Patents by Inventor Soon-Jo Chung
Soon-Jo Chung 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: 11891170Abstract: An air transport vehicle that capitalizes on the strengths and complexities of a fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The air transport vehicle comprises a body aerodynamically designed to avoid substantial drag. The vehicle has a plurality of rotors configured to generate vertical thrust with a rear rotor configured to generate forward thrust. Additionally, each of the rotors are connected to the fixed wing elements and the fixed wing is positioned about the center of mass of the fuselage. Furthermore, each of the rotors are positioned at a fixed tilt angle such that the stability of the vehicle is maintained in a number of different flight configurations.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ellande Tang, Patrick Spieler, Matthew J Anderson, Soon-Jo Chung
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Patent number: 11801937Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomously herding birds in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an autonomous flock herding system, including a bird location sensor, a drone; and a control system, including a processor, and a memory, the memory containing a flock herding application, where the application directs the processor to obtain bird position data from the at least one bird location sensor, where the bird position data describes the location of birds in a flock of birds, determine if the flock of birds will enter a protected zone, generate a set of waypoints using a flock dynamics model, instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to navigate to at least one waypoint in the set of waypoints such that the flock of birds will, in response to the presence of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the at least one waypoint, change trajectory away from the protected zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Imperial College Innovations LimitedInventors: Soon-Jo Chung, Aditya Paranjape, Kyunam Kim
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Patent number: 11733715Abstract: A fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle configured with a composite adaptive nonlinear tracking controller that utilizes a real-time accurate estimation of the complex aerodynamic forces surrounding the wing(s) and rotors in order to achieve a high performance flight. The method employs online adaptation of force models, and generates accurate estimation for wing and rotor forces in real-time based on information from a three-dimensional airflow sensor. The novel three-dimensional airflow sensor illustrates improved velocity tracking and force prediction during the transition stage from hover to forward flight.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Xichen Shi, Patrick Spieler, Ellande Tang, Elena S. Lupu, Soon-Jo Chung
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Patent number: 11733399Abstract: A system and method for determining the relative position of a mobile device in relation to other devices or objects in an operational space. The systems and methods operate on a tight fusion of raw data from a number of different sensors such that carrier spaced integer ambiguities can be quickly and accurately resolved, especially in GNSS signal degradation scenarios.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Vincenzo Capuano, Alexei Harvard, Soon-Jo Chung
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Patent number: 11693373Abstract: Systems and methods for learning based control in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training an adaptive controller. The method includes steps for receiving a set of training data that includes several training samples, wherein each training sample includes a state and a true uncertain effect value. The method includes steps for computing an uncertain effect value based on the state, computing a set of one or more losses based on the true uncertain effect value and the computed uncertain effect value, and updating the adaptive controller based on the computed set of losses.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Guanya Shi, Xichen Shi, Michael O'Connell, Animashree Anandkumar, Yisong Yue, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20220126994Abstract: An air transport vehicle that capitalizes on the strengths and complexities of a fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The air transport vehicle comprises a body aerodynamically designed to avoid substantial drag. The vehicle has a plurality of rotors configured to generate vertical thrust with a rear rotor configured to generate forward thrust. Additionally, each of the rotors are connected to the fixed wing elements and the fixed wing is positioned about the center of mass of the fuselage. Furthermore, each of the rotors are positioned at a fixed tilt angle such that the stability of the vehicle is maintained in a number of different flight configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ellande Tang, Patrick Spieler, Matthew J. Anderson, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20210370733Abstract: A multi-modal robot that is configured to operate with a bipedal locomotion that may be augmented with aerial locomotion. Many embodiments of a robot may incorporate a robot with a main body portion that houses the various control systems and mechanical controls of the robot. The body of the robot can have a number of different propellers connected to an upper portion of the body and configured to generate lift and/or stability for the body of the robot. Additionally, many embodiments have at least two leg elements connected to a bottom portion of the body by way of a servo mechanism. The legs are configured to provide support for the body of the robot as well as generate a walking locomotion through the movement of the legs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Soon-Jo Chung
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Patent number: 11072421Abstract: An automated flying transport vehicle that capitalizes on the strengths and complexities of a fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The air transport vehicle comprises a body aerodynamically designed to generate lift and a plurality of rotors that can generate lift as well as forward thrust from which a fixed wing portion of the air transport vehicle will begin to generate additional lift allowing for a sustained flight.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Xichen Shi, Marcel Veismann, Christopher J. Dougherty, Stephanie Rider, Soon-Jo Chung, Morteza Gharib, Kyunam Kim, Salar Rahili
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Publication number: 20210103298Abstract: A fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle configured with a composite adaptive nonlinear tracking controller that utilizes a real-time accurate estimation of the complex aerodynamic forces surrounding the wing(s) and rotors in order to achieve a high performance flight. The method employs online adaptation of force models, and generates accurate estimation for wing and rotor forces in real-time based on information from a three-dimensional airflow sensor. The novel three-dimensional airflow sensor illustrates improved velocity tracking and force prediction during the transition stage from hover to forward flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Xichen Shi, Patrick Spieler, Ellande Tang, Elena S. Lupu, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20210048542Abstract: A system and method for determining the relative position of a mobile device in relation to other devices or objects in an operational space. The systems and methods operate on a tight fusion of raw data from a number of different sensors such that carrier spaced integer ambiguities can be quickly and accurately resolved, especially in GNSS signal degradation scenarios.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Vincenzo Capuano, Alexei Harvard, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20200183339Abstract: Systems and methods for learning based control in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training an adaptive controller. The method includes steps for receiving a set of training data that includes several training samples, wherein each training sample includes a state and a true uncertain effect value. The method includes steps for computing an uncertain effect value based on the state, computing a set of one or more losses based on the true uncertain effect value and the computed uncertain effect value, and updating the adaptive controller based on the computed set of losses.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Guanya Shi, Xichen Shi, Michael O'Connell, Animashree Anandkumar, Yisong Yue, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20200031465Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomously herding birds in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an autonomous flock herding system, including a bird location sensor, a drone; and a control system, including a processor, and a memory, the memory containing a flock herding application, where the application directs the processor to obtain bird position data from the at least one bird location sensor, where the bird position data describes the location of birds in a flock of birds, determine if the flock of birds will enter a protected zone, generate a set of waypoints using a flock dynamics model, instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to navigate to at least one waypoint in the set of waypoints such that the flock of birds will, in response to the presence of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the at least one waypoint, change trajectory away from the protected zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Imperial College Innovations LimitedInventors: Soon-Jo Chung, Aditya Paranjape, Kyunam Kim
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Publication number: 20190106206Abstract: An automated flying transport vehicle that capitalizes on the strengths and complexities of a fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The air transport vehicle comprises a body aerodynamically designed to generate lift and a plurality of rotors that can generate lift as well as forward thrust from which a fixed wing portion of the air transport vehicle will begin to generate additional lift allowing for a sustained flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Xichen Shi, Marcel Veismann, Christopher J. Dougherty, Stephanie Rider, Soon-Jo Chung, Morteza Gharib, Kyunam Kim, Salar Rahili, Reza Nemovi
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Patent number: 9394050Abstract: A micro aerial vehicle capable of controlled transitory or sustained gliding flight. The vehicle includes a fuselage. A pair of articulated wings are forward of a center of gravity of the vehicle, the wings being articulated and having trailing edge flaps, and having actuators for controlling the dihedral angles of the wings and the flaps for effective yaw control across the flight envelope. The dihedral angles can be varied symmetrically on both wings to control the aircraft speed independently of the angle of attack and flight-path angle, while an asymmetric dihedral setting can be used to control yaw and the actuators control the dihedral settings of each wing independently. The aircraft lacks a vertical tail or other vertical stabilizer.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Aditya Avinash Paranjape, Soon-Jo Chung
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Publication number: 20140319267Abstract: A micro aerial vehicle capable of controlled transitory or sustained gliding flight. The vehicle includes a fuselage. A pair of articulated wings are forward of a center of gravity of the vehicle, the wings being articulated and having trailing edge flaps, and having actuators for controlling the dihedral angles of the wings and the flaps for effective yaw control across the flight envelope. The dihedral angles can be varied symmetrically on both wings to control the aircraft speed independently of the angle of attack and flight-path angle, while an asymmetric dihedral setting can be used to control yaw and the actuators control the dihedral settings of each wing independently. The aircraft lacks a vertical tail or other vertical stabilizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Aditya Avinash Paranjape, Soon-Jo Chung