Patents by Inventor John P. Zwaan

John P. Zwaan 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).

  • Unmanned aerial vehicle and method of operation
    Patent number: 11919628
    Abstract: A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight includes providing horizontal thrust in-line with the direction of forward flight of the UAV using at least one electric motor, providing primary vertical lift for the UAV during the forward flight using a fixed and non-rotating wing, repositioning the at least one electric motor to provide vertical thrust during transition of the UAV to vertical flight for descent, landing the UAV on a surface using a vertical approach after the motor repositioning, and deploying an anchor to secure the UAV to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John P. Zwaan, Marc L. Schmalzel, Steven Chambers, Justin McAllister
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Method of Operation
    Publication number: 20220274694
    Abstract: A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight includes providing horizontal thrust in-line with the direction of forward flight of the UAV using at least one electric motor, providing primary vertical lift for the UAV during the forward flight using a fixed and non-rotating wing, repositioning the at least one electric motor to provide vertical thrust during transition of the UAV to vertical flight for descent, landing the UAV on a surface using a vertical approach after the motor repositioning, and deploying an anchor to secure the UAV to a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John P. Zwaan, Marc L. Schmalzel, Steven Chambers, Justin McAllister
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle and method of operation
    Patent number: 11292591
    Abstract: A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight includes providing horizontal thrust in-line with the direction of forward flight of the UAV (110) using at least one electric motor (120), providing primary vertical lift for the UAV (110) during the forward flight using a fixed and non-rotating wing (125), repositioning the at least one electric motor (120?) to provide vertical thrust during transition of the UAV (110) to vertical flight (A) for descent (E), landing the UAV (110) on a surface (270) using a vertical approach after the motor repositioning, and deploying an anchor (150) to secure the UAV (110) to a surface (270).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John P. Zwaan, Marc L. Schmalzel, Steven Chambers, Justin McAllister