Patents by Inventor John R. Wittmaak
John R. Wittmaak 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: 11972692Abstract: Methods and systems are described for increasing the safety of unmanned vehicles. Failure rates of components can be combined and adjusted if necessary given sensor data or statistical or historical data that impacts failure rates. The failure rates of components can be combined to give an overall failure or success rate for a vehicle and can be compared to an accepted failure or success rate in connection with a hazard. Hazards with heightened safety requirements can be avoided by a contingency maneuver if the unmanned vehicle's failure or success rate is not acceptable.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Joshua A. Edler, Alan H. Steinert, Joshua A Duckett
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Publication number: 20220258851Abstract: A method for reducing form drag on a tailsitter aircraft during at least one of takeoff or landing includes vertically taking off from the ground in a tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining an actual pitch of the tail sitter aircraft in the tailsitter orientation. The method also includes determining a difference between the actual pitch and a predetermined pitch. The method also includes adjusting a heading of the tailsitter aircraft based on the difference to minimize a pitch angle to reduce the form drag on the tailsitter aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Russell C. Peters, Nathaniel G. Lundie
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Publication number: 20220230551Abstract: Methods and systems are described for increasing the safety of unmanned vehicles. Failure rates of components can be combined and adjusted if necessary given sensor data or statistical or historical data that impacts failure rates. The failure rates of components can be combined to give an overall failure or success rate for a vehicle and can be compared to an accepted failure or success rate in connection with a hazard. Hazards with heightened safety requirements can be avoided by a contingency maneuver if the unmanned vehicle's failure or success rate is not acceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, JR., Joshua A. Edler, Alan H. Steinert, Joshua A. Duckett
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Patent number: 9656735Abstract: In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a structural assembly, a skin, and a snubber. The structural assembly comprises a first rigid element and a second rigid element. The first and second rigid elements are separated from each over by a void. The skin is disposed proximate to the structural assembly and adjacent to the void such that the skin would deflect into the void in response to an impact force received by the skin. The snubber is disposed in the void between the first and second rigid elements and positioned such that, when the skin deflects in response to the impact force, the skin contacts the snubber and the snubber reduces further deflection of the skin into the void.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Philip J. Hannan, Maxx S. Lucas, Chandrashekhar Tiwari
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Publication number: 20160185436Abstract: In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a structural assembly, a skin, and a snubber. The structural assembly comprises a first rigid element and a second rigid element. The first and second rigid elements are separated from each over by a void. The skin is disposed proximate to the structural assembly and adjacent to the void such that the skin would deflect into the void in response to an impact force received by the skin. The snubber is disposed in the void between the first and second rigid elements and positioned such that, when the skin deflects in response to the impact force, the skin contacts the snubber and the snubber reduces further deflection of the skin into the void.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, JR., Philip J. Hannan, Maxx S. Lucas, Chandrashekhar Tiwari
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Patent number: 9248759Abstract: A movable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end and an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location and the ingress/egress location, wherein the seat has an operational orientation at the operational location and an ingress/egress seat orientation at the ingress/egress location; the ingress/egress seat orientation being substantially angled relative to the operational seat orientation. Another moveable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end, an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a standby location along the path there between; and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location, the standby location, and the ingress/egress location; wherein the position of the seat is adjustable at the operational location.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Albert G. Brand, John R. Wittmaak, James M. McCollough, James H. Harse, Richard H. Adams, Jr.
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Patent number: 9227738Abstract: A system and method to diagnosis an actuator of a flight control system. The system and method includes interfacing a diagnostic computer to the flight control system, commanding movement of an actuator with the diagnostic computer via the flight control system, measuring performance of the actuator via the diagnostic computer, and comparing the measured performance of the actuator with allowable performance values.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Jayme Gonzalez, Charles Eric Covington, Carlos Fenny
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Publication number: 20150015039Abstract: A movable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end and an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location and the ingress/egress location, wherein the seat has an operational orientation at the operational location and an ingress/egress seat orientation at the ingress/egress location; the ingress/egress seat orientation being substantially angled relative to the operational seat orientation. Another moveable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end, an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a standby location along the path there between; and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location, the standby location, and the ingress/egress location; wherein the position of the seat is adjustable at the operational location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Albert G. Brand, John R. Wittmaak, James M. McCollough, James H. Harse, Richard H. Adams, JR.
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Patent number: 8857763Abstract: A movable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end and an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location and the ingress/egress location, wherein the seat has an operational orientation at the operational location and an ingress/egress seat orientation at the ingress/egress location; the ingress/egress seat orientation being substantially angled relative to the operational seat orientation. Another moveable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end, an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a standby location along the path there between; and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location, the standby location, and the ingress/egress location; wherein the position of the seat is adjustable at the operational location.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Albert G. Brand, John R. Wittmaak, James M. McCollough, James H. Harse, Richard H. Adams, Jr.
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Publication number: 20140188332Abstract: A system and method to diagnosis an actuator of a flight control system. The system and method includes interfacing a diagnostic computer to the flight control system, commanding movement of an actuator with the diagnostic computer via the flight control system, measuring performance of the actuator via the diagnostic computer, and comparing the measured performance of the actuator with allowable performance values.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, JR., Jayme Gonzalez, Charles Eric Covington, Carlos Fenny
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Publication number: 20130193732Abstract: A movable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end and an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location and the ingress/egress location, wherein the seat has an operational orientation at the operational location and an ingress/egress seat orientation at the ingress/egress location; the ingress/egress seat orientation being substantially angled relative to the operational seat orientation. Another moveable seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a predetermined path having an operational location at a first end, an ingress/egress location at a second end, and a standby location along the path there between; and a seat that travels along the predetermined path between the operational location, the standby location, and the ingress/egress location; wherein the position of the seat is adjustable at the operational location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Albert G. Brand, John R. Wittmaak, James M. McCollough, James H. Harse, Richard H. Adams, JR.