公开(公告)号：US20190296624A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-26

申请号：US16440362

申请日：2019-06-13

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Austin Brown

IPC: H02K21/22 ,  H02K29/08 ,  H02K11/215 ,  H02K1/27

Abstract: The described apparatus and method enable alteration of motor properties during operation of a motor. For example, the rotor of the motor may be adjustable, during motor operation, between a first diameter and a larger, second diameter. When the diameter of the rotor increases, the distance between the electromagnetic coils of the stator and the magnets of the rotor increases, thereby reducing the back-electromotor force (back-EMF) of the motor. When the back-EMF of the motor decreases, the torque of the motor decreases but the maximum revolutions per minute (RPM) increases. When the diameter of the rotor decreases, the distance between the electromagnetic coils of the stator and the magnets of the rotor decreases, thereby increasing the back-EMF of the motor. When the back-EMF of the motor increases, the torque of the motor increases but the maximum RPM decreases.

公开(公告)号：US10392108B1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15390273

申请日：2016-12-23

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jack Erdozain, Jr. ,  Berk Ozturk ,  Nicholas Hampel Roberts ,  Brian C. Beckman

IPC: B64C1/30 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C3/56

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that transitions in-flight between vertical flight configuration and horizontal flight configuration by changing an orientation of the UAV by approximately ninety degrees. The UAV may include propulsion units that are coupled to a fuselage or wing. The UAV may include a tail and/or a swing arm that is rotatably coupled to the fuselage and that rotate between different positions. The swing arm may be selectively coupled to cargo. The wing may include wing segments rotatably coupled together by pivots that rotate to position the propulsion units around a center of mass of the UAV when the fuselage is oriented perpendicular with the horizon.

公开(公告)号：US10259591B1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-16

申请号：US15851545

申请日：2017-12-21

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: G01C23/00 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64C1/30 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/08

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：US10259574B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-16

申请号：US14975236

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies,, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Allan Ko

IPC: B64C27/467 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C27/473 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C11/20 ,  B64C11/26 ,  B64C27/20

Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the position of one or more propeller blade treatments of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more propeller blade treatments that may be adjusted between two or more positions. Based on the position of the propeller blade treatments, the airflow over the propeller is altered, thereby altering the sound generated by the propeller when rotating. By altering the propeller blade treatments on multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel, reduce, and/or otherwise alter the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US10232931B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-19

申请号：US14975506

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Howard Lee Huddleston, Jr. ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Allan Ko

IPC: B64C11/00 ,  B64C27/32 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G05D13/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/08

Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be operated with discrete sets of propellers, which may be selected for a specific purpose or on a specific basis. The discrete sets of propellers may be operated separately or in tandem with one another, and at varying power levels. For example, a set of propellers may be selected to optimize the thrust, lift, maneuverability or efficiency of an aerial vehicle based on a position or other operational characteristic of the aerial vehicle, or an environmental condition encountered by the aerial vehicle. At least one of the propellers may be statically or dynamically imbalanced, such that the propeller emits a predetermined sound during operation. A balanced propeller may be specifically modified to cause the aerial vehicle to emit the predetermined sound by changing one or more parameters of the balanced propeller and causing the balanced propeller to be statically or dynamically imbalanced.

公开(公告)号：US10179646B1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-15

申请号：US15454785

申请日：2017-03-09

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Allan Ko

IPC: B64C11/20 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/46

Abstract: An aerial vehicle may be equipped with propellers having reconfigurable geometries. Such propellers may have blade tips or other features that may be adjusted or reconfigured while the aerial vehicle is operating, on any basis. Propellers having reconfigurable blade tips joined to blade roots may cause the blade tips to be aligned with the blade roots, or substantially perpendicular to the blade roots, e.g., in order to counter adverse effects of tip vortices, or at any intervening angle. The propellers may be reconfigured at predetermined times during operation of an aerial vehicle, or upon sensing one or more operational characteristics or environmental conditions, as may be desired or required.

公开(公告)号：US10102493B1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-16

申请号：US15479016

申请日：2017-04-04

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Jack Erdozain, Jr. ,  Fabian Hensel ,  David Lindskog ,  Sheridan Leigh Martin

IPC: G01C23/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D3/00 ,  G05G7/00 ,  G06F17/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/00 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G01S19/42 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may emit masking sounds during operation of the UAV to mask other sounds generated by the UAV during operation. The UAV may be used to deliver items to a residence or other location associated with a customer. The UAV may emit sounds that mask the conventional sounds generated by the propellers and/or motors to cause the UAV to emit sounds that are pleasing to bystanders or do not annoy the bystanders. The UAV may emit sounds using speakers or other sound generating devices, such as fins, reeds, whistles, or other devices which may cause sound to be emitted from the UAV. Noise canceling algorithms may be used to cancel at least some of the conventional noise generated by operation of the UAV using inverted sounds, while additional sound may be emitted by the UAV, which may not be subject to noise cancellation.

公开(公告)号：US20180286372A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15936928

申请日：2018-03-27

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: G10K11/178 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D19/02

CPC classification number: G10K11/178 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2220/00 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D19/02 ,  G05D27/02 ,  G06N20/00 ,  G10K11/17823 ,  G10K11/17853 ,  G10K11/17873 ,  G10K2210/1281 ,  G10K2210/30231 ,  G10K2210/30351 ,  G10K2210/3038 ,  G10K2210/3045

Abstract: Noises that are to be emitted by an aerial vehicle during operations may be predicted using one or more machine learning systems, algorithms or techniques. Anti-noises having equal or similar intensities and equal but out-of-phase frequencies may be identified and generated based on the predicted noises, thereby reducing or eliminating the net effect of the noises. The machine learning systems, algorithms or techniques used to predict such noises may be trained using emitted sound pressure levels observed during prior operations of aerial vehicles, as well as environmental conditions, operational characteristics of the aerial vehicles or locations of the aerial vehicles during such prior operations. Anti-noises may be identified and generated based on an overall sound profile of the aerial vehicle, or on individual sounds emitted by the aerial vehicle by discrete sources.

公开(公告)号：US20180265296A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

申请号：US15461006

申请日：2017-03-16

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Nicholas Bjone

IPC: B65G1/137 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B61D3/16 ,  B61D19/00 ,  B61L25/02 ,  B61D15/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B65G1/04 ,  B25J9/00 ,  G06Q30/02

CPC classification number: B61D3/16 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B61L15/0081 ,  B61L25/021 ,  B61L25/025 ,  B61L27/0022 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B65G1/0464 ,  B65G1/1373 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q30/0202 ,  G06Q30/0205

Abstract: Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.

公开(公告)号：US10023298B1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-17

申请号：US15194317

申请日：2016-06-27

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Michael Rolnik

IPC: B64C19/00 ,  G10K11/16 ,  B64C1/40 ,  B64C11/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: Techniques for using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload while reducing and/or altering sound generated by the UAV during delivery may be provided. For example, during delivery, the UAV may be instructed to utilize one or more sets of propellers of different sizes to reduce and/or alter the sound generated by and/or around the UAV. Intrinsic and extrinsic information associated with the UAV may be utilized to dynamically adjust the particular sets of propellers of a certain and different size to utilize during different portions of a flight path while delivering the payload.