Patents by Inventor Michael Franklin Abernathy

Michael Franklin Abernathy 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: 10353389
    Abstract: Cross-cueing systems allow users to instantly understand the geographic location of objects in the video scene, as well as instantly understand the location within the scene of objects on a map. This provides an unprecedented level of situation awareness for unmanned vehicle operators and video surveillance system operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: RAPID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Publication number: 20180136813
    Abstract: Cross-cueing systems allow users to instantly understand the geographic location of objects in the video scene, as well as instantly understand the location within the scene of objects on a map. This provides an unprecedented level of situation awareness for unmanned vehicle operators and video surveillance system operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Patent number: 9446851
    Abstract: Landing hazard avoidance displays can provide rapidly understood visual indications of where it is safe to land a vehicle and where it is unsafe to land a vehicle. Color coded maps can indicate zones in two dimensions relative to the vehicles position where it is safe to land. The map can be simply green (safe) and red (unsafe) areas with an indication of scale or can be a color coding of another map such as a surface map. The color coding can be determined in real time based on topological measurements and safety criteria to thereby adapt to dynamic, unknown, or partially known environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Rapid Imaging Software, Inc., National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael Franklin Abernathy, Robert L. Hirsh
  • Publication number: 20160137309
    Abstract: Landing hazard avoidance displays can provide rapidly understood visual indications of where it is safe to land a vehicle and where it is unsafe to land a vehicle. Color coded maps can indicate zones in two dimensions relative to the vehicles position where it is safe to land. The map can be simply green (safe) and red (unsafe) areas with an indication of scale or can be a color coding of another map such as a surface map. The color coding can be determined in real time based on topological measurements and safety criteria to thereby adapt to dynamic, unknown, or partially known environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Franklin Abernathy, Robert L. Hirsh
  • Publication number: 20160033268
    Abstract: Accurate estimates of object location are established from an optical platform. Platform position is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target line of sight data to calculate target location. These target locations can be saved and shared with other users in real-time. Users may find these target locations based upon augmented reality cues provided by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Franklin Abernathy, David Paul Geisler
  • Patent number: 8649917
    Abstract: Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Patent number: 8300096
    Abstract: Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Publication number: 20100097460
    Abstract: Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy