With Indication Or Control Of Landing Patents (Class 701/16)
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Patent number: 11656635Abstract: The present invention discloses a heading generation method of an unmanned aerial vehicle including the following steps of: making a preliminary flight for selecting a point of view to record flight waypoints, the waypoints including positioning data and flight altitude information of the unmanned aerial vehicle; receiving and recording flight waypoints of the unmanned aerial vehicle; generating a flight trajectory according to waypoints of the preliminary flight; editing the flight trajectory to obtain a new flight trajectory; and transmitting the edited new flight trajectory to the unmanned aerial vehicle to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly according to the new flight trajectory. The present invention further relates to a heading generation system of an unmanned aerial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ye Tao, Jianyu Song, Renli Shi
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Patent number: 11657721Abstract: A system and apparatus for assisting in determining the best course of action at any particular point inflight for any category of emergency. The system monitors a plurality of static and dynamic flight parameters including atmospheric conditions along the flight path, ground conditions and terrain, and conditions aboard the aircraft. Based on these parameters, the system may provide continually updated information about the best available landing sites or recommend solutions to aircraft configuration errors. In case of emergency, the system may provide procedure sets associated with a hierarchy of available emergency landing sites (or execute these procedure sets via the autopilot system) depending on the specific nature of the emergency.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Otto Aero CompanyInventors: Sean Patrick Suiter, Richard Andrew Kruse
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Patent number: 11638257Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A base station configured to communicate with a wireless device (UE) is provided. The base station is configured to, and/or comprise a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to configure the UE to transmit an indicator associated with flight information in a predefined message associated with UE assistance information, and receive the predefined message, the predefined message including the indicator associated with the flight information.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Helka-Liina Määttanen, Siva Muruganathan, Zhenhua Zou, Attila Takács
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Patent number: 11623738Abstract: A system for the prioritization of flight controls in an electric aircraft is illustrated. The system includes a plurality of flight components, a sensor, and a computing device. The plurality of flight components are coupled to the electric aircraft. The sensor is coupled to each flight component of the plurality of flight components. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a failure event of a flight component of the plurality of flight components and generate a failure datum associated to the flight component of the plurality of flight components. The computing device is communicatively connected to the sensor and is configured to receive the failure datum associated to the flight component of the plurality of flight component from the sensor, determine a prioritization element as a function of the failure datum, and restrict at least a flight element as a function of the prioritization element.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Nicholas Moy, Collin Freiheit
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Patent number: 11614742Abstract: Techniques for estimating a height range of an object in an environment are discussed herein. For example, a sensor, such as a lidar sensor, can capture three-dimensional data of an environment. The sensor data can be associated with a two-dimensional representation. A ground surface can be removed from the sensor data, and clustering techniques can be used to cluster remaining sensor data provided in a two-dimensional representation to determine object(s) represented therein. A height of a sensor object can be represented as a first height based on an extent of the sensor data associated with the object and can be represented as a second height based on beam spreading aspects of the sensor data and/or sensor data associated with additional objects. Thus, a minimum and/or maximum height of an object can be determined in a robust manner. Such height ranges can be used to control an autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Chuang Wang, Yuesong Xie
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Patent number: 11610494Abstract: Aircraft flight route determination systems and methods include a route determination control unit that analyzes route data over a selected timeframe to determine one or more efficient routes for aircraft to fly between a first airport and a second airport.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Stephen S. Altus, David J. Rynes
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Patent number: 11610290Abstract: A system and method. The system may include a display, a lens having distortion, an image generator, and a processor. The lens may be configured to focus light received from an environment. The image generator may be configured to receive the light from the lens and output a stream of images as image data, wherein each of the stream of images is distorted. The processor may be configured to: receive the image data from the image generator; detect a point source object in the stream of images of the image data; enhance the point source object in the stream of images of the image data; undistort the stream of images of the image data having an enhanced point source object; and output a stream of undistorted images as undistorted image data to the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Ming Yu, Christopher A. Keith, Gary B. Kingsley
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Patent number: 11579628Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle comprises transmitting first position data related to a first position of the vehicle at a first point in time from the vehicle to a server. The server computes second position data related to the first position of the vehicle at the first point in time based on the received first position data. The server transmits the second position data from the server to the vehicle. The vehicle computes third position data related to a second position of the vehicle at a second point in time based on the received second position data. The second point in time is later than the first point in time.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mathias Otto, Martin Pfeifle, Hendrick Bock
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Patent number: 11566915Abstract: A flight task processing method includes generating and displaying a user prompt according to flight data of a plurality of flight tasks, selecting one of the flight tasks as a target flight task in response to a selection operation with respect to the user prompt, determining the flight data of the target flight task, processing the flight data of the target flight task to obtain control instruction, and automatically controlling an operation of an aerial vehicle according to the control instruction to reproduce the target flight task by controlling the aerial vehicle to fly to a waypoint included in the flight data, controlling a gimbal of the aerial vehicle to face a gimbal orientation included in the flight data while the aerial vehicle is at the waypoint, and controlling a camera carried by the gimbal to acquire an image while the aerial vehicle is at the waypoint.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Bo Peng, Jiaxiang Fang, Weifeng Liu
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Patent number: 11549821Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Glen Burlingame, Yasuo Ishihara, Steve Johnson, James Ehlers, Esko Mannisto
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Patent number: 11545037Abstract: An aircraft-based runway overrun awareness alerting system (ROAAS) for an aircraft primary flight display (PFD) is disclosed. In embodiments, the ROAAS is embodied aboard an aircraft and tracks trends in the aircraft position and heading. Further, the ROAAS tracks the trending energy state of the aircraft on approach to a runway. Based on the current energy state, as well as the runway parameters, the ROAAS predicts a landing point for the aircraft along the runway as a trend based on the evolving energy state and position of the aircraft. Based on the landing point trend, as well as the energy state, the ROAAS determines the current likelihood of runway excursion as an evolving trend (e.g., that the aircraft will not have sufficient runway remaining to decelerate or stop) and displays this likelihood as a dynamic graphic element not integrated into any other instruments or components displayed by the PFD.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Valerie R. Byxbe, Darin M. Underwood, Tony Vander Velden, Taylor Martin, Bernard S. McCaffrey
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Patent number: 11521499Abstract: A flight planning system for providing a flight planning tool comprises a memory device for storing flight information and one or more hardware processors configured to: receive a flight plan, access a calendar of events, determine events corresponding to dates associated with the flight plan, and provide a notification of the events on an interactive user interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Aircraft Owners and Pilots AssociationInventors: Douglas Nolen Shorter, Jr., John Dennis Hamilton, Kimberly Lynn Ocasek, Eric John Rush, Brian Michael Tenberg, John Vance Whitehouse, Sergey Krilov
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Patent number: 11501039Abstract: A method for safe and efficient use of airport runway capacity includes receiving, at an air traffic control system at an airport, airport data related to movement areas of the airport, time data related to a time period, aircraft data related to a plurality of aircraft expected to operate into and out of the airport during the time period, and environmental data related to environmental conditions predicted for the airport during the time period. The method further includes computing a probability distribution for inter-aircraft spacing by applying the airport data, the time data, the aircraft data, and the environmental data to a trained Bayesian network, producing the probability distribution for the inter-aircraft spacing as an output observation of the trained Bayesian network, and, using the probability distribution and a confidence value, identifying an inter-aircraft spacing value for the plurality of aircraft expected to operate into and out of the airport during the time period.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Architecture Technology CorporationInventors: Douglas Sweet, Sebastian Timar, Matthew Stillerman
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Patent number: 11498676Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flight of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) are provided. The method includes: determining a starting flight position where a UAV is parked currently and a nose direction of the UAV (101); starting off from the starting flight position, and flying along a straight line in the nose direction (102); and when receiving a route adjustment instruction during the flight of the UAV, adjusting an air route of the UAV according to the route adjustment instruction (103). During the flight, an operator can correct an air route via a remote control apparatus without surveying and mapping when detecting that the UAV is flying off course; and the operator can make the UAV precisely fly along a desired straight line by means of simple operations.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Guangzhou Xaircraft Technology Co., LTD.Inventor: Wu Bin
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Patent number: 11489809Abstract: A dynamically addressable master-slave system and a method for dynamically addressing slave units includes a master unit and a plurality of slave units, such that the slave units are interconnected with the master unit via a bus system. The respective network addresses of the slave units are assigned to the respective serial numbers of these slave units in a table in the master unit according to the position thereof in the system according to a determined order. Upon replacement of slave units, a list of serial numbers of the units to be replaced is transferred to the master unit in the sequence of the acquisition of the serial numbers, which master unit replaces these serial numbers in the table with the serial numbers of the replaced slave units transmitted to the master unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Martin Bürkert, Helmut Lipp, Thomas Sauer, Günter Haas, Markus Humm, Marco Weckert
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Patent number: 11465776Abstract: A base station configured for charging an autonomous drone may comprise a first conductive groove and a second conductive groove. The first conductive groove and the second conductive groove may be configured to interface with a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip disposed on a landing gear of the autonomous drone. The base station may be configured to charge a battery of the autonomous drone in response to the first conductive groove interfacing with the first conductive strip and the second conductive groove interfacing with the second conductive strip.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State UniversityInventors: Tyler Smith, Sami Mian, Kevin Westgard, Glenn Pace, John Patterson
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Patent number: 11440678Abstract: A system and method for landing an electric aircraft is provided. The system includes a controller, wherein the controller is communicatively connected to the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to, receive a plurality of measured flight data, determine a descent confirmation as a function of the plurality of measured flight data, generate a descent instruction set as a function of the descent confirmation and the plurality of measured flight data, wherein generating the descent instruction set further includes generating a transition instruction set, and transmit the descent instruction set to a plurality of flight components, wherein each flight component of the plurality of flight components are coupled to the electric aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventor: Herman Wiegman
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Patent number: 11442470Abstract: A method of and a system for displaying an aircraft control input. The method comprises accessing a first indication indicative of an aircraft control input, the aircraft control input being associated with an orientation and an amplitude of the aircraft control input; generating, by a processing unit, a first single visual indication based on the first indication, the first single visual indication being reflective of the orientation and the amplitude of the aircraft control input; and causing the display of the first single visual indication on a display surface, the display of the first single visual indication providing a user viewing the first single visual indication with an understanding of the orientation and the amplitude of the aircraft control input.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.Inventors: Laurence Casia, Mathieu St-Cyr, Gervais Arel
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Patent number: 11440657Abstract: An aerial vehicle is provided. The aerial vehicle can include a plurality of sensors mounted thereon, an avionics system configured to operate at least a portion of the aerial vehicle, and a machine vision controller in operative communication with the avionics system and the plurality of sensors. The machine vision controller is configured to perform a method. The method includes obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, determining performance data from the avionic system or an additional sensor of the plurality of sensors, processing the sensor data based on the performance data to compensate for movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle, identifying at least one geographic indicator based on processing the sensor data, and determining a geographic location of the aerial vehicle based on the at least one geographic indicator.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventor: Stefan Alexander Schwindt
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Patent number: 11414176Abstract: A control system (400) for an active inceptor (103) for a fly by wire aircraft permits a zero force null point to settle to a non-zero displacement trim position. An internal position state of a second order mass spring damper model is moved in conjunction with force-displacement characteristic coordinates. This results in no second order dynamics being superimposed on the feel of the inceptor (103) when dynamically adjusting the trim position, thereby eliminating the possibility of any unpleasant buzzing been felt by the operator of the inceptor during a trimming operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plcInventors: Justin Mark Dee, Jason Howard Bean
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Patent number: 11335205Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus determines a plurality of runway exits reachable by the aircraft, and applied braking force of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits and predicts taxi-in times of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits. The apparatus also predicts maintenance costs of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits based on the applied braking force and predicts overall costs of the aircraft to land at respective ones of the plurality of runway exits based on the taxi-in times and the maintenance costs. The apparatus further determines the runway exit among the plurality of runway exits, the runway exit having a minimal overall cost among the overall costs and presents a recommendation of the runway exit for landing the aircraft to a user.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marco Gaertner, Jendrick Westphal
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Patent number: 11288968Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing runway surface conditions including: configuring a runway surface processing module to process: a first type of reported runway surface condition information, a second type of a set of Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) codes, and a third type of a set of runway surface condition codes including: SNOWTAM codes; selecting, at least one of the first, second or third types of runway surface information to input to the runway surface processing module, to estimate at least a braking distance and a braking action of the aircraft; receiving, by input, one of at least the first, second or third types of runway surface information by the runway surface processing module; and mapping a runway surface condition, reported or entered of the first, second or third types of runway surface information, to a particular runway condition code to compute the required runway distance.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Ricardo Darif Bortolini, Pivin Joe Amalanathan, Mallikarjun Sajjan
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Patent number: 11282399Abstract: Autoland systems and processes for landing an aircraft without pilot intervention are described. In implementations, the autoland system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to identify a plurality of potential destinations for an aircraft; calculate a merit for each potential destination identified; select a destination based upon the merit; and create a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the destination that accounts for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.Inventors: Scott K. Haskins, Noel J. Duerksen, Benjamin N. Patel, Eric Tran, Joseph Lombardo, Clayton E. Barber
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Patent number: 11194344Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes detecting a target marker based on a plurality of images captured by an imaging device carried by the UAV, determining a spatial relationship between the UAV and the target marker based at least in part on the plurality of images, and controlling the UAV to approach the target marker based at least in part on the spatial relationship while controlling the imaging device to track the target marker such that the target marker remains within a field of view of the imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Peiliang Li, Xuyang Feng, Cong Zhao, Jie Qian, You Zhou
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Patent number: 11189181Abstract: Autoland systems and processes for landing an aircraft without pilot intervention are described. In implementations, the autoland system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to identify a plurality of potential destinations for an aircraft. The processor can also calculate a merit for each potential destination identified, select a destination based upon the merit; receive terrain data and/or obstacle data, the including terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s); and create a route from a current position of the aircraft to an approach fix associated with the destination, the route accounting for the terrain characteristic(s) and/or obstacle characteristic(s). The processor can also cause the aircraft to traverse the route, and cause the aircraft to land at the destination without requiring pilot intervention.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.Inventors: Scott K. Haskins, Noel J. Duerksen, Benjamin N. Patel, Eric Tran, Joseph Lombardo, Clayton E. Barber
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Patent number: 11180245Abstract: An autobrake selection interface for an aircraft includes a cockpit mounted user selectable display. The display includes autobrake selection options and braking information. The autobrake selection options include at least one of an autobrake off option, a rejected takeoff (RTO) option, a constant deceleration option, and a runway exit selection option. The braking information includes at least one of an estimated brake temperature, an estimated brake cooling time, and an estimated landing distance. The autobrake selection interface also includes a braking parameters determiner configured to determine at least one of the estimated brake temperature and the estimated landing distance according to user selection of the autobrake selection options.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anna K. Verhaeghe, David T. Yamamoto
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Patent number: 11176836Abstract: A flight control module for detecting anomalies ILS localizer signals during landing of an aircraft is provided. The flight control module includes a communication interface coupled to a processor. The communication interface is configured to receive an ILS localizer deviation. The processor is configured to compute a plurality of localizer deviations and compare the ILS localizer deviation to an average of the plurality of localizer deviations to detect a low-frequency anomaly in the ILS localizer deviation. The processor is configured to initiate a transition from controlling the aircraft based on the ILS localizer deviation to controlling the aircraft based on a selected one of the plurality of localizer deviations when the low-frequency anomaly is detected.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Robert E. McLees, Andrew R. Hooks, Prachya Panyakeow
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Patent number: 11168986Abstract: An aircraft, a system, and a method. The aircraft may include a computing device. The computing device may include a processor. The processor may be configured to utilize inertial navigation data, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements, and flight trajectory data to compute navigation data and a predicted horizontal integrity level (HIL). The processor may be further configured to output the navigation data and the predicted HIL to be used for performance of a required navigation performance (RNP) procedure or a preflight planning procedure.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Keith M. Allen, Vladislav Gavrilets
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Patent number: 11163067Abstract: An interface device that enables a GNSS-based precision approach through the Ground Base Augmentation System (GBAS) function known as the GNSS Landing System (GLS) and/or through Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) based Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV). The GLS interface device allows a GLS-capable multi-mode receiver to be used on a non-GLS-capable airplane without extensive changes to other airplane systems. The GLS interface device works by intercepting information to and from the multi-mode receiver and modifying the information to make the interface compatible with an airplane that uses ILS guidance. Similarly, the information modifications will make the airplane appear to the multi-mode receiver as if it were a GLS-capable airplane.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Timothy Allen Murphy, William Matthew Harris, Janet Suzanne Booth
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Patent number: 11103392Abstract: A safety system for an aerial vehicle, preferably including: a ballistic subsystem, preferably including one or more rockets operable to adjust motion of the aerial vehicle and a mounting unit that couples the ballistic subsystem to the aerial vehicle; and/or a deployable parachute subsystem. An aerial vehicle, preferably including a safety system. A method for aerial vehicle operation, preferably including activating a safety system.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Skyryse, Inc.Inventors: Mark Groden, Mitch Adler
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Patent number: 11105622Abstract: An apparatus for determining an altitude of a mobile unit includes one or more processors individually or collectively configured to obtain local measurement data comprising a local atmospheric pressure at a location of the mobile unit, obtain reference measurement data comprising a reference atmospheric pressure at a location of a reference unit that is movable, and determine the altitude of the mobile unit based on the local measurement data and the reference measurement data.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Guoxiu Pan
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Patent number: 11087631Abstract: Aircraft flight route determination systems and methods include a route determination control unit that analyzes route data over a selected timeframe to determine one or more efficient routes for aircraft to fly between a first airport and a second airport.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Stephen S. Altus, David J. Rynes
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Patent number: 11087300Abstract: A computer system includes an inventory management server, a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) terminals communicating with the inventory management server over a first network, a face recognition computer having a camera communicating with the inventory management server over the first network, and a portable terminal communicating wirelessly with the inventory management server over a second network. The inventory management server is configured to generates alerts that are displayed on the portable terminal based on first data from the POS terminals and second data from the face recognition computer.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro Okamoto
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Patent number: 11048273Abstract: A method of operating a rotorcraft includes receiving multiple first height data signals from multiple first height sensors on the rotorcraft, wherein the first height sensors measure height using a first technique, receiving multiple second height data signals from multiple second height sensors on the rotorcraft, wherein the second height sensors measure height using a second technique that is different than the first technique, determining a first height signal from the multiple first height data signals based on a selection scheme, determining a second height signal from the multiple second height data signals, selecting the first height signal or the second height signal to determine a selected height signal, and generating a flight control signal and controlling operation of the rotorcraft according to the flight control signal, the flight control signal based on the selected height signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Robert Earl Worsham, II, Christopher Mike Bothwell, Sung Kyun Kim, Morganne Cody Klein
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Patent number: 10854093Abstract: A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Richard Snyder, Rajeev Mohan, Rajesh Chaubey, Ravish Udupa, Sharanabasappa Advani
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Patent number: 10836487Abstract: A drone is operated by a sky diver. The drone is interfaced to a parachute pack worn by the sky diver. The sky diver has a device (e.g. smartphone, smartwatch) that communicates with the drone to initiate launch/lift and to release the sky diver. In some embodiments, after the sky diver is released, the drone maneuvers around the sky diver to capture pictures/video of the sky diver. In some embodiments, safety features are included to assure the drone has sufficient battery power to achieve a safe jump altitude above ground level and to assure the release is not made until the drone achieves that safe jump altitude.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Category, LLCInventor: Maurycy Sokolowski
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Patent number: 10831198Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a machine and process that include a computer code specially programmed for creating a runway extension speed for an aircraft taking off. The process may include sensing current location, current acceleration, and current speed, for the aircraft during takeoff roll; receiving, in a ROTTOWIRE, the current speed and the current acceleration for the aircraft; creating in the ROTTOWIRE an actual speed profile; creating, using a specially coded program in the ROTTOWIRE and the current acceleration, the runway extension speed via determining, for a current location of the aircraft, a distance from a departure end of the runway and a terminating distance required to terminate the takeoff to a stop of the aircraft on the runway, a distance until the aircraft reaches a designated height; and when the terminating distance equals the distance from the departure end of the runway; and presenting the runway extension speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jendrick Westphal, Jonas Schulze
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Patent number: 10803756Abstract: A flight controlling apparatus includes an information acquiring unit, a point searching unit, a determining unit, and a route changing unit. The information acquiring unit acquires location information of a factor on a ground that possibly influences safety of an aircraft in landing. The point searching unit searches for one or more landing candidate points to prepare for an expected abnormality in the aircraft in flight, on the basis of the location information. The determining unit determines whether the one or more landing candidate points are selected to prepare for the expected abnormality. The route changing unit changes a flight route of the aircraft to cause the one or more landing candidate points to be obtained to prepare for the expected abnormality in a case where the determining unit determines that no landing candidate point is selected to prepare for the expected abnormality.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhiro Yoshifuku, Yu Takahashi, Yukinobu Tomonaga, Akitoshi Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 10801841Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to extracting one or more features from trajectory data recorded during motion of a body, and further, generating a n-dimensional feature vector based upon the one or more extracted features. The n-dimensional feature vector enables expedited analysis of the trajectory data from which the feature vector was generated. For example, rather than having to analyze a trajectory curve comprising a large number of time-position data points, the n-dimensional feature vector can be compared with one or more search parameters to facilitate clustering of the trajectory data associated with the n-dimensional feature vector with other trajectory data which also satisfies the search request. The trajectory data can be plotted on a screen in combination with the n-dimensional feature vector, and other pertinent information. The trajectory data, etc., can be displayed using heat maps or other graphical representation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Mark Daniel Rintoul, Andrew T. Wilson, Christopher G. Valicka
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Patent number: 10793286Abstract: An on-board computer system includes a first neural network trained to receive a video stream of a landing approach, runway data, and aircraft state data and identify environmental landmarks corresponding to components of the runway and environmental obstacles that might interfere with autonomous landing. The on-board computer system also includes a second neural network that receives a flight path vector and a flight director corresponding to vectors based on the aircraft energy state and a desired aircraft flight path respectively. The second neural network determines flight control inputs to bring the flight path vector into conformity with the flight director.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Carrico, Carlo L. Tiana
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Patent number: 10790684Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an energy supply station and an energy supply method. The energy supply station includes: one or more parking places for parking unmanned vehicles; an energy supply device configured to supply energy to the unmanned vehicles parked at the parking places; and a communication device configured to receive an unmanned vehicle energy supply request, guide an unmanned vehicle to be supplied with energy, corresponding to the unmanned vehicle energy supply request, to be parked at the parking place according to the received unmanned vehicle energy supply request, and cause the energy supply device to supply energy to the unmanned vehicle to be supplied with energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: BAICELLS TECHNOLOGIES CO. LTD.Inventor: Yanguang Wu
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Patent number: 10783288Abstract: A runway capacity forecast system includes machine instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the machine instructions, when executed, causing a processor to access data items related to a runway of interest for a time horizon of interest, the data items comprising environment factors for the runway of interest and the time horizon of interest, flight operation factors, and aircraft performance factors for aircraft scheduled on the runway of interest and during the time horizon of interest; extract data elements from the data items; reformat the data elements as analyzable data elements and store the analyzable data elements in an analyzable data structure; apply a probabilistic model to selected ones of the analyzable data elements to provide a forecast runway capacity for the runway of interest during the time horizon of interest the first product; and using the forecast runway capacity, determine one or more impacts based on the forecast capacity.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: ARCHITECTURE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Sebastian Timar, Matthew Stillerman, Douglas Sweet
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Patent number: 10776987Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system of markers and methods of using the system of markers to provide a precise scene scale reference for captured aerial images. Each of the markers may include one or more pairs of aligned collimated light emitters, where each pair of light emitters is configured to emit two light beams that converge at a known distance from the marker. When two or more markers are used, the system of markers may be aligned in a unique physical orientation to form a shape of known dimensions (e.g., a line, a triangle, or square) that provides an accurate scene scale reference for captured images.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Steven M. Chapman, Mehul Patel, Joseph Popp, Steven Kosakura
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Patent number: 10766613Abstract: A rotorcraft having a plurality of wheels, each wheel configured to receive weight of the rotorcraft when in contact with a landing surface, a plurality of wheel sensors, each wheel sensor associated with a respective wheel and having circuitry configured to generate a wheel on ground (WOG) signal indicating that the respective wheel is in contact with the landing surface, and a flight control computer (FCC) in signal communication with the plurality of wheel sensors, the FCC operable to execute a first hold loop having a first integrator and providing first control augmentation of a rotorcraft flight system, the FCC further operable to freeze the first integrator according to a number of WOG signals received from the plurality of wheel sensors, the FCC further operable to generate a first control signal according to a first value provided by the first integrator while the first integrator is frozen.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.Inventors: Jillian Samantha Alfred, Monica Sibello, Robert Earl Worsham, II
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Patent number: 10764531Abstract: Aspects of present disclosure relates to a mobile geotagging device, a mobile geotagging system, and methods of mobile geotagging system. In certain embodiments, mobile geotagging device includes: a display screen, a processor, and a non-volatile storage device storing a mobile geotagging application.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: NANJING EASTHOUSE ELECTRICAL CO., LTDInventor: Hao Min
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Patent number: 10749384Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments may include: a wireless communication circuit configured to support short-range communication; a wireless charging circuit configured to support wireless charging; at least one processor electrically connected to the wireless communication circuit and the wireless charging circuit; and a memory electronically connected to the at least one processor.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Ho Park, Min-Ho Kang, Doo-Suk Kang, Hyuk Kang, Bo-Kun Choi
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Patent number: 10739161Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Glen Burlingame, Yasuo Ishihara, Steve Johnson, James Ehlers, Esko Mannisto
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Patent number: 10725479Abstract: The present invention relates to an aerial vehicle landing method, an aerial vehicle, and a computer readable storage medium. The present invention has no requirement on a motion form of a dynamic target and whether a measurement device is equipped, and does not require that a feature image of a target is obtained in advance either. Instead, motion information of a target is obtained by means of desirable tracking real-timeness of an on-board image device. Therefore, it is ensured that the aerial vehicle can reach a location near the target, and this process allows the dynamic target to have a complex motion form. Desirable tracking real-timeness allows an aerial vehicle to change a target at any flight time point, and continuous tracking and precise landing can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: AUTEL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ke Zhang, Bo Zang
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Patent number: 10705541Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for landing an unmanned aircraft on a mobile structure are presented. Sensors on the aircraft identify a predetermined landing area on a mobile structure. The aircraft monitors the sensor data to maintain its position hovering over the landing area. The aircraft estimates a future attitude of the surface of the landing area and determines a landing time that corresponds to a desired attitude of the surface of the landing area. The unmanned aircraft executes a landing maneuver to bring the aircraft into contact with the surface of the landing area at the determined landing time.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: PLANCK AEROSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: David Merrick Twining, Joshua Wells
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Patent number: 10703477Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a system and a method for determining a landing status of the UAV are provided. The UAV system includes a UAV, a landing surface and a processing unit. The UAV has a landing gear furnished with a plurality of sensors. The landing surface is provided for the UAV to land thereon. The processing unit, coupled electrically with the plurality of sensors, is to determine, while the UAV is landing towards the landing surface, either whether or not a number of the plurality of sensors that have touched the landing surface at least once within a touch-judging time is not less than a predetermined touch-judging number, or whether or not a number of the plurality of sensors that contact the landing surface synchronously within a land-judging time is not less than a predetermined land-judging number.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Yuan-Chu Tai, Yi-Lun Wen