公开(公告)号：US20170330467A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-16

申请号：US15479341

申请日：2017-04-05

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America

Inventor： HIDEO UMETANI ,  KAZUMA TAKEUCHI

IPC: G08G5/04 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G05D1/04

CPC classification number: G08G5/045 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G05D1/042 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0052 ,  G08G5/006 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0078

Abstract: A method for controlling an aerial vehicle includes determining a direction in which the aerial vehicle is traveling; determining, with reference to a table, an altitude range which corresponds to the determined direction and within which the aerial vehicle is caused to fly, the table indicating correspondences between directions in which the aerial vehicle is traveling and altitude ranges within which the aerial vehicle is to fly; obtaining, from an altimeter, a first altitude, which is a current altitude, at which the aerial vehicle is flying; determining whether the first altitude is included in the determined altitude range; and if it is determined that the first altitude is not included in the determined altitude range, changing an altitude at which the aerial vehicle is caused to fly from the first altitude to a second altitude included in the determined altitude range.

公开(公告)号：US09815554B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-14

申请号：US14858179

申请日：2015-09-18

Applicant: Lance Butler Plater

Inventor： Lance Butler Plater

IPC: B64C1/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/028 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D2221/00

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which in some embodiments may comprise a fuselage which includes a cavity formed by an interior cavity wall and a fuselage exterior wall, with the cavity disposed within the fuselage. A first electronic module may be electrically coupled to a first magnetic connector and a second electronic module may be electrically coupled to a second magnetic connector. Electronic communication between the first and second modules may be provided by contact between the first magnetic connector and the second magnetic connector. In further embodiments, when removably positioned adjacent to each other in the cavity, the first magnetic connector may contact the second magnetic connector to establish electronic communication between the first and second modules.

公开(公告)号：US20170323256A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-09

申请号：US15148960

申请日：2016-05-06

Applicant: Elwha LLC

Inventor： Jesse R. Cheatham, III ,  Hon Wah Chin ,  William David Duncan, JR. ,  Roderick A. Hyde ,  Muriel Y. Ishikawa ,  Jordin T. Kare ,  Tony S. Pan ,  Robert C. Petroski ,  Clarence T. Tegreene ,  David B. Tuckerman ,  Yaroslav A. Urzhumov ,  Thomas Allan Weaver ,  Lowell L. Wood, JR. ,  Victoria Y.H. Wood

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00

CPC classification number: G06Q10/0832 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be used to deliver a package. The UAV may include a communication interface configured to receive a request to transport a package from a customer and a navigation unit configured to direct the UAV to the package. The UAV may also include a sensor configured to determine one or more physical characteristics of the package and a calculation unit configured to calculate adjusted freight charges by comparing anticipated freight charges based on one or more physical characteristics of the package specified in the request to the one or more physical characteristics of the package determined by the sensor. The UAV may further include an acceptance unit configured to accept the package for transport based on the acceptance of the adjusted freight charges by the customer.

公开(公告)号：US20170315545A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-02

申请号：US15298383

申请日：2016-10-20

Applicant: Shenzhen Hubsan Technology Co., Ltd.

Inventor： GuangJun Li

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G01S19/42 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06N99/00 ,  G05D1/10

CPC classification number: G05D1/005 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G01S19/42 ,  G05D1/0016 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G06N99/005

Abstract: The invention provides a method for recording a flight path and controlling automatic flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method includes: controlling, by a remote control or a smart mobile terminal device, the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly following a certain flight path according to user's requirement, triggering the unmanned aerial vehicle to record the flight path, storing tracking data, and selecting a learning track to fly automatically, where a flight mode comprises at least GPS learning mode, GPS automatic mode, and manual mode. The unmanned aerial vehicle having the control mode can be triggered to fly automatically following the tracking data stored in the flight control device according to different application scenarios, thus increasing the user experience and entertainment. In the process of recording track, the unmanned aerial vehicle can fly at a low speed and meanwhile avoid obstacles, when flying automatically, the unmanned aerial vehicle can fly fast in a racing mode, further increasing the user experience. Meanwhile, in the automatic flight at a low speed, the unmanned aerial vehicle can take photographs, and the shot images are stable and clear. In certain application scenarios requiring a terrain recorder to record the track, through learning the actual flight track, it is unnecessary to employ other devices, thus saving the user's costs.

公开(公告)号：US09771162B1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-26

申请号：US15163977

申请日：2016-05-25

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas Kristofer Gentry

IPC: B64D35/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G05D1/04 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64D27/02

CPC classification number: B64D35/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/044 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D2027/026 ,  G05D1/042 ,  G08G5/006 ,  Y10S903/93

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is configured with a redundant power generation system on-board the UAV. A redundant power system on-board the UAV can selectively utilize an auxiliary power source during operation and/or flight of the UAV. The power system on-board the UAV may include a battery and at least one auxiliary power source comprising a combustion engine. The combustion engine on-board the UAV may be selectively operated to charge the battery when a charge level of the battery is below a full charge level, and/or to power one or more propeller motors of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20170253332A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-07

申请号：US15384899

申请日：2016-12-20

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Robert Roy Champagne, JR. ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III ,  Nicholas Hampel Roberts ,  Ricky Dean Welsh

IPC: B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  G05D1/0858

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

公开(公告)号：US20170225781A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15019551

申请日：2016-02-09

Applicant: Abdullah ALMASOUD

Inventor： Abdullah ALMASOUD

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  H04B7/185 ,  G07C5/08

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G07C5/008 ,  G07C5/08 ,  G07C5/0808 ,  G07C5/085 ,  G08B25/009 ,  G08B25/016 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0086 ,  G08G5/0091 ,  H04B7/18506

Abstract: An emergency unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a method for employing a UAV. The method includes storing a digital elevation model (DEM) and associated data including locations of communication networks, updating the locations of communication networks in the associated data via a wireless transceiver, and storing position information determined by a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. The method includes detecting a predetermined condition using electronic sensors, determining whether the UAV is within a communications range of any communication network via the wireless transceiver, and determining a path to a communication network using the DEM and the associated data. The method also includes causing the UAV to become airborne and fly along the path, and transmitting a distress message via the wireless transceiver to the communication network, the distress message including position information corresponding to a location where the UAV detected the predetermined condition.

公开(公告)号：US20170212528A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-27

申请号：US15006460

申请日：2016-01-26

Applicant: Patrick A. Henderson

Inventor： Patrick A. Henderson

IPC: G05D1/06 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0676 ,  B64C27/46 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64F1/00

Abstract: An apparatus and method of autonomously landing an aerial vehicle is disclosed herein. In a non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus is a landing pad controller that includes a plurality of receiving antennae, each of which is configured to receive an instance/version of a localization signal from the aerial vehicle. A localization calculation processor determines a precise position of the aerial vehicle based upon a comparison of the localization signal received by each of the plurality of receiving antennae. The landing pad controller also includes a transmitter that sends at least one course direction adjustment to the aerial vehicle, which can be used to direct the aerial vehicle from the precise position to a target landing area.

公开(公告)号：US20170166299A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-15

申请号：US15370070

申请日：2016-12-06

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America

Inventor： RYOTA FUJIMURA ,  KAZUKI FUNASE ,  TETSUJI FUCHIKAMI

IPC: B64C13/18 ,  G05D1/10

CPC classification number: G05D1/101 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  G05D1/106 ,  G06K9/00221 ,  G06K9/00671 ,  G06K9/00805 ,  Y10S901/01

Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of an autonomous mobile robot includes acquiring information regarding a person present around the autonomous mobile robot, calculating a visible range in which the autonomous mobile robot is visible to the eyes of the person on the basis of the acquired information regarding the person, and determining a movement range in which the autonomous mobile robot is movable on the basis of the calculated visible range, and causing the autonomous mobile robot to move within the determined movement range.

公开(公告)号：US09612599B2

公开(公告)日：2017-04-04

申请号：US15053592

申请日：2016-02-25

Applicant: Lily Robotics, Inc.

Inventor： Henry W. Bradlow ,  Antoine Balaresque

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C31/04 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64C19/00 ,  B64C27/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C27/08

CPC classification number: G05D1/0661 ,  B64C19/00 ,  B64C27/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/08 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/0669 ,  G05D1/102

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) copter for consumer photography or videography can be launched by a user throwing the UAV copter into mid-air. The UAV copter can detect that the UAV copter has been thrown upward while propeller drivers of the UAV copter are inert. In response to detecting that the UAV copter has been thrown upward, the UAV copter can compute power adjustments for propeller drivers of the UAV copter to have the UAV copter reach a predetermined elevation above an operator device. The UAV copter can then supply power to the propeller drivers in accordance with the computed power adjustments.