Patents by Inventor Tony Shuo Tao

Tony Shuo Tao 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: 20210253234
    Abstract: Winged tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and related methods are disclosed. Aircraft comprise an airframe comprising one or more wings; one or more tilt-adjustable rotors positioned forward of the one or more wings; and one or more fixed-tilt rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings. Methods comprise tilting only one or more forward rotors positioned in front of one or more wings of the aircraft, and not tilting one or more rearward rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, William Cooper Thalheimer, Robert William Parks, Adrian Hachen
  • Patent number: 11040766
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Patent number: 10960968
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb, Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson
  • Patent number: 10953976
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: a fuselage; a first pair of airfoils rotatable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the retracted position extending substantially along a first portion on an exterior of the fuselage; a second pair of airfoils rotatable between a second retracted position and a second deployed position, the second deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the second retracted position extending substantially along the first portion on the exterior of the fuselage; and a rudder foldable against the fuselage in a pre-deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Publication number: 20210024208
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft (100) and a propulsion system (600) thereof. The propulsion system (600) comprises a primary rotor (108) configured to couple to an airframe (102) and oriented to generate a vertical thrust relative to the airframe (102), a drivetrain (626) operably coupled to an engine (602) and configured to mechanically drive the primary rotor (108), and a plurality of tiltable secondary rotor assemblies (114) configured to be disposed about the primary rotor (108). The primary rotor (108) comprises a plurality of collective-only variable-pitch blades. Each of the plurality of tiltable secondary rotor assemblies (114) may have a secondary rotor (116) and an electric motor (608) to drive the secondary rotor (116). An electric generator (606) operably coupled to the engine (602) or to the drivetrain (626) may be configured generate electric power for each electric motor (608) of the plurality of tiltable secondary rotor assemblies (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Tony Shuo Tao
  • Publication number: 20200307763
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb, Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson
  • Patent number: 10696375
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb, Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson
  • Publication number: 20200198761
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Patent number: 10583910
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Publication number: 20170144749
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: TONY SHUO TAO, NATHAN OLSON, CARLOS THOMAS MIRALLES, ROBERT NICKERSON PLUMB
  • Publication number: 20160185445
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: CARLOS THOMAS MIRALLES, ROBERT NICKERSON PLUMB, TONY SHUO TAO, NATHAN OLSON
  • Publication number: 20160009370
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Patent number: 9108713
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (100, 400, 1000, 1500) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils (141, 142, 1345, 1346) having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns (621, 622). Embodiments include one or more rudder elements (1045, 1046, 1145, 1146, 1245, 1345, 1346, 1445, 1446, 1545, 1546) which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member (1049, 1149, 1249, 1349) disposed within the fuselage housing (1001) and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Publication number: 20150203201
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: TONY SHUO TAO, NATHAN OLSON, CARLOS THOMAS MIRALLES, ROBERT NICKERSON PLUMB
  • Patent number: 8985504
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Publication number: 20130146718
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Muralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Publication number: 20120267473
    Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (100,400,1000,1500) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils (141,142,1345,1346) having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house house deflecting actuator horns (621,622). Embodiments include one or more rudder elements (1045, 1046,1145, 1146,1245, 1345, 1346,1445, 1446,1545, 1546) which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member (1049,1149,1249,1349) disposed within the fuselage housing (1001) and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Tony Shuo Tao, Nathan Olson, Carlos Thomas Miralles, Robert Nickerson Plumb
  • Patent number: D902828
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Tony Shuo Tao