公开(公告)号：US11794922B1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-24

申请号：US17881438

申请日：2022-08-04

Applicant: WING Aviation LLC

Inventor： Evan Twyford ,  Thorsten Schilling ,  Jesse Blake ,  Scott Velez ,  James Schmalzried ,  Ray Leung ,  Greg Vulikh

IPC: B64F1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64U80/70

CPC classification number: B64F1/007 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64U80/70

Abstract: A mobile nest for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a cuboid-shaped frame, staging pads, charging electronics, and exterior siding. The cuboid-shaped frame includes vertical supports positioned at corners of the cuboid-shaped frame. The staging pads are adapted for landing, launching, and charging the UAVs. The staging pads are mounted to pivot about two or more of the vertical supports. Each of the staging pads rotates into the cuboid-shaped frame when stowed and rotates out of the cuboid-shaped frame when deployed for launching or landing the corresponding one of the UAVs. The charging electronics are disposed within the cuboid-shaped frame and coupled to the staging pads to charge the UAVs when the UAVs are positioned on the staging pads. The exterior siding is mounted to the cuboid-shaped frame to provide a weather barrier that protects the UAVs from weather when the UAVs are stowed within the mobile housing structure.

公开(公告)号：US20230192449A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17555058

申请日：2021-12-17

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Evan Twyford ,  Ivan Qiu ,  Jasper Lewin

IPC: B64D1/10 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D1/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: A package coupling apparatus for securing a package to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The package coupling apparatus includes a support plate configured to be secured to an upper surface of the package and a handle extending up from the support plate. The handle includes a handle opening and a bridge that extends over the handle opening, wherein the bridge is configured to be secured by a component of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US11572169B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-07

申请号：US17100930

申请日：2020-11-22

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jim Schmalzried ,  Jesse Blake ,  André Prager ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.

公开(公告)号：US20220137646A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-05

申请号：US17647808

申请日：2022-01-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Scott Velez ,  Andre Prager ,  Eric Teller ,  Matthew Nubbe

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US11312490B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US16816859

申请日：2020-03-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Trevor Shannon ,  Michael Simonian ,  Sindre Klepp ,  Stephen Benson ,  Adam Woodworth

IPC: B64C39/02

Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20210269153A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-02

申请号：US17100930

申请日：2020-11-22

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jim Schmalzried ,  Jesse Blake ,  André Prager ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A payload loading system is disclosed. The payload loading system includes a UAV and a loading structure. A retractable tether is coupled to a payload coupling apparatus at a distal end and the UAV at a proximate end. A payload is loaded to the UAV by coupling the payload to the payload coupling apparatus. The loading structure of the payload loading system includes a landing platform and a tether guide. The tether guide is coupled to the landing platform and directs the tether as the UAV approaches and travels across at least a portion of the landing platform such that the payload coupling apparatus arrives at a target location. The payload is loaded to the payload coupling apparatus while the payload coupling apparatus is within the target location.

公开(公告)号：US20210174301A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-10

申请号：US16703170

申请日：2019-12-04

Applicant: WING Aviation LLC

Inventor： Dinuka Abeywardena ,  Jesse Blake ,  James R. Burgess ,  Marco Caflisch ,  Brandon Jones ,  Damien Jourdan ,  Kyle Krafka ,  James Schmalzried

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06K9/20 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G05D1/00

Abstract: A technique for validating a balcony to receive delivery of a parcel via a UAV includes obtaining a first identification of a general location of the balcony; generating a first image representing a building including the balcony where the first image is selected based upon the location identified; obtaining a second identification or a confirmation of a precise location of the balcony in the building where the second identification or the confirmation are received in response to an end-user interaction with the first image; determining a deliverability score based at least in part on the precise location of the balcony; and indicating an enrollment status to the end-user where the enrollment status is generated based upon the deliverability score.

公开(公告)号：US10977951B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-13

申请号：US16687485

申请日：2019-11-18

Applicant: WING Aviation LLC

Inventor： Martin Kubie ,  Adam Woodworth ,  Jesse Blake ,  Reinaldo Negron ,  James Burgess ,  André Prager ,  Stephen Lacy ,  Giulia Pantalone

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/06 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/08 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D1/10

Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: accessing a noise exposure map stored in a database and generating a new flight path over the neighborhood for a first UAV of the UAVs based at least in part on the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to locations within the neighborhood. Each of the noise exposure values quantifies a cumulative noise exposure of a corresponding one of the locations due at least in part to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.

公开(公告)号：US20190383052A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-19

申请号：US16434570

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: WING Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: E04H6/44 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/12

Abstract: A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20190185157A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US15848316

申请日：2017-12-20

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64F1/364 ,  G05D1/104

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dedicated to deployment of operational infrastructure, with such deployment enabling charging of a battery of a UAV from a group of UAVs. More specifically, the group of UAVs may include at least (i) a first UAV of a first type configured to deploy operational infrastructure and (ii) a second UAV of a second type configured to carry out a task other than deployment of operational infrastructure. With this arrangement, a control system may determine an operational location at which to deploy operational infrastructure, and may cause the first UAV to deploy operational infrastructure at the operational location. Then, the control system may cause the second UAV to charge a battery of the second UAV using the operational infrastructure deployed by the first UAV at the operational location.