公开(公告)号：US11584533B1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-21

申请号：US16287833

申请日：2019-02-27

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Amir Navot

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64D31/06 ,  G05D1/08 ,  B64C1/30 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle that may be configured during flight to optimize for agility or efficiency.

公开(公告)号：US11495030B1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-08

申请号：US16712946

申请日：2019-12-12

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Amir Navot

IPC: G06V20/59 ,  G06V20/64 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01N5/00 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: Described are systems and methods to utilize an objective function of an aerial vehicle in constructing and/or updating an occupancy map. The described systems and methods can determine whether to include, add, and/or remove an object from an occupancy map based on one or more confidence score(s) that can be determined for the presence (or absence) of an object at a given location. The confidence score for an object at a given location can be determined, for example, based on various sources of information, which can each be provided different weights, parameters, thresholds, etc. based on the objective function of the aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US10997544B1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-04

申请号：US15587334

申请日：2017-05-04

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Avi Bar-Zeev ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Steven Gregory Dunn ,  Atishkumar Kalyan ,  Amir Navot ,  Frederik Schaffalitzky

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F1/18 ,  G06K19/06

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for delivery of items using an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”). A user may be provided with a delivery location identifier (“DLI”) that is to be placed at a delivery location within a delivery destination to identify where a UAV is to position an item as part of a delivery to the delivery destination. For example, the delivery destination may be a user's home. Within the deliver destination of the user's home, the user may select a delivery location, such as a spot in the back yard wherein the UAV is to position the ordered item as part of the delivery. To aid the UAV in navigating to the delivery location, the user places the DLI at the delivery location. The UAV detects the DLI and positions the item at or near the DLI as part of the item delivery.

公开(公告)号：US10780988B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-22

申请号：US14491215

申请日：2014-09-19

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Buchmueller ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Amir Navot ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Jeffrey P. Bezos ,  Frederik Schaffalitzky

IPC: B64D31/06 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G08G5/04 ,  F16D43/00 ,  F16P3/00 ,  H02P3/10 ,  H02P3/04 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64D1/12

Abstract: An automated aerial vehicle (AAV) and system for automatically detecting a contact or an imminent contact between a propeller of the AAV and an object (e.g., human, pet, or other animal) are described. A safety profile for the AAV may be selected based on various factors including a position or configuration of the AAV. When a contact or an imminent contact is detected, the selected safety profile may be executed to reduce or avoid any potential harm to the object and/or the AAV. For example, if a contact with a propeller of the AAV by an object is detected, the rotation of the propeller may be stopped to avoid harming the object. Likewise, an object detection component may be used to detect an object that is nearing a propeller, stop the rotation of the propeller, and/or navigate the AAV away from the detected object.

公开(公告)号：US10410527B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-10

申请号：US15905713

申请日：2018-02-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Navot ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Scott A. Green ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

IPC: G05D1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G07C5/08 ,  G01S7/497

Abstract: A system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle are provided wherein influences of ground effects (e.g., which may increase the effective thrusts of propellers by interfering with the respective airflows) are utilized for sensing the ground or other surfaces. In various implementations, operating parameters of the automated aerial vehicle are monitored to determine when ground effects are influencing the parameters associated with each of the propellers, which correspondingly indicate proximities to a surface (e.g., the ground). Utilizing such techniques, proximities of different portions of an automated aerial vehicle to the ground or other surfaces may be determined (e.g., for detecting issues with an uneven landing area, a sloped ground, etc.).

公开(公告)号：US20180372868A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-27

申请号：US16103318

申请日：2018-08-14

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Scott Isaacs ,  Amir Navot ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Frederik Schaffalitzky ,  Scott A. Green

IPC: G01S17/08 ,  G08G5/04 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S13/08 ,  G01S15/08

Abstract: This disclosure describes an automated mobile vehicle that includes one or more distance determining elements configured to detect the presence of objects and to cause the automated mobile vehicle to alter its path to avoid the object. For example, a distance determining element may be incorporated into one or more of the motors of the automated mobile vehicle and configured to determine a distance to an object. Based on the determined distance, a path of the automated mobile vehicle may be altered.

公开(公告)号：US10065745B1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US15369527

申请日：2016-12-05

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Amir Navot ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Scott A. Green ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

IPC: F03D1/00 ,  F03D3/00 ,  B64D35/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/14 ,  B64C27/52

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle wherein the battery life may be extended by performing one or more electricity generation procedures on the way to a destination (e.g., a delivery location for an item). In various implementations, the electricity generation procedure may include utilizing an airflow to rotate one or more of the propellers of the automated aerial vehicle so that the associated propeller motors will generate electricity (e.g., which can be utilized to recharge the battery, power one or more sensors of the automated aerial vehicle, etc.). In various implementations, the airflow may consist of a wind, or may be created by the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air (e.g., as part of a normal flight path and/or as part of an aerial maneuver).

公开(公告)号：US20180190133A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-05

申请号：US15905713

申请日：2018-02-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Navot ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Scott A. Green ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G07C5/08

CPC classification number: G08G5/0086 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G01S2007/4975 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G05D1/0858 ,  G07C5/0808

Abstract: A system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle are provided wherein influences of ground effects (e.g., which may increase the effective thrusts of propellers by interfering with the respective airflows) are utilized for sensing the ground or other surfaces. In various implementations, operating parameters of the automated aerial vehicle are monitored to determine when ground effects are influencing the parameters associated with each of the propellers, which correspondingly indicate proximities to a surface (e.g., the ground). Utilizing such techniques, proximities of different portions of an automated aerial vehicle to the ground or other surfaces may be determined (e.g., for detecting issues with an uneven landing area, a sloped ground, etc.).

公开(公告)号：US09863840B1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-09

申请号：US14579344

申请日：2014-12-22

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Avi Bar-Zeev ,  Steven Gregory Dunn ,  Amir Navot

IPC: G01M9/04

CPC classification number: G01M9/04

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a multi-direction wind tunnel, or “windball,” are disclosed. The system can have a series of fans configured to provide air flow in a plurality of directions to enable accurate testing of aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other vehicles capable of multi-dimensional flight. The system can comprise a spherical or polyhedral test chamber with a plurality of fans. The fans can be arranged in pairs, such that a first fan comprises an intake fan and a second fan comprises an exhaust fan. The direction of the air flow can be controlled by activating one or more pairs of fans, each pair of fan creating a portion of the air flow in a particular direction. The direction of the air flow can also be controlled by rotating one or more pairs of fans with respect to the test chamber on a gimbal device, or similar.

公开(公告)号：US09828092B1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-28

申请号：US14623465

申请日：2015-02-16

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Navot ,  Elad Ben-Israel

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q10/08

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G06Q10/08355

Abstract: Described is a system and method for utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”) to facilitate delivery of ordered items to user specified delivery destinations. In one implementation, the UAV may be configured as a one-way UAV that is designed to transport ordered items to the user specified delivery destination but not return to a materials handling facility under its own power. Instead, the one-way UAV may remain at the delivery destination for later retrieval by a retrieval unit (e.g., truck).