Patents by Inventor Zachary Anton Nielsen

Zachary Anton Nielsen 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).

  • Steerable container delivery system
    Patent number: 9061764
    Abstract: A steerable container delivery system (“CDS”) includes a pallet configured with inflatable fins for steering a CDS cargo bundle during free fall when airdropped. The inflatable fins are inflated shortly after deployment using compressed air carried by a tank in the pallet. A flight management computer (“FMS”) continuously monitors the location of the CDS bundle using GPS technology and determines a vector to a drop location based on stored GPS measurements. The FMC continuously monitors and positions the CDS bundle over the drop location, and is able to independently rotate the fins to control the position of the CDS bundle, either by rotating the CDS bundle or laterally moving it. At the appropriate altitude, the FMC causes the main parachute to open to slow the descent of the CDS bundle for impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David Ray Riley, Zachary Anton Nielsen
  • Steerable Container Delivery System
    Publication number: 20130048787
    Abstract: A steerable container delivery system (“CDS”) includes a pallet configured with inflatable fins for steering a CDS cargo bundle during free fall when airdropped. The inflatable fins are inflated shortly after deployment using compressed air carried by a tank in the pallet. A flight management computer (“FMS”) continuously monitors the location of the CDS bundle using GPS technology and determines a vector to a drop location based on stored GPS measurements. The FMC continuously monitors and positions the CDS bundle over the drop location, and is able to independently rotate the fins to control the position of the CDS bundle, either by rotating the CDS bundle or laterally moving it. At the appropriate altitude, the FMC causes the main parachute to open to slow the descent of the CDS bundle for impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: David Ray Riley, Zachary Anton Nielsen