Aeronautical Vehicle Patents (Class 701/3)
  • Patent number: 11738886
    Abstract: An aircraft lifecycle in which digital data for an aircraft part is automatically collected, retained, and utilized to individualize aircraft inspection and maintenance is described. Several types of data, including non-destructive evaluation and measurement data and structural health monitoring data, are used in a feedback loop having various phases which may automatically receive data in digital format from other phases. In this manner the part being designed, fabricated, tested, and maintained for the aircraft is optimized and processes involved in the lifecycle of the part is made more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jeong-Beom Ihn, William T. McDowell
  • Patent number: 11735055
    Abstract: A machine-readable media including executable instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a flight management system in a following aircraft. The machine-readable media configured to provide instructions to a flight management system of a following aircraft operating according to a following aircraft planned path, in reference to a target aircraft operating according to a target aircraft planned path, receive information regarding the target aircraft, set a required time of arrival at an achieve-by-point, and engage a required time of arrival function to enable the following aircraft to reach the achieve-by-point by the required time of arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Terry Lee Williams, Andrew Douglas Gent, Joachim Karl Ulf Hochwarth
  • Patent number: 11734164
    Abstract: A method for testing a, in particular safety-relevant, technical system, in particular encompassing software. The system is represented by a model encompassing at least two or more components. An assumption of a respective component regarding the safety-relevant system, and a guarantee of a respective component to the safety-relevant technical system, are specified by a safety contract. Executable program code is generated based on at least one assumption and based on at least one guarantee. The safety-relevant technical system is tested by executing the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Arne Nordmann, Peter Munk, Andreas-Juergen Rohatschek, Eike Martin Thaden, Lydia Gauerhof, Markus Schweizer
  • Patent number: 11731698
    Abstract: Navigation of a solar vehicle is provided by obtaining a target geographic destination for the vehicle having one or more photovoltaic solar arrays; obtaining configuration data defining a target solar vector relative to a reference frame of the vehicle; identifying a current geographic positioning of the vehicle via a geo-positioning system of the vehicle, including a current geographic location and a current geographic orientation of the vehicle; identifying a current solar vector relative to the reference frame of the vehicle; and during at least a portion of a solar day, outputting a steering command for the vehicle for an indirect path from the current geographic location toward the target geographic destination that is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the current solar vector to the target solar vector. The steering command can be presented to a human operator or programmatically implemented by an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher David Cencula
  • Patent number: 11725597
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an aircraft having two or more engines are described. The method comprises operating the two or more engines of the aircraft in an asymmetric operating regime, wherein a first of the engines is in an active mode to provide motive power to the aircraft and a second of the engines is in a standby mode to provide substantially no motive power to the aircraft, receiving a request to exit the asymmetric operating regime, the request having at least one parameter associated therewith, selecting one of a plurality of available exit protocols as a function of the at least one parameter, and applying the exit protocol by commanding the engines accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Patrick Manoukian
  • Patent number: 11726482
    Abstract: Techniques for multi-factor pathfinding are disclosed. A system receives multiple data sets that represent multiple physical properties associated with multiple three-dimensional coordinates of a physical environment. The system generates multiple weighted data layers corresponding to the physical properties, at least by applying weights to the data sets. The system generates a multi-factor costmap for the three-dimensional environment, based at least on the weighted data layers. The system determines a path through the three-dimensional environment, based at least on the multi-factor costmap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Rupal Nigam, James Mullen
  • Patent number: 11727341
    Abstract: A network system provides delivery of items using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The network system uses an infrastructure of nodes that include landing pads to dock drones, as well as interfaces to provide and receive items from docked drones. Nodes may be stationary (e.g., fixed at a building rooftop or public transit station) or mobile (e.g., mounted to a vehicle). The network system may determine a route for delivery of an item, where a drone transports the item for at least a portion of the route. For example, the route may include multiple waypoints associated with nodes between which drones travel. For other portions of the route, the network system may request a provider to transport the item using a ground-based vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sweeney, Nikhil Goel, Mark Moore, Jeffrey A. Holden
  • Patent number: 11724805
    Abstract: A control method includes acquiring motion information of a tracked object, and based on the motion information, controlling movement of a carrying device that carries a tracking device to enable the tracking device to track the tracked object while maintaining approximately unchanged an angle between a moving direction of the tracked object and a line connecting the tracked object and the tracking device when the tracked object moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Qian, Cong Zhao, Junfeng Yu, Xuyang Feng, Ang Liu
  • Patent number: 11727817
    Abstract: An emergency or medical package comprising has: a body; attachment fittings, for attachment to complementary fittings of a UAV; and a plurality of compartments for housing medical or emergency supplies, including a compartment for a headset, providing two-way communication between a user of a headset and a person remote from the package, wherein the headset includes at least one camera, providing a video feed, that is sent to a remote person. A method of delivering these supplies and providing control over the use of the supplies provides two-way audio and visual communication between a remote person and the user wearing the headset, whereby the remote person can provide instructions and directions to the user. A method of planning a route for the delivery of a medical or emergency package by UAV, and a method for providing for a delivery of a priority package are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Di Benedetto, Gregory Colacitti
  • Patent number: 11721218
    Abstract: A system to remotely detect and identify an airborne drone presenting a flight risk to piloted aircraft. A warning of the hazardous drone is presented to the piloted aircraft. An airborne drone is observed by any of several means, to include receipt of drone location or identification data broadcast by the drone or broadcast by a ground-based system, or through a piloted aircraft airborne sensor. The safety warning and real-time observation of a hazardous drone may be shared among other piloted aircraft, in particular to other subscribing aircraft approaching the airspace of the hazardous drone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Drone Traffic, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Eric Zelenka
  • Patent number: 11721220
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be used for monitoring and identifying failure in flight management systems. For example, a method may include: calculating, using a first flight management system, a first value of a guidance command for controlling an aircraft for an RNP AP procedure; receiving a second value of the guidance command from a second flight management system; comparing the first value with the second value to determine whether the first value matches the second value; upon determining that the first value does not match the second value, using a flight management system monitor to determine, from the first flight management system and the second flight management system, a flight management system that has computed a correct value of the guidance command; and generating a message indicating that the determined flight management system is to be used to guide the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Hillier, Daniel E. Lewis, Baptiste Duffourd
  • Patent number: 11722462
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for encrypted flight plan communications, the system including a first computing device communicatively connected to a peer-to-peer network including a second computing device, the first computing device configured to receive a verified flight plan from the second computing device, wherein the verified flight plan is encrypted, wherein the verified flight plan comprises battery datum, and decrypt the verified flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Hoekje List, Vincent Moeykens
  • Patent number: 11721235
    Abstract: A method of simulating a quadcopter includes recording camera output for one or more video cameras under constant conditions and subtracting a constant signal from the recorded camera output to obtain a camera noise recording. Simulated camera noise is generated from the camera noise recording and is added to a plurality of simulated camera outputs of a quadcopter simulator to generate noise-added simulated camera outputs. The noise-added simulated camera outputs are sent to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) controller coupled to the quadcopter simulator for the AI controller to use to pilot a simulated quadcopter of the quadcopter simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Performance Drone Works LLC
    Inventor: Vedran Skarica
  • Patent number: 11712637
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gyroscopically-stabilized projectile, comprising a control system producing a control signal, a rotating aerodynamic shell, and a reaction mass system responsive to the control signal, the method comprising: imparting rotational and translational kinetic energy to induce gyroscopic stabilization of the projectile about a gyroscopic axis and a movement of the projectile along a flight path; interacting the shell with surrounding air while moving, to induce aerodynamic forces; generating the control signal from the control system; and altering a state of the reaction wheel system selectively in dependence on the control signal, to alter the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Steven M. Hoffberg
  • Patent number: 11715382
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for determining aircraft orientation are described herein. One device includes instructions executable to determine a subsection of a rendering of a portion of an airport, wherein the subsection is associated with a particular stand of the airport, and wherein the subsection includes a plurality of ground travel pathways, determine a first subset of the plurality of pathways, a second subset of the plurality of pathways, and a third subset of the plurality of pathways, track a location of an outbound aircraft within the subsection of the rendering, determine an orientation of the aircraft according to a first set of rules responsive to a determination that the location of the aircraft is within the first or second subset of the plurality of pathways, and determine the orientation of the aircraft according to a second set of rules responsive to a determination that the location of the aircraft is within the third subset of the plurality of pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Kameswararao Belamkonda
  • Patent number: 11710414
    Abstract: Flying lane management systems and methods implemented in an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more passenger drones via one or more wireless networks include initiating communication to the one or more passenger drones at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of passenger drones each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers; determining a flying lane for the one or more passenger drones based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region; and providing the flying lane to the one or more passenger drones are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Metal Raptor, LLC
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 11710092
    Abstract: Systems and methods of delivering an item to a mobile delivery receptacle are disclosed. A method of delivering an item to a mobile delivery receptacle can include receiving from a mobile delivery receptacle a location of the mobile delivery receptacle. Based on a cross-referencing credential, the method can include verifying the location of the mobile delivery receptacle. The method may include identifying a mobile delivery unit and determining a position of the mobile delivery unit. The method can include calculating a delivery route from the position of the mobile delivery unit to the mobile delivery receptacle and passing the location of the delivery resource and the delivery route to the mobile delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventor: Stephen M. Dearing
  • Patent number: 11710065
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for determining send times to provide electronic communications based on predicted response rates by utilizing a Bayesian approach and multi-armed bandit algorithms. For example, the disclosed systems can generate predicted response rates by training and utilizing one or more response rate prediction models to generate a weighted combination of user-specific response information and population-specific response information. The disclosed systems can further utilize a Bayes upper-confidence-bound send time model to determine send times that are more likely to elicit user responses based on the predicted response rates and further based on exploration and exploitation considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Jun He, Shiyuan Gu, Zhenyu Yan, Wuyang Dai, Yi-Hong Kuo, Abhishek Pani
  • Patent number: 11702204
    Abstract: A response system may be provided. The response system may include a security system and an autonomous drone. The security system includes a security sensor and a controller. The drone includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, and a drone sensor. The processor may be programmed to receive the deployment request from the security system, navigate to the one or more zones of the coverage area included in the deployment request, collect drone sensor data of the one or more zones of the coverage area using the at least one drone sensor, determine that an incident has occurred, and/or transmit the collected drone sensor data and incident verification to the security system, wherein, in response to receiving the collected drone sensor data and incident verification, the security system is configured to generate a command for responding to the incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Bryan Flick
  • Patent number: 11701978
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for charging devices at a property using battery-charging drones. In some implementations, a monitoring system is configured to monitor a property and includes a battery-powered sensor configured to generate sensor data. The system includes a drone that is configured to navigate the property and charge the battery-powered sensor. A monitor control unit is configured to obtain a battery level from the battery-powered sensor and compare the battery level to a battery level threshold. Based on the comparison, the monitor control unit determines that the battery level does not satisfy the threshold. Based on the determination, the monitor control unit generates and transmits an instruction to a drone for the drone to navigate to the battery-powered sensor and charge a battery of the battery-powered sensor. The monitor control unit receives data from the drone that indicates whether the drone charged the battery of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Maurer, Alison Jane Slavin, Aaron Lee Roberts, Shan Huang
  • Patent number: 11694562
    Abstract: Boundary information for a three-dimensional (3D) flying space is obtained. An input associated with steering a vehicle is received from an input device and location information associated with the vehicle is received from a location sensor. A control signal for the vehicle is generated based at least in part on the boundary information, the input, and the location information. In the event the input would cause the vehicle to cross the boundary of the 3D flying space if obeyed, the control signal for the vehicle is generated so that the vehicle is prevented from crossing the boundary of the 3D flying space. In response to receiving an indication associated with the vehicle landing, the boundary information is modified so that the 3D flying space includes a landing pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cameron Robertson, Alex Roetter
  • Patent number: 11688287
    Abstract: A system for providing a flight planning tool is disclosed. The system may include at least one memory device for storing flight information and one or more hardware processors. The one or more hardware processors may be configured to provide an Application Program Interface (API) for facilitating communication between the system and at least one of a client device and one or more third-party devices, receive, via the API, a request including first information related to a flight, collect, via the API and based on the first information, second information from one or more third-party devices, generate flight trip data based on the first and second information, wherein the flight trip data includes information and graphics associated with the flight, and provide, via the API, one or more user interfaces to the client device for communicating the flight trip data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
    Inventors: Douglas Nolen Shorter, Jr., John Dennis Hamilton, Kimberly Lynn Ocasek, Eric John Rush, Brian Michael Tenberg, John Vance Whitehouse, Sergey Krilov
  • Patent number: 11687869
    Abstract: A system and method for securing delivery of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining visual features of a captured image of a current location of the autonomous vehicle, the captured image generated by an image sensor communicatively coupled with the autonomous vehicle; retrieving location coordinates of the current location of the autonomous vehicle from a positioning sensor communicatively coupled with the autonomous vehicle; matching the visual features of the captured image to reference data associated with the location coordinates; and determining if the current location is the final destination. In some embodiments, the method further includes matching a verification code present within the captured image to a reference verification code, where the verification code is a two-dimensional visual code previously associated with the final destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FLYTREX AVIATION LTD.
    Inventors: Yariv Bash, Amit Regev
  • Patent number: 11685534
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of sensors along a surface of an airfoil operable to measure a first set of ice thickness values at a first time and a second set of ice thickness values at a second time. The system further includes a processor configured to determine a first plurality of lift calculation variables and a second plurality of lift calculation variables. The processor also generates a threshold angle of attack value and updates the threshold angle of attack value at the second time, based on one or more differences between the first and second sets of ice thickness values and the first and second plurality of lift calculation variables. The processor is further configured to send, to a display, based on the updated threshold angle of attack, one or more changes to flight data to adjust the actual angle of attack of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: William Betush, Russell Guy Torti
  • Patent number: 11675324
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a vehicle by generating a multi-dimensional model of a vehicle operating in a 3D environment; determining a hand control gesture as captured by a plurality of cameras or sensors in the vehicle, wherein a sequence of finger, palm or hand movements represents a vehicle control request; determining vehicle control options based on the model, a current state of the vehicle and the environment of the vehicle; and controlling the vehicle to operate based on the model and the 3D environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 11673664
    Abstract: A system for neutralization of a target aerial vehicle comprises a plurality of counter-attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and an aerial vehicle detection system comprising at least one detection sensor operable to detect the target aerial vehicle in flight. The system also comprises an aerial vehicle capture countermeasure in the form of a net tethering the plurality of counter-attack UAVs to one another. The counter-attack UAV(s) are operable to capture and neutralize the target aerial vehicle with the net. The system can comprise at least one net storage device associated with a structure and configured to store at least a portion of the net when in a stowed position, and to facilitate deployment of the net when moved to a deployed position via coordinated flight of the plurality of counter-attack UAVs based on the detected target aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Sarcos Corp.
    Inventors: Fraser M. Smith, Marc X. Olivier
  • Patent number: 11674783
    Abstract: A testing system for testing a missile component having a sense axis includes a centrifuge, a support arm, an orientation assembly, and a controller. The centrifuge rotates the orientation assembly about a vertical axis in a substantially horizontal plane. The orientation assembly includes a first motor, a first gimbal, and a gimballed support. The first motor has a first rotatable shaft defining a first gimbal axis. The first gimbal is coupled with the first rotatable shaft to rotate about the first gimbal axis while the centrifuge rotates the orientation assembly about the vertical axis such that missile component is simultaneously rotated about both the vertical axis and the first gimbal axis to simulate a missile launch of the missile component. The gimballed support is coupled with the first gimbal for supporting the missile component such that the sense axis of the missile component is not parallel to the substantially horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Forrest Prewitt, Michael Neal Rector, John Michael Fines, Charles Geoffrey Haning, Evan Andrew Kontras
  • Patent number: 11671888
    Abstract: Provided are a device for communicating with and controlling a small unmanned airplane, and a method therefor. In an information processing system to which the present invention is applied, a drone is provided with: a converter module that operates on a storage battery; an onboard communication means; an FDR module; a drive unit or the like, not illustrated; a leg section that contacts or approaches a landing port; and a charging terminal for supplying power for charging to the storage battery, the charging terminal being disposed in the proximal area. The landing port is the landing port where the drone lands, and has a projection for guiding the leg section onto a planar section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HONGO AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Kenya Kaneda, Takahiro Miki
  • Patent number: 11670274
    Abstract: A noise cancelation system for an unmanned aerial vehicle may have an audio capture module, a metadata module and a filter. The audio capture module may be configured to receive an audio signal captured from a microphone, e.g., on a camera. The metadata module may be configured to retrieve noise information associated with noise generating components operating on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The filter may be configured to receive the audio signal and noise information from the audio capture module. The filter also may be configured to retrieve a baseline profile from a database based on the noise information. The baseline profile includes noise parameter to filter out audio frequencies from the audio signal corresponding to the noise generating component. The filter may generate a filtered audio signal for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Fong
  • Patent number: 11657720
    Abstract: A method for managing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is described. The method includes determining, by a Network Coverage and Policy Server (NCPS), an airspace; determining, by the NCPS, a granularity that indicates sizes for volume elements in a set of volume elements that logically divide the airspace; determining, by the NCPS, network policy information for volume elements in the set of volume elements to produce one or more maps; and transferring, by the NCPS, the one or more maps to a UAV Traffic Management (UTM) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Attila Takács
  • Patent number: 11650036
    Abstract: A system that is mountable to an unmanned vehicle and a method of operation is provided. The system includes an attachment plate configured to couple to the unmanned vehicle, the attachment plate having a first feature. A control module is configured to removably couple to the attachment plate, the control module having one or more processors and a power source, the control module having a pin arranged to move from a first position to a second position when the control module is coupled to the attachment plate, the one or more processors being energized when the pin is moved from the first position to the second position. A payload having an energetic element is provided, the payload being coupled to the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
    Inventors: Edris Raji, Kurt Nelson, Matthew Bragoni, Andrew Kochanek, John Fiske, Craig Boucher, John A. Graham, Jarrett Jacobson, John Benner, Scott Crespi, Michael Ronzello
  • Patent number: 11649066
    Abstract: A flight guidance panel for an aircraft includes a subpanel display, a joystick, rotary encoders, a deflection sensor, and a processor. The subpanel display indicates autopilot modes and flight value goals and has a top-level state and a subpanel control state. The joystick is for user interaction with the subpanel display. The rotary encoder is coupled with the joystick to receive rotation inputs from a user of the joystick. The deflection sensor is coupled with the joystick to detect a deflection input from the user of the joystick. The processor is programmed to: change a state of the subpanel display to the subpanel control state corresponding to a selected subpanel in response to receiving the deflection input while the subpanel display is in the top-level state; and change the flight value goals in response to receiving the rotation inputs while the subpanel display is in the subpanel control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hausmann, Kristin Medin, Jim Jordan, Scott Bohanan
  • Patent number: 11641644
    Abstract: A central trajectory controller including a cell interface configured to establish signaling connections with one or more backhaul moving cells and to establish signaling connections with one or more outer moving cells, an input data repository configured to obtain input data related to a radio environment of the one or more outer moving cells and the one or more backhaul moving cells, and a trajectory processor configured to determine, based on the input data, first coarse trajectories for the one or more backhaul moving cells and second coarse trajectories for the one or more outer moving cells, the cell interface further configured to send the first coarse trajectories to the one or more backhaul moving cells and to send the second coarse trajectories to the one or more outer moving cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Biljana Badic, Steven A. Bowers, Yang-Seok Choi, Miltiadis Filippou, Bertram Gunzelmann, Nageen Himayat, Ingolf Karls, Nirlesh Kumar Koshta, Rajkumar Krishnaperumal, Markus Dominik Mueck, Hosein Nikopour, Pradeep C Pangi, Jerome Parron, Bernhard Raaf, Sabine Roessel, Dario Sabella, Bernd Schaller, Domagoj Siprak, Christopher Stobart, Shashanka Totadamane Ramappa, Sudeep Manithara Vamanan, Zhibin Yu, Jing Zhu
  • Patent number: 11636180
    Abstract: A flight pushback state monitoring method based on multi-modal data fusion comprises: 1, constructing a control intention recognition rule, and recognizing a pushback intention from a control instruction sent by a controller; 2, constructing a flight intention recognition model, extracting an aircraft action from a real-time monitoring video, and capturing a flight intention; and 3, constructing an intention alignment fusion rule, and judging whether control intention information conflicts with flight intention information; by fusing the control intention and the flight intention, the method can realize the following auxiliary functions: timely judging whether the aircraft follows the pushback instruction sent by the controller, if a captain does not act according to the control instruction or acts arbitrarily without a control instruction, giving an inconsistent alarm, and a function of monitoring the flight pushback state is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: THE 28TH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHINA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuan Wang, Wenyi Tang, Hui Ding, Jibo Huang, Yan Liu, Qiucheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11637624
    Abstract: A communication network, a method of determining at least one propagation characteristic, and a method of wireless communication are disclosed. The communication network comprises a plurality of aerial vehicles that each supports at least one respective directional antenna, and a processing element for determining at least one propagation characteristic for each respective wireless communication channel between at least one user equipment and each aerial vehicle of the plurality of aerial vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Stratospheric Platforms Ltd.
    Inventors: Nils Morozs, David Grace, Alister G. Burr
  • Patent number: 11619517
    Abstract: A method and system for determining an estimation of an anemometric parameter of an aircraft. The anemometric parameter including an angle of attack, a sideslip angle and a calibrated airspeed. The method including obtaining an indication of a secondary surface state of the aircraft; obtaining a position indication of a horizontal primary surface; obtaining a load applied estimation on a corresponding actuator using the position indication of the horizontal primary surface and the position of the corresponding actuator; accessing a lookup table with the indication of the secondary surface state of the aircraft, the load estimation applied on the corresponding actuator, and the position of the corresponding actuator; obtaining an estimation of the anemometric parameter associated with the horizontal primary surface; providing the estimation of the anemometric parameter associated with the horizontal primary surface and wherein the lookup table is generated during a learning phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Fabien Castang, Xavier Louis
  • Patent number: 11618444
    Abstract: A system includes one or more electronic devices of an autonomous vehicle and a computer-readable storage medium having one or more programming instructions. The system identifies an actor in an environment of the autonomous vehicle that is exhibiting unrecognized behavior or that has exhibited unrecognized behavior within a certain time period, and generates a circle associated with the actor, wherein the circle has a radius that is a function of a velocity of the actor. The system identifies one or more target points associated with the actor, where each target point represents a point along a possible route of the actor, and each target point is located along a circumference of the circle. The system assigns a score to each target point, selects the target point associated with the lowest score, and generates a reference path from the actor to the selected target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Argo AI, LLC
    Inventors: Greydon Foil, Andrew T. Hartnett, Constantin Savtchenko
  • Patent number: 11608165
    Abstract: A method of providing torque protection and/or thrust protection for the or each propeller of a hybrid helicopter. The hybrid helicopter includes a control system connected to the blades of each propeller and a thrust control configured to generate an order for modifying a pitch of the blades, which order is transmitted to the control system, the propeller(s) being driven in rotation by a mechanical transmission system of the hybrid helicopter. The method includes a step of having the control system keep the pitch of the blades of a propeller within at least one control envelope relating to a thrust generated by the propeller or to a torque exerted in the mechanical transmission system. In this way, the pitch of the blades of each propeller is kept between a lower limit and an upper limit of the control envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Paul Eglin, Remy Huot
  • Patent number: 11608166
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least a first pitch of a first propeller and a second pitch of a second propeller of a hybrid helicopter, the hybrid helicopter having a thrust control and a yaw control that are configured to generate orders for modifying respectively a mean pitch component and a differential pitch component of the first pitch and of the second pitch, the hybrid helicopter having a collective pitch control for modifying a collective pitch component of main blades of the lift rotor. The method includes a step of: keeping with the control system the first pitch and the second pitch within a control domain that varies as a function of information relating to the collective pitch component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Paul Eglin, Remy Huot
  • Patent number: 11605301
    Abstract: Various avionics systems may benefit from repeaters. For example, an ADS-B In traffic display repeater system may be useful for, for example, retrofit aircraft. A system, according to certain embodiments, can include a traffic awareness computer of an aircraft. The system can also include an aircraft interface device. The system can further include a data bus configured to convey data from the traffic awareness computer to the aircraft interface device. The data conveyed can be configured to permit repetition of one or more displays of a cockpit of the aircraft on a tablet computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: AVIATION COMMUNICATION & SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Castel Manberg
  • Patent number: 11603196
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that may include: determining one or more take-off variables for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial vehicle; increasing an altitude of the VTOL aerial vehicle to a first altitude, where increasing the altitude comprises substantially vertical flight of the VTOL aerial vehicle; performing a first pre-rotation check of the VTOL aerial vehicle; adjusting a pitch of the VTOL aerial vehicle to a first pitch angle via motor control; adjusting the pitch of the VTOL aerial vehicle to a second pitch angle via at least one of: motor control and one or more effectors; and adjusting the pitch of the VTOL aerial vehicle to a third pitch angle via the one or more effectors, where the third pitch angle is substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Quentin Lindsey, Henry Thome Won
  • Patent number: 11604575
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing configurations of multiple vehicle displays. For instance, a method may include: obtaining a configurable file for an electronic checklist; generating a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the configurable file; displaying the GUI on one of the multiple vehicle displays; receiving a user input on the GUI; and performing a window configuration setting process based on the user input. The method may also include: in response to the user input being a first user input type in a region associated with a context menu indicator: obtaining a window configuration function and a phase of flight variable; generating a context menu based on the window configuration function and the POF variable; and displaying the context menu on the GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan S. Wyatt, Katarina Alexis Morowsky, Aaron Gannon, Christopher Heine
  • Patent number: 11599110
    Abstract: A notification method includes determining, on the basis of positional information regarding a drone and positional information regarding a plurality of terminals carried by an operator who visually observes and operates the drone and one or more visual observers who visually observe the drone, at least either responsible observation areas, which are areas in which the operator and the one or more visual observers are to visually observe the drone, or responsible observation periods, which are periods for which the operator and the one or more visual observers are to visually observe the drone, and notifying the plurality of terminals of at least either the responsible observation areas or the responsible observation periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuhara
  • Patent number: 11592837
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control gain of an electric aircraft are provided in this disclosure. The system may include gain scheduling to provide stability of the electric aircraft at various dynamic states of operation. The system may include a sensor to obtain measurement datum of an operating state. The system may further include a controller that adjusts a control gain of the electric aircraft as a function of the measurement datum. The gain control may be determined by a gain schedule generated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Potvin, Jacob Nealy
  • Patent number: 11592842
    Abstract: A flapping-wing aerial robot formation control method includes: determining a trailing vortex generation mechanism, an energy saving principle and a trailing vortex attenuation mechanism of the formation flight of a group of wild geese in accordance with the pattern of the formation flight of the group of wild geese; determining the formation flight of a group of flapping-wing aerial robots and a formation switching solution in accordance with the trailing vortex generation mechanism, energy saving principle and trailing vortex attenuation mechanism of the formation flight of the group of wild geese in conjunction with the flapping characteristic of a flapping-wing aerial robot from the perspective of energy consumption equalization and energy saving; and carrying out formation keeping control and formation reconfiguration control in accordance with the formation flight of the group of flapping-wing aerial robots and the formation switching solution by controlling positions of the group of flapping-wing aeria
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING
    Inventors: Wei He, Xiaoyang Wu, Xinyue Tang, Qiang Fu, Yongbin Sun, Yao Zou, Xiuyu He, Hui Zhang, Changyin Sun, Yaonan Wang
  • Patent number: 11594138
    Abstract: A system or optimizing a flight plan for an electric aircraft is provided. The system includes, a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured t receive a plurality of measured flight data from a remote device, identify at least an aircraft requirement as a function of the plurality of measured flight data, generate at least a desired flight plan as a function of at least a plurality of measured flight data and the at least an aircraft requirement, and determine an optimized flight plan as a function of the at least a desired flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Moeykens
  • Patent number: 11585960
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for effective agriculture and environment monitoring. The method may comprise measuring a desired variable over an area of interest using a remote inspection platform according to an inspection plan, predicting an occlusion of the remote inspection platform, and in response to the predicted occlusion, determining whether to invoke a local inspection platform to complete the inspection plan. The occlusion in some embodiments interrupts the inspection plan for the remote inspection platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jitendra Singh, Mukul Tewari, Vinayak Sastri, Seema Nagar, Kuntal Dey
  • Patent number: 11587241
    Abstract: A technique for detecting an environmental change to a delivery zone via an unmanned aerial vehicle includes obtaining an anchor image and an evaluation image, each representative of the delivery zone, providing the anchor image and the evaluation image to a machine learning model to determine an embedding score associated with a distance between representations of the anchor image and the evaluation image within an embedding space, and determining an occurrence of the environmental change to the delivery zone when the embedding score is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: Ali Shoeb, Dinuka Abeywardena
  • Patent number: 11586200
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by machine-learning logic, observations indicative of a states associated with a first and second group of vehicles arranged within an engagement zone during a first interval of an engagement between the first and the second group of vehicles. The machine-learning logic determines actions based on the observations that, when taken simultaneously by the first group of vehicles during the first interval, are predicted by the machine-learning logic to result in removal of one or more vehicles of the second group of vehicles from the engagement zone during the engagement. The machine-learning logic is trained using a reinforcement learning technique and on simulated engagements between the first and second group of vehicles to determine sequences of actions that are predicted to result in one or more vehicles of the second group being removed from the engagement zone. The machine-learning logic communicates the plurality of actions to the first group of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: The Boeing Company, HRL Laboratories LLC
    Inventors: Joshua G. Fadaie, Richard Hanes, Chun Kit Chung, Sean Soleyman, Deepak Khosla
  • Patent number: 11589196
    Abstract: A communication system of a gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine control system configured to generate engine data and a communication device. The communication device includes a memory system and a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with an offboard system external to the aircraft and to communicate with the engine control system and the memory system. The communication interface is further configured to receive the generated engine data from the engine control system. The communication device further includes processing circuitry configured to selectively record the generated engine data, determine a location of the gas turbine engine, determine a data management strategy based on the determined location, and transmit, using the communication interface, a first portion of the recorded engine data to the offboard system. A data content of the first portion of the recorded engine data is based on the data management strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Lamberti, Jason E. Posniak, Arun Srinivasan