公开(公告)号：US20170300065A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15131891

申请日：2016-04-18

Applicant: Latitude Engineering, LLC

Inventor： Jason Michael K. Douglas ,  Justin Armer ,  Carlos Murphy

IPC: G05D1/06 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0676 ,  B64C29/0025 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  G05D1/0055

Abstract: An aircraft, such as an unmanned aircraft, can include a forward propulsion system comprising one or more engines and one or more rotors coupled to a corresponding engine; a vertical propulsion system comprising one or more vertical propulsion engines and one or more corresponding rotors coupled thereto; a sensor package comprising one or more sensors to detect an operating parameter of the aircraft. It may further include an automatic recovery system that includes an input coupled to the sensor package; an output coupled to an aircraft controller; a processor to monitor one or more operating parameters of the aircraft, detect a failure of the forward propulsion system based on the operating parameters, and transition the aircraft to the vertical propulsion system for landing.

公开(公告)号：US09676481B1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-13

申请号：US14671343

申请日：2015-03-27

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Buchmueller

IPC: B64D1/12 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: B64D1/22 ,  B64C17/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64D1/02 ,  B64D1/12 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/0204

Abstract: A tether compensated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. In one embodiment, the UAV includes a winch with a tether to lower an item from the UAV for delivery, a flight controller to control a flight path of the UAV, a tether compensation mechanism through which the tether extends, at least one sensor to identify movement in the tether, and a tether response controller. Based on movement identified in the tether, the tether response controller may determine a complementary response and direct the tether compensation mechanism to brace the tether against the movement. Thus, the tether compensation mechanism may stabilize sway or movement in the tether by moving against the sway or movement, which may help prevent the tether from undesirable swinging when lowering the item from the UAV for delivery, for example, or at other times.

公开(公告)号：US20170162064A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15441519

申请日：2017-02-24

Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.

Inventor： Gurpreet UBHI ,  Ashok N. SRIVASTAVA ,  Douglas M. PASKO ,  Hani BATLA ,  Igor KANTOR

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

CPC classification number: G08G5/0069 ,  B60L8/003 ,  B60L11/1805 ,  B60L11/1861 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B60L2200/40 ,  B60L2240/12 ,  B60L2240/26 ,  B60L2240/622 ,  B60L2240/66 ,  B60L2240/662 ,  B60L2240/70 ,  B60L2250/12 ,  B60L2250/16 ,  B60L2260/32 ,  B60L2260/42 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G01S5/0027 ,  G01S2205/005 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0043 ,  G08G5/0056 ,  G08G5/006 ,  G08G5/0086 ,  G08G5/0091 ,  H04B7/18506 ,  Y02T10/7005 ,  Y02T10/7044 ,  Y02T10/705 ,  Y02T10/7083 ,  Y02T10/7291 ,  Y02T90/16 ,  Y02T90/162

Abstract: A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region, and calculates the flight path based on the request and based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, regulatory information, or historical information associated with the region. The device determines required capabilities for the flight path based on the request, and selects, from multiple UAVs, a particular UAV based on the required capabilities for the flight path and based on a ranking of the multiple UAVs. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

公开(公告)号：US20170160712A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15366749

申请日：2016-12-01

Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Inventor： June-Hee YUN

IPC: G05B19/042 ,  G06T11/60 ,  G08C23/04

CPC classification number: G05B19/042 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G05D1/0011 ,  G05D1/0234 ,  G08C23/04

Abstract: An electronic device for controlling external electronic devices and an operating method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes an output device, and a processor configured to create pattern information corresponding to control information for one or more external electronic devices and provide the pattern information to the outside of the electronic device through the output device to control the one or more external electronic devices.

公开(公告)号：US20170158320A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15269314

申请日：2016-09-19

Applicant: Daniel Bosch

Inventor： Daniel Bosch

IPC: B64C27/52 ,  B64C15/12 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08

CPC classification number: B64C27/52 ,  B64C15/12 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/165

Abstract: A multi-propeller unmanned aerial system (UAS) with a wind-resistant software platform that allows for motor support arm rotation, thereby allowing two propellers to move the drone forward and backward, or rotate it, through thrust vectoring, while the other propellers maintain hover. Horizontal movement is possible without losing the level stability necessary for a number of drone-related functions such as aerial photography. The software platform of the UAS provides for the rotational movement of the motor support arm and motors to engage and disengage to allow for tiltrotor control, specifically two motors rotate to advance the UAS forward or reverse while the remaining propellers maintain hover. Propeller guards are provided for safety which do not affect the maximum thrust or flight maneuverability of the drone.

公开(公告)号：US09656749B1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-23

申请号：US14734894

申请日：2015-06-09

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jon T. Hanlon

IPC: G01C23/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D3/00 ,  G06F7/00 ,  G06F17/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01M1/10 ,  G01M1/12

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G01M1/10 ,  G01M1/125

Abstract: A weight distribution associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be determined prior to dispatch of the UAV and/or after the UAV returns from operation (e.g., a flight). In some embodiments, one or more UAVs may be placed on or proximate to a physical metrics acquisition (PMA) device. The PMA device may include a grid or array of load cells may be used to determine a distribution of weight of the UAV at three or more points associated with the UAV. The distribution of weight may be used generate analytics, which may include a total weight of a vehicle, a center of mass of the vehicle (in two or more dimensions), power requirements of the UAV for a given flight task (e.g., how much battery power the UAV requires, etc.), and/or other analytics. In various embodiments, the PMA device may perform moment of inertia tests for the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20170139416A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-18

申请号：US15355014

申请日：2016-11-17

Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.

Inventor： William J. Nicoloff ,  Eric M. Sornborger ,  Lars B. Cremean

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64C9/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0094 ,  B64C9/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/121 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64D47/08 ,  F41G7/2253 ,  F41G7/2293 ,  F41G7/30

Abstract: An aircraft including a wing system, a plurality of control surfaces, a camera mounted on a camera pod, and a control system. The camera pod is configured to vary the orientation of the camera field of view only in yaw, relative to the aircraft, between a directly forward-looking orientation and a side-looking orientation. The control system controls the control surfaces such that they induce a significant aircraft yaw causing an identified target to be within the field of view of the camera with the camera in the directly forward-looking orientation.

公开(公告)号：US20170103659A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-13

申请号：US14880221

申请日：2015-10-10

Applicant: Xin Jin

Inventor： Xin Jin

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/006 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  G01S1/68 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D1/106 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0052 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: In certain areas, if a drone flies into them, may cause danger to people or facilities within the area. In such areas no-fly zones need to be implemented and enforced. A no-fly zone can be indicated or identified by specially transmitted radio signals in or around the no-fly zone. No-fly zones can also be defined using geo-fence data that is provided to a drone. Once a drone detects itself within a no-fly zone, will disable the control from its original operator or from its pre-programmed flying plan at least in part, and be made harmless.

公开(公告)号：US20170097435A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-06

申请号：US14875927

申请日：2015-10-06

Applicant: U.S. Army Research Laboratory ATTN: RDRL-LOC-I

Inventor： David M. Hull ,  Ross N. Adelman

IPC: G01V3/08 ,  G05B15/02 ,  B64C13/10 ,  B64C13/18 ,  G08G5/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06F17/16

CPC classification number: G01V3/08 ,  B64C13/10 ,  B64C13/18 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64D43/00 ,  B64D45/00 ,  G01C21/005 ,  G01C23/00 ,  G01S1/00 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0086

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to power line detection, and more particularly, to methods and systems for autonomous power line detection, avoidance, navigation, and inspection. They may be implemented using aerial crafts, but do not have to. According to an embodiment, a method for detecting energized power lines in ambient space in the vicinity of an aerial craft is presented. The method includes measuring, with sensors located on the aerial craft, electric and magnetic fields in the space; and with a power line detection controller, detecting an energized power line in the space in the vicinity of the aerial craft using the sensor data; and determining the orientation of the detected energized power line in the space based on the electric and magnetic field measurements. Similar methods and systems are also presented.

公开(公告)号：US20170096210A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-06

申请号：US15294517

申请日：2016-10-14

Applicant: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY Co., LTD

Inventor： Tao Wang ,  Tao Zhao ,  Hao Du ,  Mingxi Wang

IPC: B64C1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64C27/08

CPC classification number: B64C1/063 ,  A63H27/12 ,  B64C1/00 ,  B64C1/061 ,  B64C25/32 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/028 ,  B64C2025/325 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/14 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64D47/00 ,  B64D47/08 ,  G05D1/042

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.