Patents by Inventor Mike Hutchings

Mike Hutchings 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: 11255648
    Abstract: An elongate cylindrical projectile including processing circuitry, a head assembly, a tail section assembly, a mid body section positioned between the head assembly and tail assembly, and a wing assembly, the wing assembly including a deployable wing which is stored in a closed position entirely within the mid body section and is deployed, using an actuator, to outside the mid body section in an open position in response to a command from the processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: MBDA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hank O'Shea, Dave Madigan, Randy Berberea, Mike Hutchings, Peter Zeman, Rick Cappo, Chuck Ungermann, Lee Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220026180
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Patent number: 10982935
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Publication number: 20200149848
    Abstract: An elongate cylindrical projectile including processing circuitry, a head assembly, a tail section assembly, a mid body section positioned between the head assembly and tail assembly, and a wing assembly, the wing assembly including a deployable wing which is stored in a closed position entirely within the mid body section and is deployed, using an actuator, to outside the mid body section in an open position in response to a command from the processing circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: MBDA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hank O'SHEA, Dave MADIGAN, Randy BERBEREA, Mike HUTCHINGS, Peter ZEMAN, Rick CAPPO, Chuck UNGERMANN, Lee JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20190301839
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Patent number: 10295312
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Publication number: 20160178331
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Patent number: 9170070
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
  • Publication number: 20140138474
    Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi