Patents by Inventor William J. Nicoloff

William J. Nicoloff 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).

  • Unmanned aircraft turn and approach system
    Patent number: 11971717
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TURN AND APPROACH SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210173397
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • Unmanned aircraft turn and approach system
    Patent number: 10768624
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TURN AND APPROACH SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180356822
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • Unmanned aircraft turn and approach system
    Patent number: 10042360
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TURN AND APPROACH SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170139416
    Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Nicoloff, Eric M. Sornborger, Lars B. Cremean
  • High performance bicycle propulsion
    Patent number: 5758735
    Abstract: For use in determination of chain transmitted power, the combination comprising a tensioned chain having a succession of chain links with undulating edges; an idler supported to be driven in rotation by the chain, and having an undulating perimeter surface having a sine wave configuration and whose width dimension exceeds the width dimension between outermost chain surfaces; and certain of the chain undulating edges engaging portions of the idler undulating perimeter surfaces, whereby the chain changes direction as it travels lengthwise relative to the idler and rotatably drives the idler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. MacCready, Jr., William J. Nicoloff