Patents by Inventor William Stuart Sechrist

William Stuart Sechrist 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: 20240083578
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including: a latching mechanism comprising: a first latch configured to attach to a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch; a string connected between the first and second latch, where the string secures the door shut; at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of the string between the first latch and the second latch; where current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire when the burn signal is received, where the burn wire causes the connection between the first latch and the second latch to be broken and the door of the UAV is separated from the UAV, and where the parachute is deployed when the door of the UAV is separated from a rest of the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Derek Lisoski, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20230075907
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including: a latching mechanism comprising: a first latch configured to attach to a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch; a string connected between the first and second latch, where the string secures the door shut; at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of the string between the first latch and the second latch; where current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire when the burn signal is received, where the burn wire causes the connection between the first latch and the second latch to be broken and the door of the UAV is separated from the UAV, and where the parachute is deployed when the door of the UAV is separated from a rest of the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Derek Lisoski, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 11518514
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including: a latching mechanism comprising: a first latch configured to attach to a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch; a string connected between the first and second latch, where the string secures the door shut; at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of the string between the first latch and the second latch; where current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire when the burn signal is received, where the burn wire causes the connection between the first latch and the second latch to be broken and the door of the UAV is separated from the UAV, and where the parachute is deployed when the door of the UAV is separated from a rest of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC
    Inventors: Derek Lisoski, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20220144432
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including: a latching mechanism comprising: a first latch configured to attach to a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch; a string connected between the first and second latch, where the string secures the door shut; at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of the string between the first latch and the second latch; where current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire when the burn signal is received, where the burn wire causes the connection between the first latch and the second latch to be broken and the door of the UAV is separated from the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Derek Lisoski, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20220122385
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a first flight control computer (FCC) of two or more FCCs; a second FCC of the two or more FCCs; at least one selector in communication with the first FCC; and at least one watchdog window in communication with the at least one selector, where the at least one watchdog window monitors a performance of the first FCC based on an electrical pulse emitted by the FCC; where the at least one watchdog window is configured to detect a fault pulse of the electrical pulse emitted by the first FCC; and where the selector is configured to toggle to the second FCC based on the detected fault pulse emitted by the first FCC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Derek Lisoski, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 9787610
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani
  • Patent number: 9735980
    Abstract: A packet-switched, fault-tolerant, vehicle communication internetwork (100, 400, 500) comprising port-based VLANs. Two or more VLANs are embodied where a source node (110, 410, 510,610) comprises two or more network interface circuits (130,140, 415,425, 515,525, 630,640), and where looping is precluded via specific VLAN tagging and switch ports (131-134, 200, 300, 420, 430, 435, 445, 455, 465, 535, 540, 545, 560, 575, 585, associated with at least one specific VLAN. A destination node (120, 440, 450, 460, 570, 580, 590, 620) may feedback packets to the source node via a general VLAN tag along pathways associated with the two or more specific outgoing VLAN tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 9561764
    Abstract: An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20160191426
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani
  • Publication number: 20160167606
    Abstract: An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20160006582
    Abstract: A packet-switched, fault-tolerant, vehicle communication internetwork (100, 400, 500) comprising port-based VLANs. Two or more VLANs are embodied where a source node (110, 410, 510,610) comprises two or more network interface circuits (130,140, 415,425, 515,525, 630,640), and where looping is precluded via specific VLAN tagging and switch ports (131-134, 200, 300, 420, 430, 435, 445, 455, 465, 535, 540, 545, 560, 575, 585, associated with at least one specific VLAN. A destination node (120, 440, 450, 460, 570, 580, 590, 620) may feedback packets to the source node via a general VLAN tag along pathways associated with the two or more specific outgoing VLAN tags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 9203783
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani
  • Patent number: 9112785
    Abstract: A packet-switched, fault-tolerant, vehicle communication internetwork (100, 400, 500) comprising port-based VLANs. Two or more VLANs are embodied where a source node (110, 410, 510, 610) comprises two or more network interface circuits (130,140, 415,425, 515,525, 630,640), and where looping is precluded via specific VLAN tagging and switch ports (131-134, 200, 300, 420, 430, 435, 445, 455, 465, 535, 540, 545, 560, 575, 585, associated with at least one specific VLAN. A destination node (120, 440, 450, 460, 570, 580, 590, 620) may feedback packets to the source node via a general VLAN tag along pathways associated with the two or more specific outgoing VLAN tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 9112377
    Abstract: An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventor: William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20150163174
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani
  • Patent number: 8867381
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani
  • Patent number: 8411689
    Abstract: A packet-switched, fault-tolerant, vehicle communication internetwork (100, 400, 500) comprising port-based VLANs. Two or more VLANs are embodied where a source node (110, 410, 510,610) comprises two or more network interface circuits (130,140, 415,425, 515,525, 630,640), and where looping is precluded via specific VLAN tagging and switch ports (131-134, 200, 300, 420, 430, 435, 445, 455, 465, 535, 540, 545, 560, 575, 585, associated with at least one specific VLAN. A destination node (120, 440, 450, 460, 570, 580, 590, 620) may feedback packets to the source node via a general VLAN tag along pathways associated with the two or more specific outgoing VLAN tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani, William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20120181857
    Abstract: An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stuart Sechrist
  • Patent number: 8148843
    Abstract: An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stuart Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20110096682
    Abstract: A receiving network node (210) configured to select from received packets differing by time of initial transmission from a sending network node (230), and accepting for transmission, based on initial transmission time, the selected packets to an application layer (740). An internetworked processor node configured to: (a) read a sequence number and an originator identifier of a received packet message (810); (b) compare a stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier with the received packet sequence number (820); (c) if the received packet sequence number is less than or equal to the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then discard (840) the received packet; and (d) if the received packet sequence number is greater than the stored highest sequence number associated with the originator identifier, then deliver (860) the message of the received packet to an application based on an upper layer protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Rolland Mitchell Koch, William Stuart Sechrist, Daniel Bailey Hiranandani