Patents by Inventor Joshua E Auerbach

Joshua E Auerbach 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).

  • Patent number: 11584542
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lag optimization of pilot intervention is provided. A critical event may be identified while an electric aircraft is in an autopilot mode and operating primarily under autonomous functions; as a result, a flight controller of the system may switch from an autopilot mode to a manual mode, allowing pilot intervention. System made determine a lag duration as a function of the critical event and a phase of operation of the electric aircraft to determine a lag duration before pilot intervention occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Collin Freiheit, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20230042008
    Abstract: A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft includes a sensor configured to capture an input datum. The system includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and configured to detect an aircraft angle and an aircraft angle rate. The system includes a flight controller including an outer loop controller configured to receive the input datum from the sensor, receive the aircraft angle from the IMU, and generate a rate setpoint as a function of the input datum. The system includes an inner loop controller configured to receive the aircraft angle rate, receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller, and generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the moment datum, map vehicle level control torques, received from the inner loop controller, to actuator output and generate a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20230029059
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the landing zone of an electric aircraft, the system including an electric aircraft wherein the electric aircraft includes at least a sensor configured to measure a plurality of data of regarding a first potential landing zone and transmit the plurality of data to at least a flight controller. The flight controller is designed and configured to receive the plurality of data from at least a sensor, determine a landing safety datum as a function of the plurality of data and at least a safety parameter range, and transmit the landing safety datum to an output device. The output device is designed and configured to receive the plurality of data from the flight controller, and display, to the pilot, the landing safety datum and a locator component designed and configured to capture a second potential landing zone that is distinct from the first potential landing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20230023926
    Abstract: A system for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system generally includes a pilot control, a pusher component, a lift component and a flight controller. The pilot control is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The pilot control is configured to transmit an input datum. The pusher component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The lift component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot control. The flight controller is configured to receive the input datum from the pilot control, initiate operation of the pusher component, and terminate operation of the lift component. A method for flight control of an eVTOL aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20230019396
    Abstract: A system for autonomous flight collision avoidance in ana electric aircraft, where the system includes an electric aircraft. The electric aircraft includes a at least a sensor coupled to the electric aircraft, where the at least a sensor coupled to the aircraft is configured to detect an obstacle in the electric aircraft's flight path and transmit the obstacle to a flight controller. The electric aircraft also includes a flight controller where the flight controller is configured to receive the obstacle from the at least a sensor coupled to the electric aircraft, determine an adjusted flight path as a function of the obstacle, and transmit the adjusted flight path to a pilot display. The system further includes a pilot display, where the pilot display is configured to receive the adjusted flight path form the flight controller and display the adjusted flight path to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Nicholas Moy
  • Patent number: 11542003
    Abstract: A system for remote pilot control of an electric aircraft in autopilot mode including a remote computing device configured to receive a user input and generate a control datum as a function of the pilot input, a flight controller configured to receive the control datum from the remote computing device, and generate a command datum as a function of the control datum and an authority status, and the remote computing device configured to receive the command datum from the flight controller, and display the command datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Collin Freiheit, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20220404842
    Abstract: Aspects relate to methods and systems for reversionary flight control for an electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. An exemplary system includes a pilot control, a sensor configured to sense and transmit analog control data associated with a pilot interaction with the pilot control, a pilot interface module configured to receive the analog control data, convert the analog control data to digital control data, and transmit digital control, an actuator, and a flight controller. The flight controller may be configured to receive the digital control data, determine a primary command datum as a function of the digital control data, transmit the primary command datum to the actuator, determine that the digital control signal is non-functional, receive the analog control data, determine a reversionary command datum as a function of the analog control data, and transmit the reversionary command datum to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Patent number: 11524767
    Abstract: A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft includes a sensor configured to capture an input datum. The system includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and configured to detect an aircraft angle and an aircraft angle rate. The system includes a flight controller including an outer loop controller configured to receive the input datum from the sensor, receive the aircraft angle from the IMU, and generate a rate setpoint as a function of the input datum. The system includes an inner loop controller configured to receive the aircraft angle rate, receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller, and generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the moment datum, perform a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum, and generate a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Joshua E Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20220363405
    Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure: In an aspect systems and methods for monitoring health of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle include at least a flight component, a first sensor, a computing device, and a pilot display. The first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic associated with the at least a flight component and transmit the first characteristic. The computing device is communicative with the first sensor, and is configured to: receive the first characteristic, analyze the first characteristic, and determine a condition of the at least a flight component as a function of the first characteristic. The pilot display is communicative with the first sensor and the computing device and is configured to: receive the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component and display the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363404
    Abstract: In an aspect systems and methods for monitoring health of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle include at least a flight component, a first sensor, a computing device, and a pilot display. The first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic associated with the at least a flight component and transmit the first characteristic. The computing device is communicative with the first sensor, and is configured to: receive the first characteristic, analyze the first characteristic, and determine a condition of the at least a flight component as a function of the first characteristic. The pilot display is communicative with the first sensor and the computing device and is configured to: receive the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component and display the first characteristic and the condition of the at least a flight component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363368
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems and methods for fly-by-wire reversionary flight control including a pilot control, a plurality of sensors configured to: sense control data associated with the pilot control, and transmit the control data, a first actuator communicative with the plurality of sensors configured to receive the control data, determine a first command datum as a function of the control data and a distributed control algorithm, and actuate a first control element according to the first command datum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220363377
    Abstract: An electric aircraft having fixed pitch lift includes a plurality of flight components, wherein the plurality of flight components further comprises at least a lift propulsor component, wherein the lift propulsor component comprises a plurality of blades configured at an angle of attack, and a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is configured to calculate a flight element using an intermediate representation, and transmit the flight element to the plurality of flight components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend, Timothy Gerard Richter, Matthew John Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20220326704
    Abstract: A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and configured to detect an aircraft angle and an aircraft angle rate. The system includes a flight controller including an outer loop controller configured to receive the input datum from the sensor, receive the aircraft angle from the IMU, and generate a rate setpoint as a function of the input datum. The system includes an inner loop controller configured to receive the aircraft angle rate, receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller, and generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the moment datum, perform a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum, and generate a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20220321378
    Abstract: A system for virtualizing a plurality of controller area network bus units communicatively connected to an aircraft, the system comprising a plurality of physical controller area network bus units, each is configured to detect a measured state datum of a plurality of measured state data of the aircraft; and transmit the plurality of measured state data to at least a network switch, the at least a network switch configured to receive the plurality of measured state data from the plurality of physical controller area network bus units, generate a single transmission signal as a function of the plurality of measured state data, and transmit the single transmission signal to a computing device, and the computing device configured to receive the transmission signal originating from the at least a network switch, and bridge each virtual controller area network bus unit of the plurality of virtual controller area network bus units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
  • Publication number: 20220315205
    Abstract: A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft includes a sensor configured to capture an input datum. The system includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and configured to detect an aircraft angle and an aircraft angle rate. The system includes a flight controller including an outer loop controller configured to receive the input datum from the sensor, receive the aircraft angle from the IMU, and generate a rate setpoint as a function of the input datum. The system includes an inner loop controller configured to receive the aircraft angle rate, receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller, and generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the moment datum, perform a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum, and generate a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Moy, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Publication number: 20220315206
    Abstract: In an aspect a system for fly-by-wire flight control configured for use in electric aircraft including at least a sensor, wherein the sensor is communicatively connected a pilot control and configured to detect a pilot input from the pilot control and generate, as a function of the pilot input, command datum. A system includes a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device and configured to perform a voting algorithm, wherein performing the voting algorithm includes determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor, wherein determining that the sensor is an allowed sensor includes determining that the command datum is an active datum, determining the command datum is an admissible datum, generating, as a function of the command datum and the allowed sensor, a control surface datum wherein the control surface datum is correlated to the pilot input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Townsend, Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux
  • Patent number: 11447244
    Abstract: A system for airspeed estimation utilizing propulsor data in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is provided. The system generally comprises at least a propulsor, at least one sensor and a flight controller. The at least a propulsor is mechanically coupled to a body of an eVTOL aircraft, wherein the at least a propulsor is configured to propel the eVTOL aircraft. The at least one sensor is configured to detect a torque of the at least a propulsor, and transmit the torque of the at least a propulsor. The flight controller is configured to receive the torque of the at least a propulsor and determine an airspeed of the eVTOL aircraft as a function of the torque of the at least a propulsor. A method for airspeed estimation utilizing propulsor data in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Riley Griffin, Nicholas Moy, Joshua E. Auerbach
  • Patent number: 11435762
    Abstract: A system for autonomous flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system may include a pusher component, a lift component, a flight controller, and a pilot override switch. The pusher component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The lift component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot override switch. The flight controller is configured to identify a transition point, initiate operation of the pusher component, and terminate operation of the lift component. A method for flight control of an eVTOL aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Nicholas Moy
  • Patent number: 11407496
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for redundant flight control configured for use in an aircraft. More specifically, a system is provided that includes a plurality of actuators that are configured to move a flight component of an aircraft such that one actuator is configured to move the flight component if the other actuator fails to move the flight component upon receipt of an attitude command from a pilot control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Andrew Giroux, Chris Townsend
  • Patent number: 11392118
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the landing zone of an electric aircraft, the system including an electric aircraft wherein the electric aircraft includes at least a sensor configured to measure a plurality of data of regarding a first potential landing zone and transmit the plurality of data to at least a flight controller. The flight controller is designed and configured to receive the plurality of data from at least a sensor, determine a landing safety datum as a function of the plurality of data and at least a safety parameter range, and transmit the landing safety datum to an output device. The output device is designed and configured to receive the plurality of data from the flight controller, and display, to the pilot, the landing safety datum and a locator component designed and configured to capture a second potential landing zone that is distinct from the first potential landing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua E. Auerbach