Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Duda

Kevin R. Duda 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).

  • Publication number: 20180267534
    Abstract: A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system provides a directional cue (e.g., a visual, auditory, or tactile cue) to a crewmember corresponding to the prescribed trajectory back to the fixed location. The system may be activated by the crewmember or remotely by another crewmember and/or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Richard W. Loffi, Patrick Mark Handley
  • Publication number: 20180267533
    Abstract: A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system actuates the crewmember's safety jetpack to follow the prescribed trajectory to the fixed location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Richard W. Loffi, Patrick Mark Handley
  • Patent number: 9977427
    Abstract: A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system actuates the crewmember's safety jetpack to follow the prescribed trajectory to the fixed location. In another embodiment, the system provides the crewmember with a directional cue (e.g., a visual, auditory, or tactile cue) corresponding to the prescribed trajectory back to the fixed location. The system may be activated by the crewmember or remotely by another crewmember and/or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Richard W. Loffi, Patrick Mark Handley
  • Publication number: 20170192425
    Abstract: A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system actuates the crewmember's safety jetpack to follow the prescribed trajectory to the fixed location. In another embodiment, the system provides the crewmember with a directional cue (e.g., a visual, auditory, or tactile cue) corresponding to the prescribed trajectory back to the fixed location. The system may be activated by the crewmember or remotely by another crewmember and/or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Richard W. Loffi, Patrick Mark Handley
  • Patent number: 9072941
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing resistance to movement of a wearer. The system includes a plurality of wearable actuators, a plurality of wearable sensors, and a processor. Each of the wearable sensors measures an indication of an orientation of a corresponding one of the wearable actuators with respect to a vertical direction. Each of the sensors also measures an indication of a motion experienced by the corresponding one of the wearable actuators. The processor receives data from each sensor indicating the orientation and the motion of the sensor. The processor determines an amount of resistance to apply using each of the actuators based on the vertical direction and sends instructions to the actuators. The instructions cause the actuators to apply a resistance to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Douglas J. Zimpfer, Seamus T. Tuohy, John J. West
  • Publication number: 20130040783
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing resistance to movement of a wearer. The system includes a plurality of wearable actuators, a plurality of wearable sensors, and a processor. Each of the wearable sensors measures an indication of an orientation of a corresponding one of the wearable actuators with respect to a vertical direction. Each of the sensors also measures an indication of a motion experienced by the corresponding one of the wearable actuators. The processor receives data from each sensor indicating the orientation and the motion of the sensor. The processor determines an amount of resistance to apply using each of the actuators based on the vertical direction and sends instructions to the actuators. The instructions cause the actuators to apply a resistance to the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Duda, Douglas J. Zimpfer, Seamus T. Tuohy, John J. West