Patents by Inventor Paul A. DeBitetto

Paul A. DeBitetto 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: 20240078915
    Abstract: A system for managing missions for unmanned vehicles includes a computing interface and a flight management system. The computing interface is configured to communicate with at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a client device. The flight management system is in communication with the computing interface and includes one or more processors coupled to a memory. The flight management system is configured to receive mission parameters through the computing interface from the client device, the mission parameters being indicative of at least one action to be completed by the UAV during a flight of the UAV and one or more operational features of the UAV. The one or more operational features are a resource available to the UAV or a functional capability of the UAV for completing the at least one action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: William Roper, JR., Christopher Benson, Long N. Phan, Paul A. DeBitetto, James Dion
  • Publication number: 20240076056
    Abstract: An unmanned vehicle includes at least one navigation sensor configured to measure navigation data indicative of an environment, at least one status sensor configured to measure status data indicative of operating parameters of a hardware system and a computing system. The computing system includes a navigation engine configured to receive the navigation data and status data and plan a path through the environment and a security engine. The security engine is configured to detect that an unauthorized user is attempting to access the navigation data or the status data, send an alert to an authorized user indicating that the unauthorized user is attempting to access navigation data or status data, and send, to the unauthorized user, simulated data including one or both of simulated navigation data and simulated status data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: William Roper, JR., Christopher Benson, Long N. Phan, Thomas A. Campbell, Paul A. DeBitetto, Sanjay Emani Sarma
  • Patent number: 10571932
    Abstract: This document describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a navigation system that includes a sensor, configured to gather environmental data, and a computing system configured to navigate the UAV. The computing system compares the environmental data to a specified data signature in the one or more spectra and determines a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical energy and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy generated by the engine. The UAV includes a rotor motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate. The navigation system is powered by the electrical energy generated by the generator motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Top Flight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. DeBitetto, Long N. Phan, Scott Rasmussen, Sanjay Sarma
  • Publication number: 20190155314
    Abstract: This document describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a navigation system that includes a sensor, configured to gather environmental data, and a computing system configured to navigate the UAV. The computing system compares the environmental data to a specified data signature in the one or more spectra and determines a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical energy and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy generated by the engine. The UAV includes a rotor motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate. The navigation system is powered by the electrical energy generated by the generator motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Paul A. DeBitetto, Long N. Phan, Scott Rasmussen, Sanjay Sarma
  • Publication number: 20190112049
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a platform configured to transport a second unmanned aerial vehicle and release the second unmanned aerial vehicle in response to satisfying a condition. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical power; and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power from the mechanical power generated by the engine; and at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate, wherein the at least one rotor motor is powered by the electrical power generated by the generator motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Long N. Phan, Sanjay Emani Sarma, Paul A. DeBitetto
  • Patent number: 10198011
    Abstract: This document describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a navigation system that includes a sensor, configured to gather environmental data, and a computing system configured to navigate the UAV. The computing system compares the environmental data to a specified data signature in the one or more spectra and determines a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical energy and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy generated by the engine. The UAV includes a rotor motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate. The navigation system is powered by the electrical energy generated by the generator motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Top Flight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. DeBitetto, Long N. Phan, Scott Rasmussen, Sanjay Sarma
  • Publication number: 20190011934
    Abstract: This document describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a navigation system that includes a sensor, configured to gather environmental data, and a computing system configured to navigate the UAV. The computing system compares the environmental data to a specified data signature in the one or more spectra and determines a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the unmanned aerial vehicle highway. The UAV includes a hybrid generator system including an engine configured to generate mechanical energy and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy generated by the engine. The UAV includes a rotor motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate. The navigation system is powered by the electrical energy generated by the generator motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Paul A. DeBitetto, Long N. Phan, Scott Rasmussen, Sanjay Sarma
  • Publication number: 20180237138
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a data center including a processor; a data storage component; and a wireless communications component. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a hybrid generator system configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor and to the data center, the hybrid generator system including a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor; an engine configured to generate mechanical power; and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power from the mechanical power generated by the engine. The data center may include an intelligent data management module configured to control power distribution and execution of mission tasks in response to available power generation and mission task priorities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Long N. Phan, Samir Nayfeh, John J. Polo, Eli M. Davis, Paul A. DeBitetto
  • Publication number: 20180087907
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a localization module can provide coordinates of the vehicle relative to the Earth and relative to the drivable surface, both of which are precise enough to allow for self-driving, and further can compensate for a temporary lapse in reliable GPS service by continuing to track the car's position by tracking its movement with inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers and gyroscopes) and RADAR data. The localization module bases its output on a geolocation relative to the Earth and sensor measurements of the drivable surface and its surroundings to determine where the car is in relation to the Earth and the drivable surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Paul DeBitetto, Matthew Graham, Troy Jones, Peter Lommel, Jon Demerly
  • Patent number: 9902495
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a data center including a processor; a data storage component; and a wireless communications component. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a hybrid generator system configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor and to the data center, the hybrid generator system including a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor; an engine configured to generate mechanical power; and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power from the mechanical power generated by the engine. The data center may include an intelligent data management module configured to control power distribution and execution of mission tasks in response to available power generation and mission task priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Top Flight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Long N. Phan, Samir Nayfeh, John J. Polo, Eli M. Davis, Paul A. DeBitetto
  • Publication number: 20170327224
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a data center including a processor; a data storage component; and a wireless communications component. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a hybrid generator system configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor and to the data center, the hybrid generator system including a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor; an engine configured to generate mechanical power; and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power from the mechanical power generated by the engine. The data center may include an intelligent data management module configured to control power distribution and execution of mission tasks in response to available power generation and mission task priorities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Long N. Phan, Samir Nayfeh, John J. Polo, Eli M. Davis, Paul A. DeBitetto
  • Patent number: 8194928
    Abstract: A non-contact passive ranging system wherein a first imager on a platform is focused on a first object and a second imager on the platform is also focused on the first object. The optical path from the first object to the first imager is configured to be shorter than the optical path from the object to the second imager. Processing circuitry is responsive to an output of the first imager and an output of the second imager as relative motion is provided between the platform and the first object and is configured to calculate the distance from the platform to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Rasmussen, Nicholas Zervoglos, Paul DeBitetto
  • Publication number: 20090141942
    Abstract: A non-contact passive ranging system wherein a first imager on a platform is focused on a first object and a second imager on the platform is also focused on the first object. The optical path from the first object to the first imager is configured to be shorter than the optical path from the object to the second imager. Processing circuitry is responsive to an output of the first imager and an output of the second imager as relative motion is provided between the platform and the first object and is configured to calculate the distance from the platform to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Rasmussen, Nicholas Zervoglos, Paul DeBitetto
  • Patent number: 6918186
    Abstract: A compact navigation system for a rover is provided. The navigation system includes a housing configured to be transported by the rover; a gimbal system having two or more gimbals that includes at least an outer gimbal connected to the housing and an inner gimbal nested in and connected to the outer gimbal; a solid state three-axis gyro assembly mounted on the inner gimbal; a solid state three-axis accelerometer assembly mounted on the inner gimbal; a gyro logic circuit responsive to the three-axis gyro assembly for producing an inertial angular rate about each gyro input axis; an accelerometer logic circuit responsive to the three-axis accelerometer assembly for producing a non-gravitational acceleration along each accelerometer input axis; and a processor responsive to the gyro logic circuits and the accelerometer logic circuits for determining the attitude and the position of the housing to provide for long term accuracy of the attitude and the position for navigation of the rover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Ash, Paul A. DeBitetto, Anthony S. Kourepenis, Tom P. Thorvaldsen
  • Publication number: 20050022402
    Abstract: A compact navigation system for a rover is provided. The navigation system includes a housing configured to be transported by the rover; a gimbal system having two or more gimbals that includes at least an outer gimbal connected to the housing and an inner gimbal nested in and connected to the outer gimbal; a solid state three-axis gyro assembly mounted on the inner gimbal; a solid state three-axis accelerometer assembly mounted on the inner gimbal; a gyro logic circuit responsive to the three-axis gyro assembly for producing an inertial angular rate about each gyro input axis; an accelerometer logic circuit responsive to the three-axis accelerometer assembly for producing a non-gravitational acceleration along each accelerometer input axis; and a processor responsive to the gyro logic circuits and the accelerometer logic circuits for determining the attitude and the position of the housing to provide for long term accuracy of the attitude and the position for navigation of the rover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Ash, Paul DeBitetto, Anthony Kourepenis, Tom Thorvaldsen
  • Patent number: RE45122
    Abstract: A non-contact passive ranging system wherein a first imager on a platform is focused on a first object and a second imager on the platform is also focused on the first object. The optical path from the first object to the first imager is configured to be shorter than the optical path from the object to the second imager. Processing circuitry is responsive to an output of the first imager and an output of the second imager as relative motion is provided between the platform and the first object and is configured to calculate the distance from the platform to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Zervoglos, Paul DeBitetto, Scott Rasmussen