract: An example embodiment includes a landing pad having a housing and a power terminal configured to draw electric power from a power source. The landing pad further includes an electrically conductive landing terminal dorsal to the housing and configured such that, during a landing state of an aerial vehicle, the landing terminal makes contact with a plurality of electric contacts disposed ventrally to a fuselage of the aerial vehicle. The landing terminal is configured to transfer electric power drawn by the power terminal to the aerial vehicle via the electric contacts during the landing state of the aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Nick Renold, Matthew Nubbe, Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, Scott Velez, Dustin Sanders, Stephen Benson, Evan Twyford
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Patent number: 10875648Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, André Prager, Evan Twyford
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Publication number: 20200207473Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth
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Patent number: 10604252Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth
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Patent number: 10580311Abstract: Example embodiments can help to more efficiently charge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a plurality of UAVs that provide delivery services. An example method includes: determining demand data indicating demand for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs during a period of time; determining battery state information for the plurality of UAVs, wherein the battery state information is based at least in part on individual battery state information for each of two or more of the UAVs; based at least in part on (a) the demand data for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs, and (b) the battery state information for the fleet of UAVs, determining respective charge-rate profiles for one or more of the UAVs; and sending instructions to cause respective batteries of the one or more of the UAVs to be charged according to the respectively determined charge-rate profiles.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake
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Publication number: 20190375504Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, André Prager, Evan Twyford
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Publication number: 20190126769Abstract: Example embodiments can help to more efficiently charge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a plurality of UAVs that provide delivery services. An example method includes: determining demand data indicating demand for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs during a period of time; determining battery state information for the plurality of UAVs, wherein the battery state information is based at least in part on individual battery state information for each of two or more of the UAVs; based at least in part on (a) the demand data for item-transport services by the plurality of UAVs, and (b) the battery state information for the fleet of UAVs, determining respective charge-rate profiles for one or more of the UAVs; and sending instructions to cause respective batteries of the one or more of the UAVs to be charged according to the respectively determined charge-rate profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake
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Publication number: 20190023133Abstract: An example embodiment includes a landing pad having a housing and a power terminal configured to draw electric power from a power source. The landing pad further includes an electrically conductive landing terminal dorsal to the housing and configured such that, during a landing state of an aerial vehicle, the landing terminal makes contact with a plurality of electric contacts disposed ventrally to a fuselage of the aerial vehicle. The landing terminal is configured to transfer electric power drawn by the power terminal to the aerial vehicle via the electric contacts during the landing state of the aerial vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Nick Renold, Matthew Nubbe, Jim Schmalzried, Jesse Blake, Scott Velez, Dustin Sanders, Stephen Benson, Evan Twyford
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Publication number: 20180141682Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Jesse Blake, Jim Schmalzried, Trevor Shannon, Michael Simonian, Sindre Klepp, Stephen Benson, Adam Woodworth