Potential Collision With Other Aircraft Patents (Class 340/961)
  • Patent number: 10872469
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of various embodiments enable subdividing large polygon meshes with diverse materials into a hierarchy of separate components, such as tiles. In various embodiments, the components may in aggregate represent the entire mesh. In the hierarchies of separate components as provided by the various embodiments, the components may be loaded as-needed based on importance, culled due to lack of importance to a given view, and/or replaced with higher or lower detail variants depending on importance to a given view. The ability to load components, such as tiles, on-demand provided by the various embodiments may provide improved rendering performance of a large polygon mesh with diverse materials, especially when the rendering leverages data transmission over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Cesium GS, Inc.
    Inventors: Kangning Li, Sean Lilley, Daniel Bagnell
  • Patent number: 10852157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling movement of an aircraft. A turn path off of a planned route for an aircraft comprising a turn to direct the aircraft to an intercept point on the planned route is determined. A planned route indicator depicting the planned route, a turn path indicator depicting the turn path, and an aircraft position indicator indicating a position of the aircraft are displayed to an operator of the aircraft at the same time on a turn guidance display. Deviation limit indicators for the planned route, the turn path, or both, may be displayed on the turn guidance display. Indicator characteristics of the deviation limit indicators may be changed in response to aircraft deviations from the planned route or the turn path by more than the deviation limits. The turn guidance display is used to control the movement of the aircraft to follow the turn path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Syed Tahir Shafaat, John Allin Brown, Minh-Tri Le
  • Patent number: 10802685
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses a vehicle marking capability configured to support marking of vehicles in a vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability is configured to support marking of vehicles in a graphical user interface (GUI) that is supported by a vehicle management application that is supported by the vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of various vehicle measures of vehicles for various vehicle types which may be managed by the vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of vehicle measures for vehicles using measure objects having lengths that are based on the vehicle measures (e.g., using linear scaling, logarithmic scaling, or the like). The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of vehicle altitudes for aerial vehicles using altitude columns having column heights that are based on the vehicle altitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Arto Kristian Suvitie
  • Patent number: 10794704
    Abstract: A method and system for continuously re-planning a vehicle's path, in the face of stationary and moving obstacles, dynamically calculates a new path in real time which is both efficient and maintains minimum safety clearances relative to obstacles. Repulsion signals emanating from obstacles and propagating through delineated sections of a grid representing a geographic space are summed along with values representing the relative distance of the sections from the vehicle origin and vehicle destination. The grid sections having optimal values according to a predetermined criteria represent an efficient and safe travel path between the vehicle origin and destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC
    Inventor: James W. Herriot
  • Patent number: 10796404
    Abstract: A vehicle system and method are provided. The system includes a control module coupled to an imaging system and a display system. The control module receives position and location information of the aircraft, and processes that with map features to identify a landing location. The control module commands the display system to render on display system a landing image having thereon a sensor based visually enhanced area defined by a field of view (FOV) of first dimensions. The control module continually receives and processes visibility reports to determine the visibility at the landing location. When there is low visibility at the landing location, the control module reduces the FOV dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Gang He
  • Patent number: 10795379
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for flight control and a control apparatus for flight control. In an example, a first aircraft includes the control apparatus for flight control and the control apparatus includes interface circuitry and processing circuitry. The interface circuitry receives a first flight control instruction and a flight parameter. The first flight control instruction and the flight parameter are sent by a mobile terminal device. The flight parameter is indicative of a preset flight altitude. In response to the first flight control instruction, the processing circuitry controls the first aircraft to fly to the preset flight altitude. Further, the processing circuitry detects an existence of a second aircraft within a surrounding of the first aircraft, and adjusts a flight posture of the first aircraft according to the existence detection of the second aircraft within the surrounding of the first aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dajun Zhou, Junfeng Shen, Bin Wang, Xuefeng Wei
  • Patent number: 10789854
    Abstract: A graphical depiction of an exclusion zone on an airport movement surface is disclosed. The graphical depiction may be displayed on a display device of an aircraft. The display device may be further configured to display an aircraft ownship symbol. A location of the aircraft ownship symbol on the display device may be dependent on one or more signals related to the location of the aircraft relative to the airport movement surface. The display device of the aircraft may be configured to exit a taxi mode or enter the taxi mode based on a comparison between the exclusion zone and the one or more received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcin Kolesinski
  • Patent number: 10777086
    Abstract: A method for detecting conflicts between aircraft flying in controlled airspace. The method determines whether pairs of aircraft flight routes violate a predetermined proximity test. The separation of pairs of aircraft whose flight routes do not violate the proximity test is assured. For pairs of aircraft whose flight routes violate the proximity test, the method calculates the parts of their flight routes that breach the separation threshold, the conflict paths (406, 408). The conflict paths are stored. The method determines the portions of aircraft trajectories corresponding to the conflict paths. The separation of aircraft that have flown past their conflict paths is assured. The separation time and separation altitude of pairs of aircraft that have not flown past their conflict paths are calculated. The separation time and separation altitude are used to determine future circumstances whereby the pairs of aircraft may lose separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Via Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Kenneth Frederick Miles Barker
  • Patent number: 10698580
    Abstract: Methods for graphically managing a pitch scale displayed in an on-board viewing system for an aircraft, the viewing system comprises a graphics computer carrying out the graphical management of the symbols and a viewing screen. The symbolic representation displayed on the viewing screen includes an angular pitch scale, a symbol, referred to as the aircraft icon, that is representative of the attitude of the aircraft and a symbol, referred to as the speed vector that is representative of the direction of the speed of the aircraft. The angular distance separating the “bars” of the scale varies so that the symbols representative of the attitude of the aircraft and of the speed vector remain constantly close to one of the two bars of the scale, even in the event of a strong crosswind. The shape of the bars is either constant or variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Frédéric Scarfone, Patrice Malot, Bruno Aymeric, Jonathan Barreau
  • Patent number: 10672226
    Abstract: A system and method for user interaction includes a network, a server connected to the network, a supervisor device receiving information from a global positioning system and connected to the network, a user device receiving information from the global positioning system and connected to the network. The supervisor, having the supervisor device, defines a set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones in which the user device is tracked, and saves the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones to a supervisor account on the server. The user downloads a user application, sets-up a user account, and downloads the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones. As the user, having the user device, moves through the virtual geographic zones and sub-zones the location of the user device is determined and a set of supervisor-defined actions are executed on the user device based on the location of the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ZONAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Pierce, II, James L. Northrup
  • Patent number: 10671096
    Abstract: Disclosed is a configuration of an autonomous vehicle for autonomously following a moving subject based on a radius of a virtual sphere surrounding the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may be an unmanned ground vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle, which autonomously follows the subject (e.g., a device, a live entity, or any object) based on the virtual sphere. The radius of the virtual sphere may be dynamically configured according to a velocity of the autonomous vehicle or configurations of a camera coupled to the autonomous vehicle. Accordingly, the autonomous vehicle can follow the subject along a smooth trajectory, and capture images of abrupt movements of the subject in a cinematically pleasing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Tankersley
  • Patent number: 10660474
    Abstract: An outdoor system for cooking and/or smoking food in which a smart phone, remote or other hand-held wireless device can be used to start the cooking and/or smoking unit. To allow the unit to he started remotely, or to permit one or more other operations to he remotely activated, the system first determines whether the hand-held device is within a predetermined geo-fence boundary distance of the cooking an or smoking unit and/or determines whether one or more other status criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: W.C. BRADLEY CO.
    Inventor: Alex Gafford
  • Patent number: 10654589
    Abstract: Avionic display systems and methods are provided for generating avionic displays including instability prediction and avoidance symbology, such as dynamically-adjusted drag device deployment cues. In one embodiment, the avionic display system includes a controller and an avionic display device, which is coupled to the controller and on which an avionic display, such as a Vertical Situation Display (VSD), is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dorothee De Villele, Rajesh Chaubey, Sharanabasappa Advani, Veeralla Sai V Yashodhar, Ranju Thomas Pulikot, Abhishek Gupta
  • Patent number: 10649082
    Abstract: An apparatus for warning a vehicle driver about an object, including: a) a sensor device having a detection area (DA) extending from a front DA, in front of a vehicle, including the front DA, to a rear end of a side DA, laterally from one vehicle side and whose length corresponds to no more than the vehicle length, the sensor device detecting an object, b) a control device to evaluate the sensor signals for objects and defines a warning area (WA) that is dynamically alterable (DyA) based on the vehicle speed, the WA being alterable within the side DA between a non-zero minimum/maximum WA, c) a warning device generating a warning signal for a detected object, d) the sensor device being such that the DA continues from the side DA into a rear DA behind the vehicle rear, including the rear DA, e) the control device expanding the DyA WA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Nohl, Ulrich Guecker, Jochen Banspach
  • Patent number: 10636312
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving aircraft transponder signals. Identifying, from among the aircraft transponder signals, a first aircraft transponders signal based on an identifier, wherein the identifier indicates that the first aircraft transponder signal is associated with an aircraft on which the computing system is located. Identifying first location data within the first aircraft transponder signal. Generating second location data by converting the first location data to a format recognizable by a geographic mapping application, where the second location data is readable by the geographic mapping application to permit the geographic mapping application to present a graphical representation of a geographical location of the aircraft as represented by the first location data. Providing the second location data to the geographic mapping application for presentation to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Donhoffner, Bennett Michael Wetherald, Danny Jay Reed
  • Patent number: 10605920
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes refresh control methods for generating distance data and optoelectronic modules that are operable to provide distance information at a predetermined refresh rate, but with a reduction in overall power consumption attributable to the distance determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Vincenzo Condorelli
  • Patent number: 10577123
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a precaution in an aircraft equipped with a terrain avoidance warning system (TAWS). The precaution is provided before a caution and a warning are issued by the TAWS for a subsequent condition to a precaution condition. The systems and methods determine an existence of the precaution condition at least partially in response to an altitude signal and provide a line on a display indicative of a threshold altitude in response to the precaution condition or a bar on an altitude tape of a primary flight display. The line is between a representation of the aircraft and a representation of terrain. The threshold altitude is an altitude at which a caution is issued by the TAWS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Jon E. Kirtz, Travis S. VanDerKamp
  • Patent number: 10573186
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring conformance of an aircraft to an actual and predicted 4-dimensional (4D) trajectory with respect to a reference business trajectory (RBT). First, a flight plan for the aircraft is acquired from an onboard flight management system (FMS) computer. A predicted flight trajectory is generated based on the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed and time of the flight plan for the aircraft. An onboard trajectory conformance monitor that is independent of the FMS computer, monitors the present flight trajectory of the aircraft and anticipates any actual or future deviations from the RBT. The trajectory conformance monitor will generate an advisory of any actual or anticipated deviations from the RBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kiran Mancheiah Venkataramana, Mohan Gowda Chandrashekarappa, Prashanth Thirumalaivenjamur
  • Patent number: 10551851
    Abstract: An autonomous unmanned road vehicle and how it can be used to make deliveries. The unmanned vehicle is capable of operating autonomously on paved roadways. The vehicle has a control system for autonomous driving and a perception system for detecting objects in its surroundings. The vehicle also has one or more cargo compartments for carrying the delivery items. The vehicle may have a flashing light beacon to increase the conspicuousness of the vehicle. In consideration that the vehicle does not carry passengers, the size and/or motor power of the vehicle may be reduced as compared to conventional passenger vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Sounyoung Yu, Sounil Yu
  • Patent number: 10535274
    Abstract: In operating an aircraft, a situation is displayed at each instant representing a spatio-temporal overview of risk zones around the aircraft. Each direction in space around the aircraft is scanned, and a simulated displacement of the aircraft in each direction is analyzed so as to identify potential zones of interference with the aircraft's path. Anticipated movement of risk zones over a planned time duration of a flight is determined. Such anticipated movement is correlated with an anticipation position of the aircraft over the planned time duration. Accordingly, risk zones initially appearing as a potential hazard may be determined to be safe by the time the aircraft reaches them, and vice versa. Such information is presented to pilots at an outset of the flight and continuously updated throughout the flight, enabling accurate and safe evaluation and strategy decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Mere
  • Patent number: 10514689
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and one or more processors. The first communication module is configured to directly receive control data from a controlling terminal via a first communication link and the control data is used to control operations of the UAV. The second communication module is configured to transmit feedback data to a monitoring terminal via a second communication link. The monitoring terminal is located remotely from the UAV. The one or more processors are, individually or collectively, configured to terminate and reactivate the first wireless communication link based on one or more predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong Tao Wang, Zhi Cong Huang
  • Patent number: 10476174
    Abstract: Antennas configuration for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising at least one pair of patch antennas. Each patch antenna having a patch mounted on a ground plane. A UAV body having at least one portion constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by said plurality of antennas. Wherein the at least one pair of patch antennas are mounted within the UAV body and near the inner surface of the UAV body. Each antenna from the pair of patch antennas further installed opposite to one another and each of the patches facing outside from the UAV body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: UVISION AIR LTD.
    Inventor: Yehuda Kol
  • Patent number: 10475346
    Abstract: Method of miles-in-trail passback restrictions for use in air traffic management. Miles-in-trail restrictions can be used as a traffic management initiative when downstream traffic congestion at airports or in sectors is anticipated. To successfully implement the miles-in-trail at airspace fixes or navigational aids, it is desired that restriction values be computed for passing back to upstream facilities at specific boundaries. This method incorporates traffic manager feedback, resulting in significant improvement in guidance. Additional operational considerations required by traffic managers to implement the passback restrictions, namely maximum ground delay and absorbable airborne delay, are used in this method. The method also includes the step of absorbing a small amount of ground and airborne delays which are sufficient to handle the imposed constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Kapil S. Sheth, Sebastian A. Gutierrez-Nolasco
  • Patent number: 10473761
    Abstract: A trajectory tracking system includes a set of dynamic models, a trajectory database, a trajectory handler, a parameter extractor and a classifier. There is one dynamic model per expected obstacle type and it models an expected trajectory of a point of normal incidence (PNI) of the expected obstacle. The trajectory database stores trajectories for a current set of obstacles being tracked. The trajectory handler at least associates incoming detections to existing trajectories and to update the existing trajectories. The parameter extractor periodically extracts parameters from the trajectories and the classifier classifies obstacles associated with the trajectories at least based on the parameters of the trajectories and on associated the dynamic models for the trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: RODRADAR Ltd.
    Inventors: Alon Slapak, Shai Segal
  • Patent number: 10460610
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable medium, and a method including obtaining flight data for a prescribed flight from at least one of an airborne system of a particular aircraft to execute the prescribed flight and a system other than the airborne system of the particular aircraft having a source of data related to the prescribed flight, the flight data including specific details relating to at least one of the particular aircraft and parameters of the prescribed flight; performing, by a processor of an external computational asset and based on the obtained flight data, a control optimization to generate optimized path specific controls for the prescribed flight; transmitting the optimized path specific controls via a communication uplink from the external computational asset to the particular aircraft; and guiding, in response to receiving the optimized path specific controls by the particular aircraft, the particular aircraft in accordance with the optimized path specific controls to execute the prescribed flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Richard Westervelt, MacKenzie Cumings, Mark Lawrence Darnell, David Lax, Liling Ren, Nicholas Visser
  • Patent number: 10429844
    Abstract: Various methods can, for example, depict information for use by a pilot or other individual in an aircraft. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may include providing, in a hardware display, a graphical vertical profile displaying an aircraft to the pilot of the aircraft. This method may further include providing, in the vertical profile, an indication of the relative speed of at least one other aircraft and a graphical indication of a clearance window for vertical maneuvers for the aircraft of the pilot. Further embodiments of the present invention concern systems and software for implementing the related method embodiments of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AVIATION COMMUNICATION & SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Zachary R. Reynolds, Cyro A. Stone, Nicholas R. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10417916
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying contextual correlations of objects of a lateral map (LMAP) display to objects of a vertical situational display (VSD) which includes: receiving a first set of latitude objects of graphic representations of a plurality of conditions on the LMAP display wherein the graphic representations represent a particular condition; receiving a second set of vertical objects of graphic representations of a plurality of conditions on the VSD; and correlating using correlation solutions the first and second set of latitude and vertical objects graphically represented of the particular condition between the LMAP display and the VSD to provide a correlation of both the latitude objects and the vertical objects within the LMAP display for rendering on the LMAP display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Prabhudev Bhuyar, Girish Benakatti, Atmacharan Ajjavara
  • Patent number: 10412100
    Abstract: A secure communication management (SCM) computer device for providing secure data connections in an aviation environment which, includes safety of flight information, is provided. The SCM computer device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive, from a first user computer device, a first data message for a first aircraft. The first data message is in a standardized data format. The processor is also programmed to analyze the first data message for potential cybersecurity threats. If the determination is that the first data message does not contain a cybersecurity threat, the processor is further programmed to convert the first data message into a first data format associated with the first aircraft and transmit the converted first data message to the first aircraft using a first communication protocol associated with the first aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Mitchell, Gordon Edward Letney, Kevin James Luschei, Timothy William Anstey, John Bush, Steve Magnuson
  • Patent number: 10410521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an evasive path for a host vehicle (10), the method i.a. comprising: establishing (S1) a predicted traffic environment (12) of the host vehicle in a time-lateral position domain, the predicted traffic environment comprising an object prediction representation (16) of a traffic object; determining (S2) a start node (24) for the host vehicle; defining (S3) an end node (26) for the host vehicle; placing (S4) several boundary nodes (28) relative to the object prediction representation; setting (S5) node connections (30, 32, 34a-b, 36a-b, 38, 40, 42) between the start node, the boundary nodes, and the end node; and traversing (S6) the nodes using a graph-search algorithm in order to find a path from the start node to the end time with a lowest cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: David Madas, Jonatan Silvlin, Andreas Eidehall, Peter Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10380903
    Abstract: Collision avoidance method and device for an aircraft formation relative to an intrusive aircraft. The device manages a collision avoidance for an aircraft formation, relative to an aircraft external to the aircraft formation, the aircraft formation comprising a lead aircraft and at least one following aircraft, the device comprising a formation flight management unit with which all the aircraft of the aircraft formation are equipped and configured to manage the formation flight thereof, and management and control assemblies for determining and applying a coordinated avoidance maneuver intended for all the aircraft of the aircraft formation, this coordinated avoidance maneuver being determined so as to make it possible to avoid the collision with the intrusive aircraft while maintaining the formation flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Jean-luc Robin, Camille Caruhel, Sylvain Deplanche
  • Patent number: 10372122
    Abstract: A flight management system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in which the UAV is equipped for cellular fourth generation (4G) flight control. The UAV carries on-board a 4G modem, an antenna connected to the modem for providing for downlink wireless RF. A computer is connected to the modem. A 4G infrastructure to support sending via uplink and receiving via downlink from and to the UAV. The infrastructure further includes 4G base stations capable of communicating with the UAV along its flight path. An antenna in the base station is capable of supporting a downlink to the UAV. A control center accepts navigation related data from the uplink. In addition, the control center further includes a connection to the 4G infrastructure for obtaining downlinked data. A computer for calculating location of the UAV using navigation data from the downlink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: LOGICOM & WIRELESS LTD.
    Inventor: Moshe Zach
  • Patent number: 10353079
    Abstract: A precise positioning method provides a 3D position data in the absence of GPS by correcting the INS error, which generates a precise altitude data in the presence of GPS by integrating the outputs of all the sources providing altitude data and which generates a precise position data by using the INS/GPS integrated system position data. The method is performed by processing the data from relative sensors in the platforms comprising INS which generates the data necessary for terrain-aided navigation, radar altimeter and barometric altimeter sensors, and DTED which is a database comprising the elevation above sea level of the relevant terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: STM SAVUNMA TEKNOLOJILERI MÜHENDISLIK VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventors: Gökhan Soysal, Hülya Kurtoglu, Murat Efe, Serkan Çak, Yetkin Ersoy
  • Patent number: 10352706
    Abstract: A pattern able to be updated by an operator, the position, the orientation and/or the shape of the trajectory pattern dependent on trajectory parameters, the device comprises at least display means to view the trajectory pattern and the representation of the zone, and means for computing and storing the position data of the pattern and of the representation, the representation comprising a set of control points, the function of a control point being to define at least the value of one of the trajectory parameters, the value being dependent on the movement of the control point, a trajectory pattern modification resulting from an interaction of the operator moving at least one control point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: David Arneau, Guillaume Dupont
  • Patent number: 10339817
    Abstract: A flight management system includes a display for displaying a user interface and a processor coupled with the display and configured to receive flight plan information regarding a flight plan of an aircraft and aircraft status information from an aircraft monitoring system. The processor generates an alert indicating a deviation from the flight plan based on a comparison of the aircraft status information to the flight plan information, and provides the alert on a portion of the user interface displaying information indicative of the aircraft status information. The alert provides one or more user interface controls configured to enable a pilot to interact with the portion of the user interface displaying the information indicative of the aircraft status information to at least one of view additional information regarding the difference between the status information and the flight plan information and modify the flight plan of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Ellen L. McGaughy, Bandi B. Reddy, David L. Leedom
  • Patent number: 10339816
    Abstract: An automatic aircraft monitoring and proposed rerouting system includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory is in electronic communication with the at least one processor. The at least one memory includes programming code configured to be executed by the at least one processor. The programming code is configured to automatically monitor at least one aircraft and to automatically provide a proposed flight reroute for the at least one aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Vivek Sharma, John Allin Brown
  • Patent number: 10317915
    Abstract: Disclosed is a configuration of an autonomous vehicle for autonomously following a moving subject based on a radius of a virtual sphere surrounding the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may be an unmanned ground vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle, which autonomously follows the subject (e.g., a device, a live entity, or any object) based on the virtual sphere. The radius of the virtual sphere may be dynamically configured according to a velocity of the autonomous vehicle or configurations of a camera coupled to the autonomous vehicle. Accordingly, the autonomous vehicle can follow the subject along a smooth trajectory, and capture images of abrupt movements of the subject in a cinematically pleasing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Tankersley
  • Patent number: 10319242
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to navigating a vehicle based on predicted trajectories of other vehicles. Systems, methods, and computer-program products consistent with the disclosure perform operations including receiving location information of other vehicles. The operations also include comparing the location information of the other vehicles with an intended trajectory information of the vehicle. The operations further include determining that interference exists based on the comparing. Additionally, the operations include determining a modification to the intended trajectory information of the vehicle that resolves the interference with one of the other vehicles. Moreover, the operations include presenting the modification to the intended trajectory information of the vehicle to an operator of the vehicle. Further, the operations include modifying the intended trajectory using the modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andreas Sindlinger, Garoe Gonzalez Parra, Jonas Michael Schulze
  • Patent number: 10304345
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle according to the present disclosure is an unmanned aerial vehicle that can fly in midair and includes a propulsion unit configured to generate a propulsion force for fly in midair, a laser light source configured to illuminate laser light, an imaging unit configured to generate a captured image by capturing vertically below the unmanned aerial vehicle during flight in midair, and a controller configured to control an operation of the propulsion unit. The controller analyzes a captured image, extracts a light spot formed by laser light, measures a positional relationship with another unmanned aerial vehicle based on the extracted light spot, and executes a collision avoidance operation with respect to another unmanned aerial vehicle based on the measured positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Horinouchi
  • Patent number: 10299106
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed to receive location data identifying the current location of a vehicle. A database, storing radio device records, is then queried. Each radio device record in the database identifies a radio device (e.g., a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, transponders, etc.) and a location of the radio device using a suitable coordinate system. Radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle may then be retrieved from the database. These radio device records may be used to generate a radio device list that may be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: J. Carl Cooper
  • Patent number: 10292001
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for issuing audio alerts within the cabin of a vehicle. The method may include detecting a condition programmatically assigned an audio alert and a virtual source for the audio alert. The method may further include determining, by the computer system based on the virtual source, a gain value for each speaker of a plurality of speakers carried in fix positions onboard the vehicle. Once the gain value for each speaker of the plurality of speak is known, the audio alert may be projected by each speaker of the plurality of speakers according to the gain value determined therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Groh, Benjamin Vondersaar, Edgar Nunez, Prabhanjan Kadepurkar, Matthew Dage
  • Patent number: 10281586
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for performing a flight check of one or more navigational aid systems. Aspects include obtaining, using an aircraft, first information associated with an accuracy of signals transmitted by a localizer. Aspects also include obtaining, using the aircraft, second information associated with an accuracy of signals transmitted by a glide slope station. Aspects also include transmitting the first information and the second information to a ground receiver for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: THALES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Tom Otsubo, Richard Mullin
  • Patent number: 10276051
    Abstract: An obstacle-avoidance system for a vehicle, the obstacle-avoidance system may comprise: a communication device; a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors configured to detect collision threats within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and a processor. The processor may communicatively couple to the communication device and the plurality of sensors and configured to receive navigation commands being communicated to a control system via said communication device. The processor may also receive, from at least one of said plurality of sensors, obstruction data reflecting the position of an obstruction. Using the obstruction data, the processor identifies a direction for avoiding said obstruction. In response, the processor may output, via said communication device, a derivative command to said control system causing the vehicle to travel in said flight direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Fabrice Kunzi, Donald Rogers, Terrence McKenna
  • Patent number: 10256861
    Abstract: A floatable cell phone case floats, with a cell phone or other electronic device housed therein, on a liquid through use of enclosed polygonal units that define a polygonal air volume. The polygonal units form a seal with the cell phone to create buoyancy. The cell phone case comprises case body having a rear wall and enclosed sidewalls having a flange. The rear wall and sidewalls define a device placement zone. The device placement zone is sized to house the cell phone. The flange retains the cell phone within the device placement zone. The phone case further comprises enclosed polygonal units spanning upwardly from an inner surface of the rear wall into the device placement zone. Each of the polygonal units define a polygonal air volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Nicole Elizabeth Burns
  • Patent number: 10241566
    Abstract: Sensory feedback (“chaperoning”) systems and methods for guiding users in virtual/augmented reality environments such as walk-around virtual reality environments are described. Exemplary implementations assist with preventing collisions with objects in the physical operating space in which the user acts, among other potential functions and/or uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: David Sawyer, Kenneth Birdwell, Kenneth Barnett, Tristan Reidford, Aaron Leiby, Emily Ridgway, Alexander C. Vlachos
  • Patent number: 10235890
    Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating an aircraft display with a mobile device are disclosed. In embodiments, a system includes an aircraft display and a controller in communication with the aircraft display and a mobile device. The controller is configured to generate a graphical user interface at the aircraft display and mirror the graphical user interface at the mobile device. The controller is further configured to receive a user input via the mobile device and configured to update the graphical user interface at the aircraft display and the mobile device based upon the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. McCusker, Douglas A. Bell, Travis S. Vanderkamp, Sarah Barber, Michael J. Schmitt, Brent J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10234568
    Abstract: A system and method of determining a vehicle location where roads have different elevations and at least partially overlap. The method carried out by the system includes: receiving a plurality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite signals at a vehicle; determining a vehicle location and a vehicle velocity including an up velocity based on the received GNSS signals; identifying a plurality of roads, within a range of the vehicle location, at least one of which has a different elevation than the other road(s); and selecting at least one of the plurality of roads within the range based on the up velocity component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Steven R. Croyle
  • Patent number: 10230479
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a device under test are disclosed. In some embodiments, an electromagnetic measurement system to test a device under test, DUT is provided. The system includes, at a central location, an emulator core configured to introduce an impairment in each of at least one transmit signal to produce a digital impaired signal; and at a remote location, a transmitter configured to convert the digital impaired signal to an analog RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETS-Lindgren Inc.
    Inventor: Michael David Foegelle
  • Patent number: 10220784
    Abstract: A display system of a vehicle is provided herein. The display system includes light sources and an indicator that luminesces in response to light excitation by the light sources. A controller is provided for selectively operating each of the light sources based on input from one or more proximity sensors. The indicator luminesces in one of a number of colors depending on which of the light sources is activated and each color indicates the proximity of a detected object relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Aaron Bradley Johnson
  • Patent number: 10176723
    Abstract: An obstacle avoidance system is provided to assist a pilot in avoiding obstacles. The obstacle avoidance system includes a set of proximity sensors and a pilot interface device. The set of proximity sensors detects nearby obstacles by emitting a signal and receiving a reflected signal from an obstacle. A processor receives an obstacle indication from the set of proximity sensors and detects the obstacle that is in proximity to the aircraft based at least in part on the reflected signal. The processor acquires a distance and a direction to the obstacle and calculates a threat level posed by the obstacle. The pilot interface device is operable to display the following: an ownship icon indicative of the aircraft, a velocity vector icon indicative of a velocity vector of the aircraft, and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance, direction, and threat level of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anup A. Gadgil, Joseph L. Komer
  • Patent number: 10170009
    Abstract: A method for transmitting flight parameters of a lead aircraft to an intruder aircraft. Transmission includes a collision avoidance system connected to which is a flight parameter transmission authorization system having a database including coordinates defining a volume of confidence smaller than the monitoring volume. The flight parameter transmission authorization system of the lead aircraft authorizes, only for an intruder aircraft identified as flying within the volume of confidence, transmission of at least one flight parameter of the lead aircraft, such that this intruder aircraft is able to calculate the position of centers of wake vortices generated by the lead aircraft or the flow strength of the wake vortices. Exchanging flight parameters of the lead aircraft only with intruder aircraft flying within the volume of confidence with limited dimensions makes it possible not to exceed the maximum capacity of the bandwidth of the automated communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Mathieu Hiale-Guilhamou, Jean-luc Robin