Patents by Inventor Robert Edward Helmer

Robert Edward Helmer 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: 20200247563
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Erik Schwarz, Robert Edward Helmer, Paul Anthony Briggs, John Douglas Lymer, Alfred Heikal Tadros, Andrew E. Turner
  • Patent number: 10661918
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Erik Schwarz, Robert Edward Helmer, Paul Anthony Briggs, John Douglas Lymer, Alfred Heikal Tadros, Andrew E. Turner
  • Patent number: 10518909
    Abstract: A spacecraft including a main body structure and at least a first deployable element is reconfigured from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a second arrangement. Reconfiguring the spacecraft includes detaching the first deployable element from the first arrangement, moving the first deployable element with respect to the spacecraft main body structure; and attaching the first deployable element to the second arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, John Douglas Lymer
  • Patent number: 10053240
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes an aft surface, a forward surface and a main body structure disposed therebetween, a stowage and deployment arrangement (SDA) joined to the main body structure by a first mechanical coupling, and an antenna that includes a respective feed element and a rigid antenna reflector coupled with the main body by way of the SDA. The feed element is joined to the main body structure by a second, different, mechanical coupling. The spacecraft is reconfigurable from a launch configuration, with the reflector is disposed forward of the forward surface, with its aperture plane substantially parallel to the forward surface, to an on-orbit configuration. The SDA repositions the reflector to a second position corresponding to the on-orbit configuration. In the second position, the reflector is disposed, Earth facing, substantially aft of the forward surface and outboard of the main body structure and is illuminated by the respective feed element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, William G. Hart, III
  • Publication number: 20180111704
    Abstract: A spacecraft including a main body structure and at least a first deployable element is reconfigured from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a second arrangement. Reconfiguring the spacecraft includes detaching the first deployable element from the first arrangement, moving the first deployable element with respect to the spacecraft main body structure; and attaching the first deployable element to the second arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, John Douglas Lymer
  • Publication number: 20180093786
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Erik Schwarz, Robert Edward Helmer, Paul Anthony Briggs, John Douglas Lymer, Alfred Heikal Tadros, Andrew E. Turner
  • Patent number: 9878806
    Abstract: A spacecraft including a main body structure and at least a first deployable element is reconfigured from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a second arrangement. Reconfiguring the spacecraft includes detaching the first deployable element from the first arrangement, moving the first deployable element with respect to the spacecraft main body structure; and attaching the first deployable element to the second arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, John Douglas Lymer
  • Publication number: 20160264264
    Abstract: A spacecraft including a main body structure and at least a first deployable element is reconfigured from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a second arrangement. Reconfiguring the spacecraft includes detaching the first deployable element from the first arrangement, moving the first deployable element with respect to the spacecraft main body structure; and attaching the first deployable element to the second arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, John Douglas Lymer