Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and loading (VTOL) rotary aircraft or helicopter has eight propellers in a quad propeller arm configuration where each propeller arm has two counter-rotating propellers. Folding propeller arms are designed to allow storage in a single car sized garage. Each propeller may be powered by a three-phase alternating current motor. The main power plant for the aircraft is a gas combustion engine that generates electricity. If the gas engine fails, a battery backup system will safely bring the aircraft down for a controlled landing. The direct current bus is redundant in that even with a gas combustion engine failure the direct current bus battery pack will safely bring down the aircraft. Various embodiments of this invention may also include a landing gear crumple zone designed to soften a hard landing.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and loading (VTOL) rotary aircraft or helicopter has eight propellers in a quad propeller arm configuration where each propeller arm has two counter-rotating propellers. Folding propeller arms are designed to allow storage in a single car sized garage. Each propeller may be powered by a three-phase alternating current motor. The main power plant for the aircraft is a gas combustion engine that generates electricity. If the gas engine fails, a battery backup system will safely bring the aircraft down for a controlled landing. The direct current bus is redundant in that even with a gas combustion engine failure the direct current bus battery pack will safely bring down the aircraft. Various embodiments of this invention may also include a landing gear crumple zone designed to soften a hard landing.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a showerhead for automatically regulating water flow is provided. The showerhead comprises a range sensor, a solenoid, and a microprocessor. The range sensor is configured to detect the presence or absence of a person near the showerhead and to generate a range signal. The microprocessor is configured to receive the range signal and to determine a person's typical distance from the showerhead when rinsing. Further, based on the range signal, the microprocessor is configured to send an open signal to the solenoid valve when the person is within the typical distance and to send a close signal to the solenoid valve when the person is outside of the typical distance. The solenoid valve is configured to be opened and closed by the respective open or close signals to respectively turn on or off the flow of water based on the person's position relative to the showerhead.

Abstract: An electric vehicle utilizes an internal combustion engine to drive the vehicle's main electric drive system in the regeneration mode and to charge the battery when the vehicle is stopped. The electric vehicle's main drive controller and motor are used as the generator to recharge the battery when the vehicle is stopped via a clutch mechanism allowing the motor to act as a generator while the vehicle is at rest. As the vehicle proceeds throughout the drive cycle, the vehicle is powered by the electric motor from the battery. The battery is recharged to a specified state of charge when the vehicle is parked. The internal combustion engine only operates to charge the battery, and the electric motor is used to propel the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

Abstract: A wireless communication device that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware. The digital file is sent via wireless communication to at least one server computer for further processing. The command includes a unique device identifier that identifies the wireless communication device. The server computer determines required additional processing for the command based on the unique device identifier. The server computer constructs an application command based on the processed command, and transmits the application command to the wireless communication device. The application command includes at least one instruction that causes a corresponding application on the wireless communication device to execute the application command.

Abstract: An email system for mobile devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, is disclosed which allows email messages to be played back on the mobile device as voice messages on demand by way of a media player, thus eliminating the need for a unified messaging system. Email messages are received by the mobile device in a known manner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the email messages are identified by the mobile device as they are received. After the message is identified, the mobile device sends the email message in text format to a server for conversion to speech or voice format. After the message is converted to speech format, the server sends the messages back to the user's mobile device and notifies the user of the email message and then plays the message back to the user through a media player upon demand.

Abstract: An electric vehicle utilizes an internal combustion engine to drive the vehicle's main electric drive system in the regeneration mode and to charge the battery when the vehicle is stopped. The electric vehicle's main drive controller and motor are used as the generator to recharge the battery when the vehicle is stopped via a clutch mechanism allowing the motor to act as a generator while the vehicle is at rest. As the vehicle proceeds throughout the drive cycle, the vehicle is powered by the electric motor from the battery. The battery is recharged to a specified state of charge when the vehicle is parked. The internal combustion engine only operates to charge the battery, and the electric motor is used to propel the vehicle.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device.

Abstract: A wireless communication device that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware. The digital file is sent via wireless communication to at least one server computer for further processing. The command includes a unique device identifier that identifies the wireless communication device. The server computer determines required additional processing for the command based on the unique device identifier. The server computer constructs an application command based on the processed command, and transmits the application command to the wireless communication device. The application command includes at least one instruction that causes a corresponding application on the wireless communication device to execute the application command.

Abstract: An email system for mobile devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, is disclosed which allows email messages to be played back on the mobile device as voice messages on demand by way of a media player, thus eliminating the need for a unified messaging system. Email messages are received by the mobile device in a known manner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the email messages are identified by the mobile device as they are received. After the message is identified, the mobile device sends the email message in text format to a server for conversion to speech or voice format. After the message is converted to speech format, the server sends the messages back to the user's mobile device and notifies the user of the email message and then plays the message back to the user through a media player upon demand.

Abstract: An email system for mobile devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, is disclosed which allows email messages to be played back on the mobile device as voice messages on demand by way of a media player, thus eliminating the need for a unified messaging system. Email messages are received by the mobile device in a known manner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the email messages are identified by the mobile device as they are received. After the message is identified, the mobile device sends the email message in text format to a server for conversion to speech or voice format. After the message is converted to speech format, the server sends the messages back to the user's mobile device and notifies the user of the email message and then plays the message back to the user through a media player upon demand.