Aeronautical Vehicle Patents (Class 701/3)
  • Patent number: 10474982
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided that limit the change in temperature and/or control a temperature of a product during delivery. Some embodiments provide systems comprising an unmanned delivery vehicle (UDV) comprising: a body comprising a nanotechnology insulation material, wherein the nanotechnology insulation material comprises material having been manipulated at a molecular level during the macroscale fabrication of the nanotechnology insulation material to enhance insulation effectiveness; at least one propulsion system; a control circuit coupled with the at least one propulsion system to control the operation of the at least one propulsion system and control a direction of travel of the UDV, wherein the body physically supports the propulsion system and the control circuit; and a product cavity defined within the body and configured to receive at least one product while the at least one product is transported by the UDV to a delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Winkle, Brian G. McHale, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10472091
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is operated to utilize one or more tools included in an attachment assembly to obtain state measurements on an object being analyzed by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The attachment assembly can include one or more of a digital camera for capturing a digital image (or a series of images), a color meter for measuring a paint color, a thermographic camera for measuring infrared radiation, an electronic nose device for measuring odors, or an electronic distance measuring device for measuring a distance between objects. An operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle is then modified based on the obtained state measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ADESA, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Irish
  • Patent number: 10467989
    Abstract: A system for visualizing an aircraft procedure having several alternate sequences and related process are provided. The system includes a display and a display management assembly on the display, making it possible to display successive steps of the procedure on the display. The display management assembly able to display, on the display, an active step of an active sequence of the procedure, at least one prior step preceding the active step in the active sequence of the procedure and defining one alternative among several series of steps, and at least one step after the active step in this active sequence of the procedure, without displaying a step of the procedure situated on an inactive sequence of the procedure that may be accessible from any step before the active step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Arnaud Branthomme, Gilles Constant
  • Patent number: 10467125
    Abstract: Provided is a method of verifying satellite software using a simulator, the method including receiving memory data of the simulator from the simulator in a first communication mode, the simulator being loaded with the satellite software to be verified; generating a first telemetry frame from the memory data based on a telemetry frame generation rule; and analyzing the first telemetry frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA AEROSPACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Hyun-Kyu Shin
  • Patent number: 10452062
    Abstract: A device may receive equipment information, associated with a first equipment, including information associated with anomalies identified based on operational information collected during operation of the first equipment, and messages generated during the operation of the first equipment. The device may receive maintenance information, associated with the first equipment, that identifies one or more part failures associated with one or more equipment parts. The device may identify associations between the one or more part failures and the first equipment information. The device may receive equipment information, associated with a second equipment, including information associated with anomalies identified based on operational information collected during operation of the second equipment, and messages generated during the operation of the second equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Stystems Limited
    Inventors: Johan Arnold Smit, Paul Butterley
  • Patent number: 10444766
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses a first baseband processor to establish a first communication link with a ground network cell and a second baseband processor that establishes a second communication link with a user device. The second baseband processor is communicatively coupled to the first baseband processor such that the user device exchanges communication data with the core network via the first communication link and the second communication link. Flight-control hardware steers the UAV along a flight trajectory that is determined by a ground-based UAV controller based at least on a geolocation of the user device. The second baseband processor establishes the second communication link with the user device while the first baseband processor maintains the first communication link with the ground network cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Genghiscomm Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Shattil
  • Patent number: 10446043
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from an aerial vehicle, information related to a plurality of radio-frequency signals detected by the aerial vehicle, and identifying access points that transmitted at least one of the plurality of radio-frequency signals based on at least the information. The method also includes determining a first geographical location of the aerial vehicle based on at least the information and locations associated with the access points and identifying a second geographical location, the second geographical location associated with at least one of an obstacle or a restricted zone. The method also includes controlling a navigation of the aerial vehicle based on at least the first geographical location and the second geographical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: AT&T Mobility II LLC, AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Erie Lai Har Lau, Sangar Dowlatkhah, Brian Greaves, Stephen Thomas Hardin, Robert Osterwise
  • Patent number: 10445686
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to enable delivery of commercial products to customers. In some embodiments, the system comprises an autonomous ground vehicle on a delivery route to deliver commercial products to a person of interest. The AGV comprises control circuits communicatively coupled to sensors. The control circuits, using sensor data, determines whether a person positioned within a threshold distance relative to the AGV is the PoI; allow the PoI to designate an intention of a second person positioned within the threshold distance as being friendly or adverse relative to the PoI; determine the intention of the second person; receive a command from the PoI overriding the determination that the second person's intention is adverse to the PoI; and allow the PoI to take possession of the commercial products when the designated intention is friendly relative to the PoI and the command is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Mattingly, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Donald R. High, Brian G. McHale
  • Patent number: 10442529
    Abstract: A system for controlling a lateral trajectory of an aircraft includes a rudder bar. Each pedal of the rudder bar is movable between a neutral position (pn) and an end-of-travel position (pf) along a unique travel. A movement of the pedal between the neutral position (pn) and an activation position (pact) commands a lateral movement by actuating a lateral movement device of a first set including a nose gear wheel, the different braking of the aircraft being nonactive. A movement of the pedal from the activation position (pact) to the end-of-travel position (pf) commands a lateral movement by actuating a device of the first set and the differential braking. A haptic feedback generator applies a first haptic profile to each pedal between the neutral position (pn) and the activation position (pact) and a second haptic profile from the activation position (pact) toward the end-of-travel position (pf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: François Dupre, Olivier Morellec, Julien Prodigue, Olivier Cantinaud
  • Patent number: 10446149
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to communicate with a person of interest (“PoI”) via an autonomous ground vehicle (“AGV”) on a product delivery route. In some embodiments, autonomous product delivery systems are provided to enable communications with a PoI, comprises: an AGV on a product delivery route that includes one or more control circuits, one or more sensors in electrical communication with the one or more control circuits and configured to communicate sensor data to the one or more control circuits, and one or more emitters in electrical communication with the one or more control circuits. The control circuit uses sensor data to detect the presence of PoIs when they are positioned within a threshold distance relative to the AGV on the product delivery route, and in response thereof, cause the emitters to transmit a personalized message to the detected PoIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Mattingly, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Donald R. High
  • Patent number: 10435170
    Abstract: An example system includes a fuel tank, fittings mounted through a wall of the fuel tank, and optical sensors positioned within the fittings. A respective optical sensor includes a first pressure sensing end inserted through a fitting and internally into the fuel tank and a second end extending externally from the fuel tank. The system also includes an optical fiber bundle mounted external to the fuel tank, and having an optical fiber connected to each of the plurality of optical sensors for guiding light to each of the plurality of optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael Carralero, Paul Truzzi, Kawthar Kasim
  • Patent number: 10437417
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for displaying a reception status of a beacon on an electronic map is provided. The electronic map is loaded and displayed. A location of the beacon located on the electronic map is determined to obtain a location data. A signal region corresponding to a signal intensity range of the beacon located on the electronic map is determined based on the location data. A line of sight (LOS) region and a non line of sight (NLOS) region of the beacon corresponding to an obstruction information on the electronic map are determined based on the location data. A cartographic drawing is executed and displayed on the electronic map based on the signal region, the LOS region and the NLOS region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tung-Yun Hsieh, Sheng-Chih Hsu, Chuan-Kai Lin, Yu-Lun Ting
  • Patent number: 10427665
    Abstract: A method for fault detection and accommodation for a controller and actuator system is provided. The method includes receiving, from a controller, a flag at an actuator in response to an excitation voltage and current falling below a threshold value, engaging a sensor in the actuator in response to receiving the flag, receiving, using the sensor a first load cell signal and a second load cell signal in response to the sensor being engaged, determining how actuator is operating brake based on the received flag, first load cell signal, and second load cell signal, adjusting a state of the actuator based on the determination, and reporting the state of the actuator by transmitting a report signal to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SIMMONDS PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Naison E. Mastrocola, Michael Abbott, Brian L. Richardson
  • Patent number: 10431019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to health monitoring of an actuator in a flying device. The same comprises a processor unit for processing data and for operating a system model of the actuator 30, at least one sensor 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 for detecting a correcting variable of the actuator 30 and a memory unit 54 on which characteristic data on the actuator 30 are deposited. The processor unit is designed to carry out health monitoring on the basis of the system model with reference to the correcting variable of the actuator 30 and the characteristic data of the memory unit 54. Advantageously, the processor unit is identical to the processor unit of an electronic control system 50 of the actuator 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Dorkel, Nikolaus Dreyer
  • Patent number: 10423158
    Abstract: Described is a flight control computer that includes a multi-core processor. Independent flight control programs of the flight control computer are loaded onto and execute from each of the independent processor cores of the multi-core processor. Each flight control program receives an input and independently computes a core output state. The core output states are exchanged among flight control programs operating on the different processor cores and a flight control output for the flight control computer is determined based on the independently generated core output states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Hadlich
  • Patent number: 10424207
    Abstract: A system and method to alert pilots of the presence of drone aircraft and to document or report errant drone flight operations, in particular to alert and report drone aircraft which may present a hazard to a piloted aircraft and/or are operating outside governing regulations. In one embodiment, the system comprises a surveillance subsystem configured to identify a drone operating in an airspace adjacent the aircraft; an imaging subsystem configured to acquire at least one image of the drone; a triggering subsystem interconnected with the surveillance subsystem and configured to activate the imaging subsystem; a navigational subsystem configured to provide aircraft state data associated with the at least one image; and a communication subsystem configured to transmit the at least one image and the associated aircraft state data to a receiving station; wherein the at least one image and the associated aircraft state data are transmitted to the receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Drone Traffic, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Eric Zelenka
  • Patent number: 10421536
    Abstract: A control method for controlling an electrical taxiing system adapted to moving an aircraft while it is taxiing, the method comprising the steps of: generating a ground speed setpoint for the aircraft; transforming the ground speed setpoint into an optimized speed setpoint presenting a curve as a function of time that has a predefined function comprising a plurality of linear portions, each having a slope that is a function of the ground speed setpoint; implementing a regulator loop having the optimized speed setpoint as its setpoint; and generating a command for the electrical taxiing system from an output of the regulator loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Clément Gorce
  • Patent number: 10416683
    Abstract: Modular utility pole technology may address issues with access and placement of telecommunications equipment. At the top of the pole, a removable cap may allow access to an upper module, which may contain wireless communications gear, sensors, lights, alarms or other devices. A conduit may provide network connections and power runs from the upper module to a lower module area. The lower module may house additional communications devices, such as cable modems or other devices used for network access or backhaul.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Aldo Adriazola, Mitchell Harvey Fuchs, Brandon Pimm, Robert Bennett
  • Patent number: 10417885
    Abstract: A surveillance position determining apparatus includes a memory, a cell divider, a score determiner, and a surveillance position setter. The memory stores map information including at least a predetermined surveillance target region. The cell divider divides the map information stored in the memory into multiple cells in a grid on a horizontal plane. The score determiner determines scores for respective candidate cells among the multiple cells. The scores are each based on easiness of viewing from an own aircraft and difficulty of being viewed from a surveillance target that are quantified. The candidate cells exclude multiple surveillance target cells included at least in the surveillance target region. The surveillance position setter sets surveillance positions on a basis of the respective scores of the candidate cells determined by the score determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Mizutani, Yasuhiko Yanase
  • Patent number: 10416678
    Abstract: A system is presented. The system comprises sunlight sensors and GPS receivers in a region, an aerial vehicle, a solar panel, and a flight plan generator. The aerial vehicle is within the region. The aerial vehicle has a rechargeable battery. The solar panel is physically connected to the aerial vehicle and operably connected to the rechargeable battery. The flight plan generator is configured to create a flight plan within the region for the aerial vehicle based on measurements from the sunlight sensors within the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andreas Sindlinger, Nils Kneuper, Ralf Rene Shu-Zhong Cabos
  • Patent number: 10414494
    Abstract: A method for navigating an airborne device relative to a target comprises detecting, at an optical detector on the airborne device, an optical signal generated by one or more LEDs on the target; comparing the detected optical signal with a previously-detected optical signal; determining, based on the comparison, a change in location of at least one of the airborne device or the target; adjusting a position of the airborne device based on the determined change in location; predicting a movement of the target based on information indicative of at least one of a position, a rotation, an orientation, an acceleration, a velocity, or an altitude of the target, wherein the position of the airborne device is adjusted based on the predicted movement; detecting an obstacle in a flight path associated with the airborne device and adjusting a position of the airborne device based on detected obstacle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventor: Damien Bruno Jourdan
  • Patent number: 10416534
    Abstract: A method for the acquisition of images by a spacer airborne optical instrument, comprises the following steps: a) acquisition, by the instrument, of a first image having a first field of view including the projection on the ground of the optical axis of the instrument and delimited by a first field edge, the first image being sampled spatially with a first sampling step; b) acquisition, by the same instrument, of a second image having a second field of view not including the projection on the ground of the optical axis of the instrument and extending beyond the first field edge, the second image being sampled spatially with a second sampling step greater than the first sampling step. Space or airborne optical instruments and an image acquisition system for implementing the method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Olivier Pigouche, Jean-Michel Gaucel, Arnaud Liotard
  • Patent number: 10399675
    Abstract: An unmanned air vehicle includes: a camera that takes an image in a vertical direction from the unmanned air vehicle; an image processor that indicates, on the image, a region in which the unmanned air vehicle is likely to crash and that detects an object of avoidance that is present in the region; a crash-avoidance flight controller that, in a case where the object of avoidance is detected, controls flight of the unmanned air vehicle so that the object of avoidance becomes undetectable in the region; and a crash probable region determiner that changes the region according to a result of the flight control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuhara
  • Patent number: 10403157
    Abstract: This method for displaying information relative to an aircraft is carried out by computer and includes the acquisition of a message from among a meteorological message and an aeronautical information message, each message including at least one mission object identifier; searching, among the mission object identifier(s) contained in each acquired message, for at least one mission object identifier verifying at least one criterion from among first, second and third predefined criteria, the first criterion depending on a received mission plan, the second criterion depending on the current position of the aircraft, and the third criterion depending on both the current position of the aircraft and the received mission plan; and if at least one mission object identifier is detected verifying at least one of the first, second and third predefined criteria, displaying each detected identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Vincent Jacquier, Didier Lorido, Florence Zambetti
  • Patent number: 10401501
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically calibrating autonomous vehicle sensors are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data associated with one or more targets located onboard an autonomous vehicle. The data associated with the targets is acquired via one or more first sensors located onboard a first portion of the autonomous vehicle. The targets are located onboard a second portion of the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining a movement associated with the second portion of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the targets. The method includes determining a sensor correction action associated with one or more second sensors located onboard the second portion of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the movement. The method includes implementing the sensor correction action for the second sensors located onboard the second portion of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Shaw Wood
  • Patent number: 10393527
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation obstacle avoidance system and method thereof are introduced. The UAV navigation obstacle avoidance system provides with functions of automatically controlling the UAV motive power sources to control the flight of UAV and avoid the obstacle. The system comprises a sensing device, a signal processing module, a communication module, a control module. The sensing device detects the relative direction, velocity and distance between a UAV and a dynamic or static obstacle. The sensing device also detects the real-time position, flight attitude and inertia signals of the UAV. The signal processing module generates a UAV flight control signal. The control module receives the UAV flight control signal and controls each of the UAV motive power sources. Therefore, the system achieves the purpose of controlling flight and obstacle avoidance and forward to the original planned follow-on flight route after the avoidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Tain-Wen Suen, Feng-Ling Liu, Yu Han
  • Patent number: 10395197
    Abstract: A system and method for receiving data associated with a plurality of travel legs; identifying a resources delay relating to a delay necessary to provide a travel leg from the plurality of travel legs with resources required for the departure of the travel leg, and an existing delay associated with the travel leg; determining a projected arrival delay and a projected departure delay based on the resources delay and the existing delay; outputting parameters relating to the projected arrival delay and the projected departure delay; receiving operation parameters; and generating a proposed operation plan using the projected arrival delay, the projected departure delay, and the operation parameters. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the travel legs is an airline flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
    Inventors: Remi Salam, Timothy Jon Niznik, Deepak Warrier
  • Patent number: 10392110
    Abstract: A solar cell module for an unmanned aerial vehicle is disclosed. The solar cell module includes a carrier base and a solar cell unit. The carrier base is disposed on the unmanned aerial vehicle. The solar cell unit has a plurality of solar cells attached to the carrier body. A ratio of the power provided by the solar cell unit to the weight of the solar cell module is equal to or greater than 0.1 (W/g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Ching-Fuh Lin, Ta-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 10388172
    Abstract: Techniques for providing an object awareness guidance to clear a landing space may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture an image of a potential landing zone and identify one or more objects in the image that may impede or obstruct delivery of the item in the potential landing zone. The UAV may be configured to generate and provide instructions to a user device to move or remove the identified one or more objects from the potential landing zone thereby creating a safe and unobstructed landing zone to deliver the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10388170
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing speed-constrained vehicle operations. One exemplary method of operating an aircraft involves identifying a speed constraint associated with a navigational reference point, determining a speed envelope region en route to the navigational reference point based at least in part on the first speed constraint, identifying a target speed en route to the navigational reference point, and determining a speed profile for autonomously operations en route to the navigational reference point within the speed envelope region. The speed profile intersects the target speed within the speed envelope region and a slope of the speed profile is influenced by the target speed, for example, to effectuate or approximate the target speed by increasing the duration of time operation at or around the target speed is achieved. In one or more embodiments, multiple different target speeds associated with different flight levels or operating regions are accounted for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dorothee De Villele, Michal Polansky, Marek Batelka, Laurent Villacampa
  • Patent number: 10377485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for automatically inspecting a surface of an object such as an aircraft (54), a transport vehicle, a building or an engineering structure, said surface being liable to contain a defect. The system is characterized in that it comprises a fleet comprising at least one flying robot (14a, 14b, 14c), each flying robot comprising a module for acquiring images of at least one portion of the surface to be inspected, and a module for processing the acquired images, which module is suitable for providing information representative of the state of each inspected surface portion, which information is called the processing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DONECLE
    Inventor: Matthieu Claybrough
  • Patent number: 10380277
    Abstract: A system and method for an application of a virtual load monitoring of an aircraft to determine a component retirement time for at least one component of the aircraft is provided. The system and method includes estimating component loads from aircraft state parameters; calculating load statistics from the component loads; calculating a reliability factor; generating a component design load spectrum by applying the reliability factor to the load statistics; and calculating the component retirement time for the at least one component of the aircraft by utilizing the component design load spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond Joseph Beale, Mark W. Davis
  • Patent number: 10373104
    Abstract: Aspects of modular airborne delivery are described. When a shipping container is provided to an airborne carrier for delivery, the airborne carrier may assess weather across a route for airborne delivery of the shipping container, evaluate an approach to drop the shipping container at a delivery zone, and calculate a remaining amount of time until a target delivery time, for example. The airborne carrier may then select components to assemble a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on those or other factors, and assemble the UAV using the selected components. The modular UAV may then be directed to deliver the shipping container according to instructions from the airborne carrier. According to the concepts described herein, flexibility and other advantages may be achieved using modular UAVs for airborne delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Buchmueller, Jack Erdozain, Gur Kimchi, Brandon William Porter, Ricky Dean Welsh
  • Patent number: 10371793
    Abstract: A method of processing weather data is described that includes receiving, in a vehicle and from a detection system, reflectivity data sampled for a three-dimensional volume of space. The method further includes generating, based on the reflectivity data, a plurality of two-dimensional representations of the reflectivity data. The method further includes transmitting, by a transmission device to a base receiver, a subset of the plurality of two-dimensional representations, wherein each two-dimensional representation of the subset of the plurality of two-dimensional representations comprises a plurality of data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Haiming Wang
  • Patent number: 10371547
    Abstract: A display system for dynamically displaying aircraft flight information. The system includes a processor, memory, and a display. The processor is capable of communicating with the memory, the display, and a system environment of the aircraft. The processor is configured to display a flight map for the aircraft on the display, to evaluate state variable(s) dynamically representing state(s) in the aircraft system environment, and dynamically modify the flight map based at least in part on the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Sven D. Aspen, Andreas Sindlinger, Patrick Wipplinger
  • Patent number: 10372124
    Abstract: An electric unmanned aerial vehicle includes a position sensor configured to obtain coordinate information of a present position of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle in real-time, a memory storing coordinate information of a preset position of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle, and a controller in communication with the position sensor and the memory and being configured to calculate a safety electricity amount needed by the electric unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a safety protection command based on the coordinate information of the present position and the coordinate information of the preset position, compare the safety electricity amount with a present remaining electricity amount of a battery of the electric unmanned aerial vehicle, and perform a safety protection command if the present remaining electricity amount is not greater than the safety electricity amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renli Shi, Jianyu Song, Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 10373097
    Abstract: An example system may comprise a docking station remotely located from a fulfillment center, a fulfillment system, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). The fulfillment system manages the fulfillment center and the docking station, receives a request to ship an item, determines an item transfer point based on a delivery point, and calculates a flight path to the item transfer point. The fulfillment system loads the item at the fulfillment center via a handling mechanism of the UAV and deploys the UAV to the item transfer point using the flight path. The AGV is coupled for wireless communication with the fulfillment system, the docking station, and the AGV. The item transfer point indicates a geographical location where the item is to be transferred from the UAV to one of the docking station and the AGV based on the delivery point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Kulkarni, Michael Bhaskaran, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10363949
    Abstract: A system (e.g., a control system) includes a sensor configured to monitor an operating condition of a vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system along a route. The system also includes a controller configured to designate one or more operational settings for the vehicle system as a function of time and/or distance along the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Brian Nedward Meyer, Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., James D. Brooks, Kristopher Ryan Smith
  • Patent number: 10358230
    Abstract: A drone adapted for flight may include propellers that may be powered by motors to move the drone. The drone may include a processing component and arms for supporting each of the propellers. At least a portion of at least one of the arms may include a first thermal spreading material that is coupled to the processing component. Each of the arms may be exposed to the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vivek Sahu, Mehdi Saeidi, Rajat Mittal, Melika Roshandell
  • Patent number: 10359786
    Abstract: FIG. 1 shows airframe (10) with powertrain (11) supporting electromagnetic field strength sensor (12), reference electromagnetic field strength (14), comparator (16), and shutdown (18) flying along a transmission line with towers (40, 42, and 44), phase conductors (46, 48), and 50, and shield wires (52 and 54). Reference electromagnetic field strength (14) is adjusted before the flight to set the minimum electromagnetic field strength before shutdown (18) reduces the power to powertrain (11). The reference electromagnetic field strength (14) corresponding to a characteristic radial dimension (58), and thus virtual tunnel (22), outside of which airframe (10) cannot fly without automatic shutdown (18), regardless of the state of the autopilot, GPS signal, or radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Izak Jan van Cruyningen
  • Patent number: 10353767
    Abstract: A control system includes a computing channel and an object control channel. The computing channel includes command and monitor lanes. The command lane has a first processor core with a first core architecture receiving input data and generating first data based on the input data. The monitor lane has a second processor core with second core architecture receiving the input data and generating second data based on the input data. The first core architecture and the second core architecture are dissimilar and implemented in a single system-on chip device. The computing channel outputs the first data as command data responsive to determining the first data is matched to the second data. The object control channel corresponds to the computing channel and includes an object control system receiving the command data and generating an object control signal based on the command data to control operation of at least one part of an object system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Dino A. Gianisis, Michael G. Adams
  • Patent number: 10351255
    Abstract: There are described herein methods and systems for providing an engine computer with a power request having been determined by an aircraft computer. The power request is sent over a communication bus and once it reaches the engine computer, the latency due to the different update rates of the engine computer and the aircraft computer are compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Teuvo Saario, Reza Pedrami, Aaron Martin
  • Patent number: 10353838
    Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel to load data used by aircraft avionics (including but not limited to, Map Data, charts, XM Radio configuration data, LRU (line replaceable unit)/LRM (line replaceable module) specific configuration data or LRU/LRM software updates), wirelessly through the use of a USB to Wireless data bridge. The methods and systems can reduce and eliminate use of a USB (universal serial bus) hard drive or ‘keys’ be carried around with different collections of cockpit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Satcom Direct, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Bantoft, David Vandewalle
  • Patent number: 10351239
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, for delivering articles between UAV zones has a computing system having a non-transient memory with executable instructions, the executable instructions including a flight management system to receive at a portal a delivery request to deliver an article from one zone to another. The Instructions are operable: to assign a UAV to the delivery request; if a UAV is not at a first zone, to dispatch a UAV to the first zone; to provide a flight path to the UAV,I at least part of the flight path being predetermined; to communicate the UAV flight path to the UAV; and to monitor the flight of the UAV from the first zone to the second zone and the delivery of the article. A method of planning a route for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Di Benedetto, Gregory Colacitti
  • Patent number: 10347138
    Abstract: Various navigation and other instrumentation systems may benefit from appropriate methods for display of traffic. For example, certain avionics systems may benefit from systems and methods for providing an ADS-B In display and control system. A system can include a traffic computer, such as a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) computer. The system can also include a TCAS traffic display, the traffic computer is configured to display Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In information on the TCAS traffic display. Optionally, the system can further include a graphical ADS-B In Guidance Display (AGD) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The system can additionally include a Multi-Purpose Control Display Unit (MCDU) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The TCAS traffic display and MCDU, and optionally the graphical AGD, can be configured to substitute for a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AVIATION COMMUNICATION & SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Charles C. Manberg, Richard D. Ridenour, II
  • Patent number: 10347142
    Abstract: In one example, a method for generating air traffic alerts includes determining a predicted trajectory for a target air-craft, based at least in part on a comparison of information received on a recent trajectory of the target aircraft with a set of procedural trajectory information. The method further includes determining whether a violation of protected airspace is predicted between the target aircraft and an ownship, based at least in part on the predicted trajectory for the target aircraft and a predicted trajectory for the ownship. The method further includes generating an alert output in response to determining that the violation of protected airspace is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ruy C. Brandao, Guo Qing Wang, Yong Zhang, Jing Zheng, Yingang Yu
  • Patent number: 10343766
    Abstract: A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having wing elements and tail elements configured to roll to angularly orient the UAV by rolling so as to align a longitudinal plane of the UAV, in its late terminal phase, with a target. A method of UAV body re-orientation comprising: (a) determining by a processor a boresight angle error correction value bases on distance between a target point and a boresight point of a body-fixed frame; and (b) effecting a UAV maneuver comprising an angular role rate component translating the target point to a reoriented target point in the body-fixed frame, to maintain the offset angle via the offset angle correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Carlos Thomas Miralles
  • Patent number: 10345327
    Abstract: A method and device for estimating the airspeed of an aircraft includes a first estimation unit configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a first estimation method, a second estimation unit configured to estimate the airspeed of the aircraft according to a second estimation method, a weighting unit configured to weight the two airspeeds estimated by the first and second estimation methods and a computation unit configured to sum the weighted airspeeds so as to obtain an estimated airspeed of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Martin Delporte
  • Patent number: 10341011
    Abstract: Apparatus for on-board management of communications in a mobile node comprising a communications system configured to effect wireless data communication between the mobile node and another node by means of at least one supported wireless communications link, wherein the apparatus comprises a node manoeuvre planning module and a dynamic route planner; the node manoeuvre planning module being configured to: identify that a wireless communications link associated with the mobile node (i) has been lost, degraded or is otherwise not optimal, and/or (ii) would violate an emissions control restriction; define a desired wireless communications link between the mobile node and the other node to (i) support wireless communications therebetween, and/or (ii) comply with the emissions control restriction; determine an attitude and/or position of the mobile node with respect to the other node required to support the desired wireless communications link; derive a node manoeuvre plan including data representative of the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Peter Noble Hudson, Rania Hamdi Eissa, Monadl Abd Al-Abbas Mansour Al-Ameri
  • Patent number: 10322819
    Abstract: The displacements of the drone are defined by piloting commands to take moving images of a target carrying the ground station. The system comprises means for adjusting the sight angle of the camera during the displacements of the drone and of the target, so that the images are centerd to the target, and means for generating flying instructions so that the distance between drone and target fulfills determined rules, these means being based on a determination of the GPS geographical position of the target with respect to the GPS geographical position of the drone, and of the angular position of the target with respect to a main axis of the drone. These means are also based on the analysis of a non-geographical signal produced by the target and received by the drone. The system allows freeing from the uncertainty of the GPS systems equipping this type of device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: PARROT DRONES
    Inventors: Laure Chevalley, Edouard Leurent