Patents by Inventor Roger W. Lacy
Roger W. Lacy 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: 11884413Abstract: A method is provided for operating a vehicle that includes rotors driven by actuators to cause the vehicle to move. The method includes determining rotational speeds at which to drive the rotors to achieve a controlled movement of the vehicle. The rotational speeds include a rotational speed for a rotor of a pair of the rotors driven by a pair of the actuators. The method includes monitoring the rotational speed to detect that the rotational speed has approached or reached a defined avoid band of rotational speeds, and biasing the rotational speed to produce at least one biased rotational speed for respective rotors of the pair that is outside the defined avoid band. The method includes generating commands for the actuators based on the rotational speeds, and modifying the commands including those of the commands for the pair of the actuators based on the at least one biased rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: David H. Mason, Eric L. Hathaway, Roger W. Lacy, Brandon R. Brown, Michael J. Duffy
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Patent number: 11858637Abstract: Example methods and systems for coupling and controlling transport of cargo using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided, comprising coupling at least one electronically-controllable attachment device positioned on an underside of the UAV to a sling cable, the sling cable being secured to the cargo. The UAV flies to a predetermined area above the cargo, and responsive to determining that the UAV is positioned within the predetermined area, the UAV elevates above the initial operating height to lift the cargo and navigates to a target location.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, Brian Charles Gray, David H. Mason, Douglas Mikita, Justin Fowler Rogers, Brandon Brown, Eric Hathaway, Eric J. Schulze, Corey Seidel
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Patent number: 11820511Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle including a frame elongated along a frame axis, the frame has a leading side and an aft side, the frame further includes a left end portion and a right end portion, a first forward rotor assembly connected to the left end portion of the frame, a second forward rotor assembly connected to the right end portion of the frame, the first forward rotor assembly and the second forward rotor assembly being positioned on the leading side of the frame, a compartment connected to the frame, the compartment having a leading side, and a curved leading-edge fairing disposed on the frame, wherein a portion of the curved leading-edge fairing extends to cover the leading side of the compartment, and wherein the curved leading-edge fairing reduces drag during flight in a forward direction to enable a substantially level flight profile.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Edward T. Meadowcroft, Roger W. Lacy
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Publication number: 20230182915Abstract: A method is provided for operating a vehicle that includes rotors driven by actuators to cause the vehicle to move. The method includes determining rotational speeds at which to drive the rotors to achieve a controlled movement of the vehicle. The rotational speeds include a rotational speed for a rotor of a pair of the rotors driven by a pair of the actuators. The method includes monitoring the rotational speed to detect that the rotational speed has approached or reached a defined avoid band of rotational speeds, and biasing the rotational speed to produce at least one biased rotational speed for respective rotors of the pair that is outside the defined avoid band. The method includes generating commands for the actuators based on the rotational speeds, and modifying the commands including those of the commands for the pair of the actuators based on the at least one biased rotational speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: David H. Mason, Eric L. Hathaway, Roger W. Lacy, Brandon R. Brown, Michael J. Duffy
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Patent number: 11673657Abstract: Multi-rotor rotorcraft comprise a fuselage, and at least four rotor assemblies operatively supported by and spaced-around the fuselage. Each of the at least four rotor assemblies defines a spin volume and a spin diameter. Some multi-rotor rotorcraft further comprise at least one rotor guard that is fixed relative to the fuselage, that borders the spin volume of at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies, and that is configured to provide a visual indication of the spin volume of the at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies. Various configurations of rotor guards are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael J. Duffy, Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, David M. Neely, Eric J. Schulze
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Patent number: 11459103Abstract: Example methods and systems for coupling and controlling transport of cargo using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided, comprising coupling at least one electronically-controllable attachment device positioned on an underside of the UAV to a sling cable, the sling cable being secured to the cargo. The UAV flies to a predetermined area above the cargo, and responsive to determining that the UAV is positioned within the predetermined area, the UAV elevates above the initial operating height to lift the cargo and navigates to a target location.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, Brian Charles Gray, David H. Mason, Douglas Mikita, Justin Fowler Rogers, Brandon Brown, Eric Hathaway, Eric J. Schulze, Corey Seidel
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Publication number: 20210245881Abstract: Example methods and systems for coupling and controlling transport of cargo using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided, comprising coupling at least one electronically-controllable attachment device positioned on an underside of the UAV to a sling cable, the sling cable being secured to the cargo. The UAV flies to a predetermined area above the cargo, and responsive to determining that the UAV is positioned within the predetermined area, the UAV elevates above the initial operating height to lift the cargo and navigates to a target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, Brian Charles Gray, David H. Mason, Douglas Mikita, Justin Fowler Rogers, Brandon Brown, Eric Hathaway, Eric J. Schulze, Corey Seidel
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Publication number: 20210245882Abstract: Example methods and systems for coupling and controlling transport of cargo using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided, comprising coupling at least one electronically-controllable attachment device positioned on an underside of the UAV to a sling cable, the sling cable being secured to the cargo. The UAV flies to a predetermined area above the cargo, and responsive to determining that the UAV is positioned within the predetermined area, the UAV elevates above the initial operating height to lift the cargo and navigates to a target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, Brian Charles Gray, David H. Mason, Douglas Mikita, Justin Fowler Rogers, Brandon Brown, Eric Hathaway, Eric J. Schulze, Corey Seidel
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Patent number: 11027836Abstract: A rotorcraft has a frame and a plurality of rotors connected to the frame. The frame has a roll axis and a pitch axis. Each of the rotors includes a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft of each of the rotors is canted with respect to at least one of the roll axis and the pitch axis. The rotor shaft of each of the rotors may be canted between 3 and 15 degrees. Each of the rotors may be a co-axial co-rotating rotor. The rotors may be oriented in opposing pairs across the frame. Both rotors in each opposing pair rotate in the same direction. The rotorcraft may include at least two additional rotors, each having a forward cant. Each of the additional rotors may be a co-axial contra-rotating rotor.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Roger W. Lacy, Michael J. Duffy, David H. Mason
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Publication number: 20210163120Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle including a frame elongated along a frame axis, the frame has a leading side and an aft side, the frame further includes a left end portion and a right end portion, a first forward rotor assembly connected to the left end portion of the frame, a second forward rotor assembly connected to the right end portion of the frame, the first forward rotor assembly and the second forward rotor assembly being positioned on the leading side of the frame, a compartment connected to the frame, the compartment having a leading side, and a curved leading-edge fairing disposed on the frame, wherein a portion of the curved leading-edge fairing extends to cover the leading side of the compartment, and wherein the curved leading-edge fairing reduces drag during flight in a forward direction to enable a substantially level flight profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2020Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joshua B. Jarvis, Edward T. Meadowcroft, Roger W. Lacy
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Publication number: 20200346746Abstract: Multi-rotor rotorcraft (10) comprise a fuselage (12), and at least four rotor assemblies (14) operatively supported by and spaced-around the fuselage (12). Each of the at least four rotor assemblies (14) defines a spin volume (24) and a spin diameter (26). Some multi-rotor rotorcraft (10) further comprise at least one rotor guard (50) that is fixed relative to the fuselage (12), that borders the spin volume (24) of at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies (14), and that is configured to provide a visual indication of the spin volume (24) of the at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies (14). Various configurations of rotor guards (50) are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Michael J. Duffy, Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, David M. Neely, Eric J. Schulze
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Publication number: 20200017204Abstract: A rotorcraft has a frame and a plurality of rotors connected to the frame. The frame has a roll axis and a pitch axis. Each of the rotors includes a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft of each of the rotors is canted with respect to at least one of the roll axis and the pitch axis. The rotor shaft of each of the rotors may be canted between 3 and 15 degrees. Each of the rotors may be a co-axial co-rotating rotor. The rotors may be oriented in opposing pairs across the frame. Both rotors in each opposing pair rotate in the same direction. The rotorcraft may include at least two additional rotors, each having a forward cant. Each of the additional rotors may be a co-axial contra-rotating rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: ROGER W. LACY, MICHAEL J. DUFFY, DAVID H. MASON
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Publication number: 20150274289Abstract: An aircraft takes off, lands, or hovers with at least one wing-mounted thrust-producing device attached to at least one wing of the aircraft and at least two fuselage-mounted thrust-producing devices attached to a fuselage of the aircraft both providing vertical thrust. The aircraft is flown while the at least one wing-mounted thrust-producing device provides horizontal thrust and with the at least two fuselage-mounted thrust-producing devices not providing any thrust.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: The Boeing CorporationInventors: Daniel Ira Newman, Roger W. Lacy, Robin M. Preator, Elia N. Gianopulos, Perry Ziegenbein
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Patent number: 8979448Abstract: A pallet system includes a pallet upon which cargo or other payloads may be carried. The pallet has a plurality of tie-down locations at which the pallet may be tied-down on a base, and at least one tie-down device for tying down the pallet on the base at any of the tie-down locations. The pallet further includes structure for mounting the tie-down device on the pallet at any of the tie-down locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark K. Tsakiris, Mark Alkire Brunton, Roger W. Lacy
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Publication number: 20100200695Abstract: A pallet system includes a pallet upon which cargo or other payloads may be carried. The pallet has a plurality of tie-down locations at which the pallet may be tied-down on a base, and at least one tie-down device for tying down the pallet on the base at any of the tie-down locations. The pallet further includes means for mounting the tie-down device on the pallet at any of the tie-down locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Inventors: Mark K. Tsakiris, Mark Alkire Brunton, Roger W. Lacy
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Patent number: D913194Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael J. Duffy, Joshua B. Jarvis, Roger W. Lacy, David M. Neely, Eric J. Schulze