Patents by Inventor Todd Reichert

Todd Reichert 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: 20250147513
    Abstract: A set of commands for each of a plurality of actuators to alter an aircraft's state responsive to one or more inputs is produced. The set of commands is provided to fewer than all actuators comprising the plurality of actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Mark Johnson Cutler, Todd Reichert, James Jackson
  • Publication number: 20250147507
    Abstract: An indication to perform a recovery action, including by deploying a first and second parachute canopy is output. Sensor data, which includes parachute canopy state information associated with the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy, is received from a sensor. It is determined, based at least in part on the sensor data, whether to generate a control signal with a value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position. If the parachute canopy state information indicates the first parachute canopy is collapsed and the second is inflated, the control signal is generated with the value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into the nose-up position. A load on the second parachute canopy is reduced if the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position. The control signal is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 12228946
    Abstract: A set of commands for each of a plurality of actuators to alter an aircraft's state responsive to one or more inputs is produced. The set of commands is provided to fewer than all actuators comprising the plurality of actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Johnson Cutler, Todd Reichert, James Jackson
  • Patent number: 12222717
    Abstract: Sensor data is received from a sensor where the sensor data includes aircraft state information including an aircraft pitch angle and recovery device state information including which parachute canopies are operational and one or more properties associated with the operational parachute canopies. The parachute canopies are coupled aft of a center of mass. It is determined, based at least in part on the aircraft pitch angle, whether to generate a control signal associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position. A recovery action is performed, including by selecting a parachute canopy to be deployed, from the operational parachute canopies and based at least in part on the one or more properties, and deploying the selected parachute canopy, where a load on the selected parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 12179900
    Abstract: An inner middle rotor is rotated while an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor are not rotated. The inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and a fuselage. After rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are simultaneously rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Reichert, Cameron Robertson, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Patent number: 12172746
    Abstract: A propeller comprising a hub, a blade, and a hinge is disclosed. In various embodiments, a blade includes a neck portion angled away from a plane of rotation of the hub, wherein the blade has a longitudinal axis extending through the blade and running from a tip of the blade to an end of the neck portion, and a dihedral angle of the blade is an angle of the blade relative to the plane of rotation of the hub. The hinge includes a pivotal link, and connects the blade to the hub, wherein the hinge has an axis of rotation that is offset from a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade, and responds to forces acting on the blade to vary a pitch of the blade including causing the blade to be at a lower pitch and higher dihedral angle in a first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Publication number: 20240210940
    Abstract: Sensor data is received from a sensor where the sensor data includes aircraft state information including an aircraft pitch angle and recovery device state information including which parachute canopies are operational and one or more properties associated with the operational parachute canopies. The parachute canopies are coupled aft of a center of mass. It is determined, based at least in part on the aircraft pitch angle, whether to generate a control signal associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position. A recovery action is performed, including by selecting a parachute canopy to be deployed, from the operational parachute canopies and based at least in part on the one or more properties, and deploying the selected parachute canopy, where a load on the selected parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Publication number: 20240166336
    Abstract: A forward velocity associated with an aircraft is received. The aircraft includes a multicopter with a plurality of rotors which rotate in a substantially horizontal plane. A pitch offset is determined based at least in part on the forward velocity, where the pitch offset changes monotonically with the forward velocity. A desired pitch is determined based at least in part on the pitch offset and a pitch angle specified via a hand control. A plurality of control signals for the plurality of rotors is determined based at least in part on the desired pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander David Selwa, Todd Reichert, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Patent number: 11947352
    Abstract: Sensor data that includes or more of the following: (1) aircraft state information associated with an aircraft or (2) parachute canopy state information associated with a parachute canopy is received. The parachute canopy is coupled to the aircraft at a point aft of a center of mass of the aircraft. It is determined, based at least in part on the sensor data, whether to generate a control signal associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position. A recovery action is performed, including by deploying the parachute canopy; wherein a load on the parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 11919621
    Abstract: A first hand control controls an altitude of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft; the movement of the VTOL aircraft within a plane defined by a roll axis and a pitch axis is independent of the first hand control. The first hand control is provided on a first hand side of a pilot's seat included in the VTOL aircraft. A second hand control controls the movement of the VTOL aircraft within the plane defined by the roll axis and the pitch axis; the altitude of the VTOL aircraft is independent of the second hand control. The second hand control is provided on a second hand side of the pilot's seat that is opposite from the first hand side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander David Selwa, Todd Reichert, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Patent number: 11919650
    Abstract: A multi-modal aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first aircraft recovery parachute having a first set of physical attributes optimized for a first set of conditions and a second aircraft recovery parachute having a second set of physical attributes optimized for a second set of conditions different from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Joseph Roop, Todd Reichert, Damon Vander Lind
  • Publication number: 20240067331
    Abstract: An inner middle rotor is rotated while an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor are not rotated. The inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and a fuselage. After rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are simultaneously rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Todd Reichert, Cameron Robertson, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Publication number: 20240059397
    Abstract: A propeller comprising a hub, a blade, and a hinge is disclosed. In various embodiments, a blade includes a neck portion angled away from a plane of rotation of the hub, wherein the blade has a longitudinal axis extending through the blade and running from a tip of the blade to an end of the neck portion, and a dihedral angle of the blade is an angle of the blade relative to the plane of rotation of the hub. The hinge includes a pivotal link, and connects the blade to the hub, wherein the hinge has an axis of rotation that is offset from a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade, and responds to forces acting on the blade to vary a pitch of the blade including causing the blade to be at a lower pitch and higher dihedral angle in a first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Publication number: 20230384799
    Abstract: A set of commands for each of a plurality of actuators to alter an aircraft's state responsive to one or more inputs is produced. The set of commands is provided to fewer than all actuators comprising the plurality of actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Johnson Cutler, Todd Reichert, James Jackson
  • Patent number: 11827335
    Abstract: A hinged propeller comprising a hub and one or more blades is disclosed. In various embodiments, a blade is connected to the hub via a hinge, wherein at least a substantial part of the blade has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a line extending radially from a center of the hub, and wherein the hinge has an axis of hinge rotation that is oriented at a non-zero acute angle to a line that is perpendicular, in a plane of rotation of the hub, to said longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Patent number: 11829160
    Abstract: A set of commands for each of a plurality of actuators to alter an aircraft's state responsive to one or more inputs is produced. The set of commands is provided to fewer than all actuators comprising the plurality of actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Johnson Cutler, Todd Reichert, James Jackson
  • Patent number: 11794885
    Abstract: An inner middle rotor is rotated while an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor are not rotated. The inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and a fuselage. After rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are simultaneously rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Reichert, Cameron Robertson, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Publication number: 20230242218
    Abstract: A hydrofoiling watercraft including a board for supporting a user includes a plurality of masts extending downwardly to connect one or more hydrofoil wings to the board. Examples of the watercraft include a fuselage mounted to each mast wherein a forward portion of each fuselage extends toward a direction of travel for the watercraft. A hydrofoil wing is mounted to the forward portion of each fuselage. A tail wing may be mounted to a rearward portion of the respective fuselages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Patent number: D1060571
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Beta Foils Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Patent number: D1073834
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Beta Foils Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Reichert