Patents by Inventor Kimon P. Valavanis
Kimon P. Valavanis 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: 10730607Abstract: A circulation control system for an aerial vehicle. The system comprises an air supply unit attached to the aerial vehicle configured to generate a specified amount of mass air flow; an air delivery system, the air supply unit and the air delivery system being connected via at least one tube that turns at least one right angle; a circulation control wing through which air from the air supply unit is delivered through the air delivery system, the circulation control wing comprising at least one plenum configured to blow the air out of a slot in a trailing edge of the wing, and at least one dual radius flap positioned behind the slot.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Colorado Seminary Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Konstantinos Kanistras, Pranith Chander Saka, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 10618675Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Colorado Seminary, which owns and operates the University of DenverInventors: Stephen A. Conyers, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 10538339Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Colorado Seminary, which owns and operates the University of DenverInventors: Stephen A. Conyers, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 10540782Abstract: A method for estimating a pose of a first object in relation to a second object, the second object comprising a visual marker comprising a plurality of ellipses comprises capturing a video image of the visual marker with an image capture device on the first object, then pre-processing frames of the video image on a graphics processing unit. The method comprises detecting the visual marker by finding contours in the frames to identify the plurality of ellipses and determining that a pattern of the plurality of ellipses match a known pattern of the visual marker. Then the method comprises obtaining coordinates of two or more of the plurality of ellipses of the visual marker, estimating the pose of the first object in relation to the second object by inputting the coordinates of the plurality of ellipses into a pose estimation algorithm, and filtering results of the pose estimation algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Colorado Seminary Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Alessandro Benini, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Publication number: 20190291895Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Stephen A. Conyers, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 10343794Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: COLORADO SEMINARY, which owns and operates the University of DenverInventors: Stephen A. Conyers, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Publication number: 20190009925Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Stephen A. Conyers, Nikkos Vitzilaios, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 10145950Abstract: A RADAR apparatus may be used in target detection and/or avoidance. The RADAR apparatus may include a microwave front end configured to transmit and receive RF signals, an analog signal conditioning module coupled with the microwave front end module that conditions RF signals received at the microwave front end module, and a digital signal processing module coupled with the analog signal conditioning module that detects presence and range of one or more targets based on the filtered RF signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Colorado Seminary, Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Moses A. Allistair, Kimon P. Valavanis, Matthew J. Rutherford
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Publication number: 20180150970Abstract: A method for estimating a pose of a first object in relation to a second object, the second object comprising a visual marker comprising a plurality of ellipses comprises capturing a video image of the visual marker with an image capture device on the first object, then pre-processing frames of the video image on a graphics processing unit. The method comprises detecting the visual marker by finding contours in the frames to identify the plurality of ellipses and determining that a pattern of the plurality of ellipses match a known pattern of the visual marker. Then the method comprises obtaining coordinates of two or more of the plurality of ellipses of the visual marker, estimating the pose of the first object in relation to the second object by inputting the coordinates of the plurality of ellipses into a pose estimation algorithm, and filtering results of the pose estimation algorithm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Alessandro Benini, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Publication number: 20180134372Abstract: A circulation control system for an aerial vehicle. The system comprises an air supply unit attached to the aerial vehicle configured to generate a specified amount of mass air flow; an air delivery system, the air supply unit and the air delivery system being connected via at least one tube that turns at least one right angle; a circulation control wing through which air from the air supply unit is delivered through the air delivery system, the circulation control wing comprising at least one plenum configured to blow the air out of a slot in a trailing edge of the wing, and at least one dual radius flap positioned behind the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Konstantinos Kanistras, Pranith Chander Saka, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Patent number: 9971021Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) radar apparatus may be used in aircraft detection and avoidance. The radar apparatus may include an RF front end configured to transmit and receive RF signals, a filtering module coupled with the RF front end module that filters RF signals received at the RF front end module, and a target data processing module coupled with the filtering module that detects and identifies one or more targets based on the filtered RF signals. Avoidance procedures may be initiated based on the identification and detection of one or more targets.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Colorado Seminary Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Allistair A. Moses, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Publication number: 20170137150Abstract: A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Stephen A. CONYERS, Nikkos VITZILAIOS, Matthew J. RUTHERFORD, Kimon P. VALAVANIS
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Patent number: 9387940Abstract: A docking system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described that provides a stable landing and take-off area as well as, in some embodiments, refueling and/or data transfer capabilities. The docking system may be portable to provide a ready docking area for a UAV in areas that may not otherwise be suitable for UAV operation. The docking system may include a landing surface, an orientation mechanism that adjusts the landing surface to provide a level landing area, and an alignment mechanism coupled with the landing surface that moves a UAV resting on the landing surface to a predetermined location on the landing surface for automated refueling of the UAV. A latching mechanism may secure the UAV to the landing surface when the UAV is located at the predetermined location.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Colorado Seminary Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Roy Godzdanker, Kimon P. Valavanis, Matthew J. Rutherford
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Publication number: 20160025845Abstract: A RADAR apparatus may be used in target detection and/or avoidance. The RADAR apparatus may include a microwave front end configured to transmit and receive RF signals, an analog signal conditioning module coupled with the microwave front end module that conditions RF signals received at the microwave front end module, and a digital signal processing module coupled with the analog signal conditioning module that detects presence and range of one or more targets based on the filtered RF signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: MOSES A. ALLISTAIR, KIMON P. VALAVANIS
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Publication number: 20140139366Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) radar apparatus may be used in aircraft detection and avoidance. The radar apparatus may include an RF front end configured to transmit and receive RF signals, a filtering module coupled with the RF front end module that filters RF signals received at the RF front end module, and a target data processing module coupled with the filtering module that detects and identifies one or more targets based on the filtered RF signals. Avoidance procedures may be initiated based on the identification and detection of one or more targets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Colorado Seminary, which owns and Operates The University of DenverInventors: Allistair A. Moses, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis
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Publication number: 20140124621Abstract: A docking system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described that provides a stable landing and take-off area as well as, in some embodiments, refueling and/or data transfer capabilities. The docking system may be portable to provide a ready docking area for a UAV in areas that may not otherwise be suitable for UAV operation. The docking system may include a landing surface, an orientation mechanism that adjusts the landing surface to provide a level landing area, and an alignment mechanism coupled with the landing surface that moves a UAV resting on the landing surface to a predetermined location on the landing surface for automated refueling of the UAV. A latching mechanism may secure the UAV to the landing surface when the UAV is located at the predetermined location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 8, 2014Inventors: Roy Godzdanker, Kimon P. Valavanis, Matthew J. Rutherford
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Patent number: D818046Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Colorado Seminary Which Owns and Operates the University of DenverInventors: Alessandro Benini, Matthew J. Rutherford, Kimon P. Valavanis