公开(公告)号：US20180194491A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-12

申请号：US15843487

申请日：2017-12-15

Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.

Inventor： Christopher Eugene Fisher ,  Jason Sidharthadev Mukherjee ,  William Arden Lott

IPC: B64F1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64F1/12

CPC classification number: B64F1/005 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/201 ,  B64F1/12

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.

公开(公告)号：US20180170491A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-21

申请号：US15387476

申请日：2016-12-21

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Charles Nordstrom ,  Brian Hachtmann ,  Fort Felker

IPC: B63B35/50 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B63B21/50 ,  G05D1/06 ,  F03D9/32 ,  F03D9/00

CPC classification number: B63B35/50 ,  B63B21/50 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D9/32 ,  F03D13/25 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  F05B2240/93 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/725

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for operating aerial vehicles in water-based locations. Specifically, an exemplary system may include a floating tether station and an aerial vehicle coupled to the floating tether station by a tether. The system may also include a floating landing station. In such a scenario, the aerial vehicle may be configured to land on the landing station. In an example embodiment, the system may include a plurality of floating landing stations, where each floating landing station is coupled to the floating tether station. In such a scenario, at least three landing stations may be arranged about the tether station with a 120 degree azimuth spacing between adjacent landing stations.

公开(公告)号：US20180158344A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15470660

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Mark Johnson Cutler

IPC: G08G5/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: G08G5/025 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/028 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64D2045/008 ,  G05D1/0055 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G05D1/105 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0056 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0086 ,  G08G5/02

Abstract: An emergency landing procedure that includes a sequence of control settings is continuously generated. An aircraft is landed, including by using the sequence of control settings and a set of one or more inertial sensors to control an actuator.

公开(公告)号：US20180148170A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-31

申请号：US15824767

申请日：2017-11-28

Applicant: Easy Aerial Inc.

Inventor： Ivan Stamatovski

IPC: B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/201 ,  B64F1/007

Abstract: A charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface having a first charging terminal formed of a first electrically conductive material, a second charging terminal formed of a second electrically conductive material and spaced apart from the first charging terminal, and an electrically insulating material disposed between the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal. A centering wheel is rotatably associated with the landing surface and has a center hub and spokes extending from the center hub. A rotator coupled to the centering wheel can rotate the centering wheel to align the unmanned aerial vehicle with the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

公开(公告)号：US09981745B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-29

申请号：US15582129

申请日：2017-04-28

Applicant: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Inventor： Julio Gil

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B60P3/11 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D9/00 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B65G1/06 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B65G1/04 ,  G01S19/42 ,  G08G5/02 ,  E05F15/77 ,  G08G5/00

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B60P3/11 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D1/00 ,  B64D9/00 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B65G1/0435 ,  B65G1/06 ,  E05F15/77 ,  G01S19/42 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q10/0832 ,  G06Q10/0833 ,  G08G5/006 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

公开(公告)号：US20180141682A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-24

申请号：US15358935

申请日：2016-11-22

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Trevor Shannon ,  Michael Simonian ,  Sindre Klepp ,  Stephen Benson ,  Adam Woodworth

IPC: B64F1/32 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/02 ,  B64F1/22

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/18

Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

公开(公告)号：US09977431B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-22

申请号：US15419804

申请日：2017-01-30

Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor： John A. Lockwood ,  Joseph F. Stanek

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G08G1/09

CPC classification number: G05D1/0276 ,  B60R16/02 ,  B60W30/00 ,  B64C29/0008 ,  B64C29/0091 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/00 ,  B64C2201/02 ,  B64C2201/08 ,  B64C2201/086 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/182 ,  B64C2201/185 ,  B64C2201/187 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  B64C2230/00 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/0212 ,  G05D1/0231 ,  G05D1/0242 ,  G05D1/0255 ,  G05D1/0257 ,  G05D1/028 ,  G05D2201/0213 ,  G08C17/00 ,  G08G1/012 ,  G08G1/091

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

公开(公告)号：US20180137767A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-17

申请号：US15809999

申请日：2017-11-10

Applicant: Yi Liang HOU ,  Yi Yin LEE

Inventor： Yi Liang HOU ,  Yi Yin LEE

IPC: G08G5/02 ,  G01S13/91 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/025 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G01S13/87 ,  G01S13/913 ,  G01S13/9303 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: A UAV having a radar-guided landing function that helps the UAV to land on a landing station is disclosed. The UAV uses a GPS transceiving unit's positioning, and receives a flight path from an external source through a control unit to advance toward the landing station. When the UAV approaches a landing station, the control unit receives an activation signal and activates a landing radar to continuously transmit a frequency sweeping radar wave. When the frequency sweeping radar wave reaches the landing station, a reflected radar wave is generated, so that the landing radar receives the reflected radar wave and transmits it to the control unit. The control unit performs computation based on data related to the reflected radar wave and accordingly controls the UAV to land on the landing station.

公开(公告)号：US20180134376A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-17

申请号：US15850450

申请日：2017-12-21

Applicant: AUTEL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.

Inventor： Yong CHEN

IPC: B64C25/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C25/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/18

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a vehicle body, where the vehicle body includes a first positioning device; and a landing gear, where the landing gear can be detached from the vehicle body, and when the landing gear is detached from the vehicle body, the vehicle body determines a position of the landing gear by using the first positioning device. Because the landing gear can be detached from the vehicle body and the vehicle body can determine the position of the landing gear by using the first positioning device, the unmanned aerial vehicle, when performing a flight mission, is not affected by the weight of the landing gear, avoiding that the landing gear blocks an image capture device and implementing convenient takeoff and landing.

公开(公告)号：US20180095461A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-05

申请号：US15393875

申请日：2016-12-29

Applicant: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Inventor： Michael Taylor ,  Dennis Dale Castleman ,  Glenn Black ,  Javier Fernandez Rico

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G06T19/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  A63F13/00 ,  A63H27/12 ,  A63H30/04 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G01S1/00 ,  G01S5/0268 ,  G01S19/48

Abstract: Systems and methods for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) positional anchors. Signals may be broadcast via a signal interface of an anchor in a defined space which also includes a UAV. The UAV is at one location within the defined space, and the anchor is at another location within the defined space. A virtual environment may be generated that corresponds to the defined space. The virtual environment may include at least one virtual element, and a location of the virtual element within the virtual environment may be based on the location of the anchor within the defined space. A visual indication may be generated when the UAV is detected within a predetermined distance from the location of the anchor. In some embodiments, a visual element may be generated to augment the anchor where a location of the visual element is based on a location of the anchor within the defined space. The visual element may be changed when the UAV is flown to the location of the anchor within the defined space.