公开(公告)号：EP3046835A4

公开(公告)日：2017-05-24

申请号：EP14843632

申请日：2014-09-15

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  LIND DAMON VANDER

IPC: B64C31/06 ,  B64B1/66

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D1/00 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method involves operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method involves positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method involves transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method involves operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

Abstract translation: 一种方法涉及悬停飞行方向上的飞行器运行。 飞行器被连接到系链那样定义具有基于所述系绳的长度为半径的系绳球体，并且系绳连接到地面站。 该方法包括在第一位置处定位所述飞行器所做的是基本上在系绳球体。 该方法包括从悬停飞行方向的飞行器过渡到向前飞行方向，寻求做与拴系领域的飞行器移动。 并且该方法涉及在该系绳球体操作在向前飞行取向处上升的角度来提升到第二位置飞行器并基本上。 所述第一和第二位置是基本上顺风地面站。

公开(公告)号：EP3083399A4

公开(公告)日：2017-07-05

申请号：EP14871262

申请日：2014-12-10

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER

IPC: B64C31/06

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  F03D7/026 ,  F03D13/30 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/723

Abstract: An example method may include determining a drag force of an apparent wind on an aircraft that is coupled to a ground station via a tether. The method also includes determining a trajectory of the aircraft to a point downwind of the ground station such that the aircraft travelling the trajectory causes the tether to unfurl along a catenary path above ground. The method further includes determining an orientation of the aircraft to travel the trajectory in the apparent wind so that an actuator of the aircraft is configured to provide a vertical thrust in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground. The method also includes determining a vertical thrust for the aircraft at the orientation to travel the trajectory in the apparent wind. The method also includes providing instructions to cause the actuator of the aircraft to provide the vertical thrust to move the aircraft along the trajectory.

Abstract translation: 示例方法可以包括确定经由系绳耦合到地面站的飞机上的视风的拖曳力。 该方法还包括确定飞机到地面站下风向的点的轨迹，使得飞行器轨迹运行的轨迹引起系绳沿着地面上的悬链线路径展开。 该方法进一步包括确定飞机在视风中行进轨迹的方位，使得飞机的致动器被配置为在基本垂直于地面的方向上提供垂直推力。 该方法还包括确定飞行器在视风中行进轨迹的方向的垂直推力。 该方法还包括提供使飞行器的致动器提供垂直推力以使飞机沿着轨迹移动的指令。

公开(公告)号：EP3089911A4

公开(公告)日：2017-08-16

申请号：EP14875909

申请日：2014-12-22

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： JENSEN KENNETH ,  CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  VANDER LIND DAMON

IPC: B64F3/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D5/06 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  G05D1/101 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/725

Abstract: A method involves operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether is connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and is connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere has a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method further involves while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method involves after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.

Abstract translation: 一种方法涉及操作飞行器沿着系绳球上的第一闭合路径行进，同时以横风向飞行取向定向。 系绳在第一端连接到飞行器，并在第二端连接到地面站。 此外，系绳球具有对应于系绳长度的半径。 该方法进一步涉及当飞行器处于侧风飞行定向时，操作飞行器沿着系绳球上的第二闭合路径行进，使得飞行器的速度减小。 并且该方法涉及在飞行器的速度减小之后或当飞行器的速度降低时，使飞行器沿着第二闭合路径在横风向飞行方向上行进到悬停飞行方向。

公开(公告)号：EP3046836A4

公开(公告)日：2017-05-24

申请号：EP14844368

申请日：2014-09-15

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  LIND DAMON VANDER

IPC: B64C31/06 ,  B64B1/66

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle may be connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether may be connected to a ground station. The method may involve positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method may involve transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method may involve operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations may be substantially downwind of the ground station.

Abstract translation: 一种方法涉及以悬停飞行方向操作飞行器。 飞行器连接到系绳，系绳限定系绳，其具有基于系绳长度的半径，并且系绳连接到地面站。 该方法涉及将飞行器定位在基本位于系绳球上的第一位置处。 该方法涉及将飞行器从悬停飞行定向转换到前进定向，使得飞行器从系绳球移动。 并且该方法涉及以向前飞行定向操作飞行器以上升角度上升到基本在系绳球上的第二位置。 第一和第二位置基本上是地面站的顺风。

公开(公告)号：AU2017202978A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-25

申请号：AU2017202978

申请日：2017-05-04

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： JENSEN KENNETH ,  CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  VANDER LIND DAMON

IPC: B64F3/00

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether may be connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and may be connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere may have a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method may further involve while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method may involve after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.

公开(公告)号：AU2018286597A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：AU2018286597

申请日：2018-12-27

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： JENSEN KENNETH ,  CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  VANDER LIND DAMON

IPC: B64F3/00

Abstract: METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSITIONING AN AERIAL VEHICLE BETWEEN CROSSWIND FLIGHT AND HOVER FLIGHT A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether may be connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and may be connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere may have a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method may further involve while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method may involve after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.

公开(公告)号：ES2717009T3

公开(公告)日：2019-06-18

申请号：ES14875909

申请日：2014-12-22

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： JENSEN KENNETH ,  CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  VANDER LIND DAMON

IPC: B64F3/00

公开(公告)号：AU2016277585B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-06

申请号：AU2016277585

申请日：2016-12-20

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  LIND DAMON VANDER

IPC: B64C31/06 ,  B64B1/66

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle may be connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether may be connected to a ground station. The method may involve positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method may involve transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method may involve operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations may be substantially downwind of the ground station.

公开(公告)号：AU2016277585A1

公开(公告)日：2017-01-12

申请号：AU2016277585

申请日：2016-12-20

Applicant: X DEV LLC

Inventor： CHUBB ERIK CHRISTOPHER ,  LIND DAMON VANDER

IPC: B64C31/06 ,  B64B1/66

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle may be connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether may be connected to a ground station. The method may involve positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method may involve transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method may involve operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations may be substantially downwind of the ground station.