公开(公告)号：US20190217968A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US16358752

申请日：2019-03-20

Applicant: Louis J. Schmidt

Inventor： Louis J. Schmidt

IPC: B64F1/00 ,  B64F1/04 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64F1/007 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64F1/04

Abstract: A transportable launch and landing pad for drones includes a round surface member for supporting a drone on a ground surface. The surface member includes an endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter disposable on the flat or undulating topography of the ground surface. The endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter is formed of a stranded carbon steel wire rope. The surface member has a diameter establishing an area of the pad that is greater than any linear distance across an area of downwardly moving air of the drone when operated. The pad maintains a position on the ground surface without any separate securing member inserted into the ground, and the pad is not lifted from the ground surface by air from the thrust of the drone during approach and departure of the drone relative to the pad.

公开(公告)号：US20190185159A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US16210413

申请日：2018-12-05

Applicant: Iain Matthew Russell

Inventor： Iain Matthew Russell

IPC: B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/08 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/205 ,  B64C2201/206 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  G06Q10/00

Abstract: Various measures (for example methods, UAVs, controllers and computer programs) are provided in relation to controlling a UAV. The UAV is caused to provide energy to and receive energy from a given vehicle. The received energy is used to provide power to at least one component of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20190039728A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-07

申请号：US15670223

申请日：2017-08-07

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： Donald Bolden Hutson ,  Charles Wheeler Sweet, III ,  Paul Ferrell

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C29/0025 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/003 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/18

Abstract: Various embodiments include a drone having a landing control device that is configured to rotate wings into an auto-rotation decent configuration causing the drone to enter a nose-down attitude and spin about a long axis of the drone, and to collectively control pivot angles of the wings to enables control of decent rate and lateral motion during an auto-rotation descent. The landing control device may be a landing carousel including a pivotal frame secured to a drone body and configured to rotate about a carousel axis extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the body. The landing carousel may include a first wing motor configured to pivot a first wing about a wing pivot axis extending parallel to the carousel axis, and a second wing motor configured to pivot a second wing about the wing pivot axis independent of the pivot the first wing.

公开(公告)号：US20180357909A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15781662

申请日：2016-12-09

Applicant: DroneSense LLC

Inventor： Christopher Eyhorn

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

CPC classification number: G08G5/0039 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G01S7/003 ,  G01S13/86 ,  G01S13/89 ,  G01S13/913 ,  G01S13/9303 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G01S15/93 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/933 ,  G05D1/102 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0082 ,  G08G5/0091 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for sending a flight plan for execution by a drone, where the flight plan is adapted to a flight controller of the drone. Receiving flight data from the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan. Determining a modification to the flight plan based on the flight data received from the drone. Sending the modification to the flight plan to the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan, such that the drone executes the flight plan as modified by the modification.

公开(公告)号：US10061328B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-28

申请号：US14855504

申请日：2015-09-16

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： Michael-David Nakayoshi Canoy ,  Yinyin Liu ,  Kiet Tuan Chau

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/04 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G08G5/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/0008 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G06K9/0063 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0056 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0078 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods for controlling landings of a UAV in a landing zone including a plurality of landing bays. Various embodiments include a method implemented on a computing device for receiving continuous real-time sensor data from a transceiver and from sensors onboard the UAV, and detecting a target landing bay within the plurality of landing bays within the landing zone that is available for landing based on the continuous real-time sensor data. Orientation and position coordinates for landing in the target landing bay may be calculated based on the continuous real-time sensor data. Information regarding positions and flight vectors of a plurality of autonomous UAVs may be obtained, and a flight plan for landing in the target landing bay may be generated based on the orientation and the position coordinates, positions and flight vectors of the plurality of autonomous UAVs and a current orientation and position of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20180222339A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-09

申请号：US15943581

申请日：2018-04-02

Applicant: Asylon, Inc.

Inventor： Damon C. HENRY ,  Adam I. MOHAMED ,  Brent MCLAUGHLIN ,  David DONES

IPC: B60L11/18 ,  B64F1/20 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/00

CPC classification number: B60L11/1822 ,  B60L53/35 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B60L53/80 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64D45/08 ,  B64F1/007 ,  B64F1/12 ,  B64F1/20 ,  B64F1/362 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G05D1/101 ,  Y02T10/7005 ,  Y02T10/7072 ,  Y02T90/121 ,  Y02T90/124 ,  Y02T90/125 ,  Y02T90/14

Abstract: A reconfigurable system capable of autonomously exchanging material from unmanned vehicles of various types and sizes. The system comprises an environmental enclosure, a landing area, a universal mechanical system to load and unload material from the unmanned vehicle, and a central processor that manages the aforementioned tasks. The landing area may comprise a one or more visible or non-visible markers/emitters capable of generating composite images to assist in landing the unmanned vehicle upon the reconfigurable, autonomous system.

公开(公告)号：US10007272B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-26

申请号：US15228672

申请日：2016-08-04

Applicant: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.

Inventor： Christopher Boyd Tirpak ,  Danny J. Minnick ,  Keith Gerhards

IPC: G05D1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64F1/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/04

CPC classification number: G05D1/0653 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/201 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64F1/00 ,  B64F1/007 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/042 ,  G05D1/0676

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle docking systems and methods are presented herein. A UAV can hover in a hovering position above a docking pad of the UAV docking system based on positioning measurements. An on-board camera can image a machine-readable code present on the docking pad. The hovering position of the UAV above the docking pad can be adjusted based on imaging of the machine-readable code and ranging measurements to the docking pad. A tether can be extended from the UAV towards the docking pad. The hovering position of the UAV and extension of the tether can be adjusted such that a mating device present on a distal end of the tether engages with a coupling device of the UAV docking pad. The tether can be reeled in to the UAV to assist in lowering the UAV from the hovering position to a landing position on the docking pad.

公开(公告)号：US20180155032A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15870187

申请日：2018-01-12

Applicant: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Inventor： Julio Gil ,  Jeffrey Cooper

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  G08G5/02 ,  E05F15/77 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B60P3/11 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D9/00 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64F1/32 ,  G01S19/42 ,  B65G1/06 ,  B65G1/04

CPC classification number: G06Q10/0832 ,  B60P3/11 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  B64C2201/208 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D1/00 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64D9/00 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64F1/10 ,  B64F1/22 ,  B64F1/32 ,  B65G1/0435 ,  B65G1/06 ,  E05F15/77 ,  G01S19/42 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q10/0833 ,  G08G5/006 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025 ,  H04L67/26 ,  H04W4/70

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：US09964960B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-08

申请号：US15185809

申请日：2016-06-17

Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Inventor： Cody Fegely ,  Stephen Kubik

IPC: G05D1/06 ,  G05D1/08 ,  B64C13/18 ,  B64C29/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0676 ,  B64C13/18 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/18 ,  G05D1/0623 ,  G05D1/0858

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is provided and includes a fuselage, wings extending outwardly from the fuselage to define a wing plane and a prop-rotor operably disposed to generate thrust, a flight computer and controllable surfaces disposed on at least one of the fuselage, the wings and the prop-rotor. The controllable surfaces are controllable by the flight computer to position the wing plane in accordance with a predominant local wind direction.

公开(公告)号：US20180093768A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-05

申请号：US15394473

申请日：2016-12-29

Applicant: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Inventor： Dennis Castleman ,  Ruxin Chen ,  Frank Zhao ,  Glenn Black

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64D47/08

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/06 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/18

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to unmanned aerial vehicles or drones that have a capability of quickly swapping batteries. This may be accomplished even as the drone continues to fly. A drone consistent with the present disclosure may drop one battery and pickup another using an attachment mechanism. Attachment mechanisms of the present disclosure may include electro-magnets, mechanical actuators, pins, or hooks. Systems consistent with the present disclosure may also include locations where replacement batteries may be provided to aircraft via actuation devices coupled to a physical location.