Patents by Inventor Ryan Burgess
Ryan Burgess 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: 10137982Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes one or more propeller units operable to provide thrust for takeoff or hover flight and one or more propulsion units operable to provide thrust for forward flight. At least one propeller unit includes a shaft coupled to a motor, and a first propeller blade and a second propeller blade that are both connected to the shaft. The second propeller blade is located substantially opposite the first propeller blade, and the second propeller blade has a surface area substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation that is greater than a corresponding surface area of the first propeller blade. While the aerial vehicle is in forward flight in a first direction and the motor is turned off, the first propeller blade and the second propeller blade are each configured to orient in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction, such that the first propeller blade is oriented substantially upwind of the second propeller blade.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Wing Aviation LLCInventors: Parsa Dormiani, James Ryan Burgess
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Patent number: 10106257Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Publication number: 20180222585Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Patent number: 9957046Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Publication number: 20180072419Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: James Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen
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Publication number: 20180022456Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload -release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Publication number: 20170372259Abstract: Embodiments relate to a client-facing application for interacting with a transport service that transports items via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An example graphic interface may allow a user to order items to specific delivery areas associated with their larger delivery location, and may dynamically provide status updates and other functionality during the process of fulfilling a UAV transport request.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Jonathan Lesser, Michael Bauerly, James Ryan Burgess, May Cheng, Rue Song
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Patent number: 9849981Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: James Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen
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Patent number: 9783295Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Patent number: 9783297Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Publication number: 20170253334Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Patent number: 9630715Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Patent number: 9615012Abstract: A device may operate a first image-capture system to capture first image data of a scene. While the first image-capture system is capturing the first image data, the device may operate a second image-capture system to determine an updated value for the first image setting, and send an instruction to the first image-capture system that indicates to use the updated value for the first image setting to continue to capture the first image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Ryan Burgess Geiss, Marc Levoy, Roman Lewkow
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Patent number: 9580173Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: James Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen
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Publication number: 20170043871Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Patent number: 9493238Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Publication number: 20160244165Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad
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Publication number: 20160236778Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Leila Takayama, Matthew Ball, Joanna Cohen, Roger William Graves, Mathias Samuel Fleck, Andrew Lambert, James Ryan Burgess, Paul Richard Komarek, Trevor Shannon
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Publication number: 20160221683Abstract: Embodiments described herein may relate to methods and systems for supplying auxiliary power to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with different flight modes. In particular, the system may determine that a UAV is operating in a first flight mode. Responsively, the system may cause the UAV to draw power from a first power source at a first power level while operating in the first flight mode. Subsequently, the system may determine that the UAV switched from operating in the first flight mode to operating in a second flight mode. Responsively, the system may cause the UAV, while operating in the second flight mode, to continue drawing power from the first power source at the first power level and draw power from a second power source at a second power level, where the UAV consumes power at a higher rate during the second flight mode than during the first flight mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Google Inc.Inventors: John Roberts, Abe Bachrach, James Ryan Burgess
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Patent number: 9346547Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: William Graham Patrick, James Ryan Burgess, Andrew Conrad