Patents by Inventor John Peter Zwaan
John Peter 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).
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Publication number: 20170291720Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Robert James Johnston, Cris James Cornell, Philip Martin Finn, Glenn Arnold Blevins, David Wayne Ganzer
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Publication number: 20170183092Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Patent number: 9669947Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Robert James Johnston, Cris James Cornell, Philip Martin Finn, Glenn Arnold Blevins, David Wayne Ganzer
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Publication number: 20170021945Abstract: Liquid dispensing assemblies including adhesive anchoring assemblies configured to adhere to a support surface external to a device such as a vehicle. An air vehicle includes (a) a fluid adhesive container assembly detachably attached to the air vehicle, wherein the fluid adhesive container assembly comprises: (i) an adhesive container comprising fluid adhesive; and (ii) one or more fibers, wherein the one or more fibers are configured, or a brush of fibers, or a fabric of fibers, is configured to conduct the fluid adhesive and to structurally support an adhesive bond between the one or more fibers and a surface; and (b) means for dispensing the fluid adhesive from the fluid adhesive container, to the one or more fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, John Peter Zwaan, David R. Thompson, Marc L. Schmalzel, Karl R. Klingbiel, Tyson R. Jensen, Pavel Belik, Eric James Aagaard
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Publication number: 20160251087Abstract: In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Pavel Belik, Manolis Dimotakis, Christopher J. D'Aquila
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Publication number: 20160221676Abstract: A quadrotor UAV including ruggedized, integral-battery, load-bearing body, two arms on the load-bearing body, each arm having two rotors, a control module mounted on the load-bearing body, a payload module mounted on the control module, and skids configured as landing gear. The two arms are replaceable with arms having wheels for ground vehicle use, with arms having floats and props for water-surface use, and with arms having pitch-controlled props for underwater use. The control module is configured to operate as an unmanned aerial vehicle, an unmanned ground vehicle, an unmanned (water) surface vehicle, and an unmanned underwater vehicle, depending on the type of arms that are attached.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: AeroVironment Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, Phillip T. Tokumaru, Marc L. Schmalzel, John Peter Zwaan, Jeremy D. Tyler, Justin B. McAllister, Gabriel Torres, Pavel Belik
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Patent number: 9340302Abstract: Liquid dispensing assemblies including adhesive anchoring assemblies configured to adhere to a support surface external to a device such as a vehicle. An air vehicle includes (a) a fluid adhesive container assembly detachably attached to the air vehicle, wherein the fluid adhesive container assembly comprises: (i) an adhesive container comprising fluid adhesive; and (ii) one or more fibers, wherein the one or more fibers are configured, or a brush of fibers, or a fabric of fibers, is configured to conduct the fluid adhesive and to structurally support an adhesive bond between the one or more fibers and a surface; and (b) means for dispensing the fluid adhesive from the fluid adhesive container, to the one or more fibers.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John Peter Zwaan, David R. Thompson, Marc L. Schmalzel, Karl R. Klingbiel, Tyson R. Jensen, Pavel Belik, Eric James Aagaard
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Patent number: 9309006Abstract: In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Pavel Belik, Manolis Dimotakis, Christopher J. D'Aquila
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Publication number: 20160016675Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Robert James Johnston, Cris James Cornell, Philip Martin Finn, Glenn Arnold Blevins, David Wayne Ganzer
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Publication number: 20150115097Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20150008279Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20140312169Abstract: An aircraft apparatus is disclosed that has a fuselage boom having proximal and distal ends, a wing coupled to a proximal end of the fuselage boom and at least one transparent stabilizer coupled to a distal end of the fuselage boom.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Steven Bradley Chambers, Pavil Belik, Austin Craig Gunder, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20140291443Abstract: Liquid dispensing assemblies including adhesive anchoring assemblies configured to adhere to a support surface external to a device such as a vehicle. An air vehicle includes (a) a fluid adhesive container assembly detachably attached to the air vehicle, wherein the fluid adhesive container assembly comprises: (i) an adhesive container comprising fluid adhesive; and (ii) one or more fibers, wherein the one or more fibers are configured, or a brush of fibers, or a fabric of fibers, is configured to conduct the fluid adhesive and to structurally support an adhesive bond between the one or more fibers and a surface; and (b) means for dispensing the fluid adhesive from the fluid adhesive container, to the one or more fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John Peter Zwaan, David R. Thompson, Marc L. Schmalzel, Karl R. Klingbiel, Tyson R. Jensen, Pavel Belik, Eric James Aagaard
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Patent number: 8622343Abstract: Liquid dispensing assemblies including adhesive anchoring assemblies configured to adhere to a support surface external to a device such as a vehicle. An air vehicle includes (a) a fluid adhesive container assembly detachably attached to the air vehicle, wherein the fluid adhesive container assembly comprises: (i) an adhesive container comprising fluid adhesive; and (ii) one or more fibers, wherein the one or more fibers are configured, or a brush of fibers, or a fabric of fibers, is configured to conduct the fluid adhesive and to structurally support an adhesive bond between the one or more fibers and a surface; and (b) means for dispensing the fluid adhesive from the fluid adhesive container, to the one or more fibers.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, John Peter Zwaan, David R. Thompson, Marc L. Schmalzel, Karl R. Klingebiel, Tyson R. Jensen, Pavel Belik, Eric James Aagaard
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Patent number: 8548314Abstract: Embodiments include an assembly comprising: (a) a camera support structure comprising: a masthead disposed on the distal end of a mast wherein the masthead is configured to receive an imaging element; where a proximal end of the mast rotatably engaging an azimuth-elevation joint assembly wherein the azimuth-elevation joint assembly comprises a first angular actuator of a first rotational degree-of-freedom and a second angular actuator of a second rotational degree of freedom; and (b) a camera support structure housing comprising an aperture and a hatch wherein the hatch is resiliently biased to close the aperture; and wherein the camera support structure is configured to overcome the hatch resilient bias by at least one of: the release of a pin restraining a loaded spring and a rotational actuation of the mast via at least one of the first angular actuator and the second angular actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Makoto Ueno, Marc L. Schmalzel, Christopher E. Fisher
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Publication number: 20130193269Abstract: In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventors: John Peter Zwaan, Pavel Belik, Manolis Dimotakis, Christopher J. D'Aquila
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Publication number: 20130168493Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan
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Publication number: 20120298292Abstract: Liquid dispensing assemblies including adhesive anchoring assemblies configured to adhere to a support surface external to a device such as a vehicle. An air vehicle includes (a) a fluid adhesive container assembly detachably attached to the air vehicle, wherein the fluid adhesive container assembly comprises: (i) an adhesive container comprising fluid adhesive; and (ii) one or more fibers, wherein the one or more fibers are configured, or a brush of fibers, or a fabric of fibers, is configured to conduct the fluid adhesive and to structurally support an adhesive bond between the one or more fibers and a surface; and (b) means for dispensing the fluid adhesive from the fluid adhesive container, to the one or more fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: CHRISTOPHER E. FISHER, JOHN PETER ZWAAN, DAVID R. THOMPSON, MARC L. SCHMALZEL, KARL R. KLINGEBIEL, TYSON R. JENSEN, PAVEL BELIK, ERIC JAMES AAGAARD
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Publication number: 20120251092Abstract: Embodiments include an assembly comprising: (a) a camera support structure comprising: a masthead disposed on the distal end of a mast wherein the masthead is configured to receive an imaging element; where a proximal end of the mast rotatably engaging an azimuth-elevation joint assembly wherein the azimuth-elevation joint assembly comprises a first angular actuator of a first rotational degree-of-freedom and a second angular actuator of a second rotational degree of freedom; and (b) a camera support structure housing comprising an aperture and a hatch wherein the hatch is resiliently biased to close the aperture; and wherein the camera support structure is configured to overcome the hatch resilient bias by at least one of: the release of a pin restraining a loaded spring and a rotational actuation of the mast via at least one of the first angular actuator and the second angular actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: JOHN PETER ZWAAN, Makoto Ueno, Marc L. Schmalzel, Christopher E. Fisher
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Patent number: 8205823Abstract: Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel, Alexander Andryukov, Bart Dean Hibbs, John Peter Zwaan