公开(公告)号：US09809305B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US14635743

申请日：2015-03-02

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Buchmueller ,  Scott A. Green ,  Atishkumar Kalyan ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G01C21/34 ,  G06Q10/04 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  G01C21/3423 ,  G01C21/343 ,  G06Q10/047 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q50/28 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0056 ,  G08G5/0065 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) which fly to destinations (e.g., for delivering items) may land on transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks, etc.) for temporary transport. An agreement with the owner of the transportation vehicles (e.g., a shipping carrier) may be made for obtaining consent and determining compensation for landings, and the associated transportation vehicles that are available for landings may be identified by markers on the roof or other identification techniques. The routes of the transportation vehicles may be known and utilized to determine locations where UAVs will land on and take off from the transportation vehicles, and in cases of emergencies (e.g., due to low batteries, mechanical issues, etc.) the UAVs may land on the transportation vehicles for later retrieval.

公开(公告)号：US20170313422A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-02

申请号：US15582168

申请日：2017-04-28

Applicant: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Inventor： Julio Gil

IPC: B64D9/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B64C25/34 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B65G1/06 ,  G06Q10/08

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：US09802702B1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-31

申请号：US15226492

申请日：2016-08-02

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Atishkumar Kalyan ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: B64C39/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2220/00

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to varying a speed of one or more motors in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to reduce unwanted sound (i.e., noise) of the UAV. A UAV may include motors coupled with propellers to provide lift and propulsion to the UAV in various stages of flight, such as while ascending, descending, hovering, or transiting. The motors and propellers may generate noise, which may include a number of noise components such as tonal noise (e.g., a whining noise such as a whistle of a kettle at full boil) and broadband noise (e.g., a complex mixture of sounds of different frequencies, such as the sound of ocean surf). By varying the controls to the motors, such as by varying the speed or revolutions per minute (RPM) of a motor during operation by providing random or pseudo-random RPM variations, the UAV may generate a noise signature with reduced tonal noise.

公开(公告)号：US20170308081A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15646729

申请日：2017-07-11

Applicant: Flytrex Aviation Ltd.

Inventor： Yariv BASH ,  Amit REGEV

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0027 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G05D1/0061 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G06Q10/0832 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0043 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0082

Abstract: An apparatus and method for centralized control of a vehicle. The apparatus includes: a processing circuitry; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the apparatus to: establish control of at least one vehicle, wherein establishing the control further comprises determining a set of instructions for controlling each vehicle; generate a mission plan for a first vehicle of the at least one vehicle based on a request from a node when the request is valid, wherein the request indicates at least a first location and a second location; send, to the first vehicle, control instructions for navigating to the first location based on the mission plan; and send, to the first vehicle, control instructions for navigating from the first location to the second location based on the mission plan, when the vehicle is at the first location.

公开(公告)号：US09786187B1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-10

申请号：US14734288

申请日：2015-06-09

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Avi Bar-Zeev ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Steven Gregory Dunn ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B65G1/04

CPC classification number: G08G5/003 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B65G1/0492 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D2201/0216 ,  G06Q10/0832 ,  G06Q10/08355 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: A transportation network is provided that utilizes autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) for identifying, acquiring, and transporting items between network locations without requiring human interaction. A travel path for an item through the transportation network may include a passing of the item from one autonomous vehicle to another or otherwise utilizing different autonomous vehicles for transporting the item along different path segments (e.g., between different network locations). Different possible travel paths through the transportation network may be evaluated, and a travel path for an item may be selected based on transportation factors such as travel time, cost, safety, etc., which may include consideration of information regarding current conditions (e.g., related to network congestion, inclement weather, etc.). Autonomous vehicles of different sizes, carrying capacities, travel ranges, travel speeds, etc. may be utilized for further improving the flexibility and efficiency of the system for transporting items.

公开(公告)号：US09783297B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-10

申请号：US15147766

申请日：2016-05-05

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： William Graham Patrick ,  James Ryan Burgess ,  Andrew Conrad

IPC: B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/22

CPC classification number: B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64D1/22

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.

公开(公告)号：US09777502B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-03

申请号：US14975618

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： James Christopher Curlander ,  Asaf Gilboa-Amir ,  Lauren Marie Kisser ,  Robert Arthur Koch ,  Ricky Dean Welsh

IPC: E04H14/00 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64F1/32

CPC classification number: E04H14/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/20 ,  B64F1/025 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/222 ,  B64F1/32

Abstract: A multi-level (ML) fulfillment center is designed to accommodate landing and takeoff of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), possibly in an urban setting, such as in a densely populated area. Unlike traditional fulfillment centers, the ML fulfillment centers may include many levels (i.e., stories, floors, etc.) as permitted under zoning regulations for respective areas. The fulfillment center may have one or more landing locations and one or more deployment locations to accommodate UAVs, which may delivery at least some of the items from the fulfillment center to locations associated with customers.

公开(公告)号：US20170274996A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-28

申请号：US15620178

申请日：2017-06-12

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  JOHN PETER MOUSSOURIS

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/10 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G08G7/02 ,  G08G5/04

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C29/0025 ,  B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/10 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D9/00 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/005 ,  G05D1/0212 ,  G05D1/0669 ,  G05D1/102 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G08G5/0008 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0065 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025 ,  G08G5/045 ,  G08G7/02 ,  Y02T50/12

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an aircraft for vertical take-off and landing. In various embodiments, an aircraft assembly includes at least one first wing portion providing a lift force during a horizontal flight, at least one wing opening disposed on a vertical axis of the at least one first wing portion and at least one thruster positioned inside the at least one wing opening to provide vertical thrust during a vertical flight. The aircraft assembly can further include air vents positioned inside at least one of the wing openings. The air vents can further include louvres positioned over or under the air vents to open and close the wing openings. The thruster can further be used to provide flight control for the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20170274875A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-28

申请号：US15613956

申请日：2017-06-05

Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor： Guillaume Hoareau ,  Johannes J. Liebenberg ,  John G. Musial ,  Todd R. Whitman

IPC: B60S5/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H01M10/42 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: B60S5/06 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64D1/02 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/0278 ,  H01M2/1016 ,  H01M10/4207 ,  H01M10/425 ,  H01M2010/4271 ,  H01M2010/4278 ,  H01M2220/20

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing a power source element is provided. The method includes enabling a first vehicle comprising a first power source apparatus comprising a first multiple compartment housing comprising a first plurality of receptacles retaining a first plurality of power source elements, a controller, and a communication interface. The first vehicle receives a notification indicating that a second vehicle requires replacement of a power source element of a second plurality of power source elements within a second power source apparatus of the second vehicle. The first vehicle is directed to a current location of the second vehicle and the first vehicle is docked to the second vehicle. The power source element of the second vehicle is replaced with a fully charged power source element of the first plurality of power source elements from the first vehicle during operation of the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20170270314A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15464449

申请日：2017-03-21

Applicant: Acronis International GmbH

Inventor： Yuriy Tsybrovskyy ,  Stanislav S. Protasov ,  Serguei M. Beloussov ,  Mark Shmulevich

IPC: G06F21/62 ,  H04L29/08 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G06F17/30 ,  G05D1/04 ,  H04W12/08 ,  H04N7/18 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D1/22 ,  H04W4/02 ,  G06F21/60

CPC classification number: G06F21/6227 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64D1/22 ,  G06F11/1415 ,  G06F16/24561 ,  G06F21/602 ,  H04L63/0861 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04N7/185 ,  H04W12/02 ,  H04W12/06 ,  H04W12/08

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for performing data backup using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An example method includes in response to detecting a data backup request from a user device, determining a geographic location of the user device and dispatching the UAV to the geographic location; controlling the UAV to obtain user data from the user device; and controlling the UAV to navigate to a data center to back up the obtained user data onto a cloud storage.