公开(公告)号：US20180249100A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15330487

申请日：2016-09-26

Applicant: Kyle D. Watson ,  Kyle Robert Drexler ,  Brett A. Spivey

Inventor： Kyle D. Watson ,  Kyle Robert Drexler ,  Brett A. Spivey

IPC: H04N5/351 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N7/18 ,  H04N5/213 ,  H04N5/225 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: H04N5/351 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64D47/08 ,  H04N5/213 ,  H04N5/2254 ,  H04N5/23212 ,  H04N5/23264 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N7/185

Abstract: An aircraft imaging system for night and day imaging at ranges up to and in excess of 100 km with resolution far exceeding the diffraction limit. In a preferred embodiment two separate techniques are utilized on an aircraft to provide for night and day surveillance. The first technique is to provide a multi-aperture active imaging system for daylight imaging. The second technique is to provide a multi-aperture passive imaging system for day and night imaging. In preferred embodiments both techniques are utilized on the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US10059442B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-28

申请号：US15164718

申请日：2016-05-25

Applicant: Orville Olm ,  Zenon Dragan

Inventor： Orville Olm ,  Zenon Dragan

IPC: B64C29/02 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C29/02 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/102 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/162 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  Y02T50/14

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) may be uniquely capable of VTOL via a folded wing design while also configured for powered flight as the wings are extended. In a powered flight regime with wings extended, the VTOL UAS may maintain controlled powered flight as a twin pusher canard design. In a zero airspeed (or near zero airspeed) nose up attitude in a VTOL flight regime with the wings folded, the unmanned aircraft system may maintain controlled flight using main engine thrust as well as vectored thrust as a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. An airborne transition from VTOL flight regime to powered flight and vice versa may allow the VTOL UAS continuous controlled flight in each regime.

公开(公告)号：US10059428B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-28

申请号：US15233927

申请日：2016-08-10

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Bryan Robertson ,  Kirk Landon Groninga ,  Frank Bradley Stamps

IPC: B64C3/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C9/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C3/16 ,  B64C11/006 ,  B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/005 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64D5/00

Abstract: An inflight connection system for aircraft having at least one wing with a wingtip includes, for each aircraft, a primary connector selectively extendable from the wingtip, an alignment connector selectively extendable from the wingtip and a male and female connector assembly disposed proximate the wingtip. The primary connectors extend a greater distance from the wingtips than the alignment connectors such that the primary connectors form a first connection between the aircraft when the aircraft are flying in a connection pattern. Thereafter, retraction of the primary connectors reduces wingtip separation of the aircraft such that the alignment connectors form a second connection between the aircraft establishing coarse alignment therebetween. Thereafter, retraction of the primary and alignment connectors further reduces wingtip separation of the aircraft such that the male and female connector assemblies form a third connection between the aircraft establishing fine alignment therebetween.

公开(公告)号：US20180222570A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-09

申请号：US15870467

申请日：2018-01-12

Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.

Inventor： Christopher Eugene Fisher ,  Steven Bradley Chambers ,  Pavil Belik ,  Austin Craig Gunder ,  John Peter Zwaan

IPC: B64C5/02 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C3/10 ,  B64C5/06 ,  B64C9/00 ,  B64C39/00

CPC classification number: B64C5/02 ,  B64C3/10 ,  B64C5/06 ,  B64C9/00 ,  B64C39/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/12 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/22

Abstract: An aircraft apparatus is disclosed that has a fuselage boom having proximal and distal ends, a wing coupled to a proximal end of the fuselage boom and at least one transparent stabilizer coupled to a distal end of the fuselage boom.

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：US20180186448A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-05

申请号：US15396399

申请日：2016-12-30

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Giulia Pantalone ,  Adam Woodworth

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

CPC classification number: B64C27/463 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/467 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108

Abstract: An aerial vehicle is provided including rotor units connected to the aerial vehicle, and a control system configured to operate at least one of the rotor units. The rotor unit includes rotor blades, wherein each rotor blade includes a surface area, and wherein an asymmetric parameter is defined, at least in part, by the relationship between the surface areas of the rotor blades. The value of the asymmetric parameter is selected such that the operation of the rotor unit: (i) moves the rotor blades such that each rotor blade produces a respective vortex and (ii) the respective vortices cause the rotor unit to produce a sound output having an energy distribution defined, at least in part, by a set of frequencies, wherein the set of frequencies includes a fundamental frequency, one or more harmonic frequencies, and one or more non-harmonic frequencies having a respective strength greater than a threshold strength.

公开(公告)号：US10005554B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-26

申请号：US15028765

申请日：2013-12-24

Applicant: Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd

Inventor： Keen Ian Chan

IPC: B64C27/22 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/10 ,  A63H27/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C11/48

CPC classification number: B64C29/02 ,  A63H27/12 ,  B64C11/48 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/141

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of vertical and horizontal flight modes, a method of assembling a UAV, and a kit of parts for assembling a UAV. The UAV comprises an elongated wing structure having an elongated axis along the longest dimension of the elongated wing structure, the elongated wing structure having a middle location at a substantially halfway point; a connecting structure extending substantially perpendicularly from the elongated wing structure, the connecting structure being offset from the middle location of the elongated wing structure at a first position along the elongated axis; and at least three sets of propellers, wherein at least two sets of propellers are mounted on the connecting structure, and wherein at least one set of propellers is mounted at a second position offset from the middle location in an opposite direction away from the connecting structure.

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：US20180167043A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15374242

申请日：2016-12-09

Applicant: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

Inventor： Gideon Johannes Jacobus Van Zyl

IPC: H03F3/213 ,  H03K17/567 ,  H01L29/20 ,  H01L29/778 ,  H03F3/195 ,  H03F1/02 ,  H03K3/017 ,  H03K3/80 ,  H03K5/08

CPC classification number: H03F3/213 ,  B64C11/02 ,  B64C11/06 ,  B64C11/325 ,  B64C27/14 ,  B64C27/32 ,  B64C27/57 ,  B64C29/0025 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64D35/00 ,  H03F3/193 ,  H03F3/2171 ,  H03F3/265 ,  H03F2200/222 ,  H03F2200/387 ,  H03F2200/451 ,  H03F2200/534 ,  H03F2200/541 ,  H03K3/017 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/0812

Abstract: A gate drive circuit includes a lower limit clamping circuit, an upper limit clamping circuit, and an averaging circuit. The lower limit clamping circuit clamps the input node of a transistor at a minimum voltage with respect to the common node of the transistor, while the upper limit clamping circuit clamps the input node of the transistor at a maximum voltage with respect to the common node of the transistor and the averaging circuit sets the average voltage of the input node with respect to the common node over a specified period of time. The transistor including a common node, an output node and an input node receives the input signal. Controlling the upper limit, lower limit and average value in conjunction with fast transitions between the lower and upper limits controls the duty cycle of the input signal.

公开(公告)号：US09973261B1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-15

申请号：US15392629

申请日：2016-12-28

Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.

Inventor： Chris Hardy ,  Paul Bellotti

IPC: H04Q7/20 ,  H04B7/185 ,  H04W4/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G01S5/04 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H04W84/00

CPC classification number: H04B7/18504 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  G01S5/04 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G06K9/0063 ,  H04B7/18523 ,  H04N7/181 ,  H04N7/188 ,  H04W4/06 ,  H04W84/005

Abstract: Drone-based wireless communications systems are provided, as are methods carried-out by such wireless communications systems. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system includes a Satellite Signal Transformation (SST) unit and a plurality of aerial network drones, which can be deployed over a designated geographical area to form a multi-drone network thereover. During operation, the SST unit transmits a network source signal, which contains content extracted from a satellite signal. The multi-drone network receives the network source signal, disseminates drone relay signals containing the content through the multi-drone network, and broadcastings user device signals containing the content over the designated geographical area. In embodiments, the multi-drone network may broadcast multiple different types of user device signals for reception by various different types of user devices located within the designated geographical area, such as an area containing communication infrastructure disabled by a natural disaster, a hostile attack, or other catastrophic event.