公开(公告)号：US20190118980A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-25

申请号：US16218556

申请日：2018-12-13

Applicant: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited

Inventor： Oded SHMUELI ,  Ehud BEHAR

IPC: B64G1/10 ,  B64G1/42 ,  B64G1/66 ,  B64G1/64 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64G1/22

CPC classification number: B64G1/1085 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64G1/10 ,  B64G1/222 ,  B64G1/425 ,  B64G1/64 ,  B64G1/66 ,  B64G2001/643

Abstract: A ground-based satellite control station to control an array of nanosatellites in low earth orbit to produce an illumination event visible at a predetermined ground location. The nanosatellites in the array may have an illumination element, and array of nanosatellites in low earth orbit (LEO) may controllably apply their illumination to be visible on the ground. The nanosatellites may be coordinated by the control station to provide illumination events visible on the ground at particular locations and particular times.

公开(公告)号：US20190086938A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-21

申请号：US16199199

申请日：2018-11-25

Applicant: Genghiscomm Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Steve Shattil

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  H04B7/185 ,  H04B7/024 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H04W24/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/104 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/122 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  H04B7/024 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04W4/40 ,  H04W24/02

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses a first baseband processor to establish a first communication link with a ground network cell and a second baseband processor that establishes a second communication link with a user device. The second baseband processor is communicatively coupled to the first baseband processor such that the user device exchanges communication data with the core network via the first communication link and the second communication link. Flight-control hardware steers the UAV along a flight trajectory that is determined by a ground-based UAV controller based at least on a geolocation of the user device. The second baseband processor establishes the second communication link with the user device while the first baseband processor maintains the first communication link with the ground network cell.

公开(公告)号：US20190052865A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-14

申请号：US15856957

申请日：2017-12-28

Applicant: Intel IP Corporation

Inventor： Eliezer Tamir ,  Anders Grunnet-Jepsen

IPC: H04N13/271 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: H04N13/271 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64D47/08 ,  H04N13/239 ,  H04N2013/0081

Abstract: Systems and methods may include a drone or multiple drones to capturing depth information, which may be used to create a stereoscopic map. The drone may capture information about two trailing drones, including a baseline distance between the two trailing drones. Additional information may be captured, such as camera angle information for one or both of the two trailing drones. The drone may receive images from the two trailing drones. The images may be used (on the drone or on another device, such as a base station) to create a stereoscopic image using the baseline distance. The stereoscopic image may include determined depth information for objects within the stereoscopic image, for example based on the baseline distance between the two trailing drones and the camera angle information.

公开(公告)号：US20180276993A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：US15465916

申请日：2017-03-22

Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor： Stephen CHOW ,  Grant D. MILLER ,  Nader M. NASSAR ,  Richard J. NEWHOOK ,  Erich D. WALLS

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G08G5/0043 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/182 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0069

Abstract: Embodiments for managing drones by one or more processors are described. A first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto is controlled such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location. A second aerial drone is controlled such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location. While the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone. After the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, the second aerial drone is controlled such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

公开(公告)号：US20180188724A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-05

申请号：US15395180

申请日：2016-12-30

Applicant: Michael Jassowski ,  Ashwin S. Thirunahari

Inventor： Michael Jassowski ,  Ashwin S. Thirunahari

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

CPC classification number: G05D1/0027 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  G05D1/104

Abstract: Systems and methods may use a drone swarm to increase cargo capacity. A drone swarm may include a networked drone system or two or more drones, such as a parent drone and a child drone. A method may include receiving support component balance information captured by an inertial measurement unit on the support component supported by a parent drone, adjusting movement of the parent drone according to a control system using the support component balance information, receiving an indication of a low battery in a drone in the networked drone system, the indication including an identification of a replacement drone to replace the drone with the low battery in the networked drone system, and sending a reconfiguration command to at least one child drone to incorporate the replacement drone in the networked drone system.

公开(公告)号：US20180086460A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US15823832

申请日：2017-11-28

Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor： Brian S. Beaman ,  Eric V. Kline ,  Sarbajit K. Rakshit

IPC: B64D1/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D1/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/165

Abstract: Aspects include a system for transferring a payload between drones. The system includes a first aerial drone having a first transfer member and a first controller. The first controller including a processor configured to change a first altitude and first orientation of the first aerial drone. A second aerial drone is provided having a second transfer member and a second controller, the second transfer member having a cone member on one end, the second transfer member being configured to receive the payload. The second controller including a processor configured to change a second altitude and a second orientation of the second aerial drone. The controllers cooperate to dispose the first transfer member within the cone member and transfer the payload from the first aerial drone to the second aerial drone.

公开(公告)号：US09911346B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-06

申请号：US15206216

申请日：2016-07-08

Applicant: Proxy Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： John Klinger ,  Patrick C. Cesarano

IPC: G08G9/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G5/04

CPC classification number: G05D1/0214 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G01B9/021 ,  G01B11/00 ,  G01C21/165 ,  G01N21/8851 ,  G01N27/20 ,  G01N2201/12 ,  G01S7/006 ,  G01S13/02 ,  G01S13/06 ,  G01S13/42 ,  G01S15/02 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01S2013/0254 ,  G05B11/42 ,  G05B13/024 ,  G05B13/042 ,  G05D1/0022 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/0202 ,  G05D1/0204 ,  G05D1/0206 ,  G05D1/021 ,  G05D1/0246 ,  G05D1/0278 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G05D2201/0207 ,  G06K9/00637 ,  G06K9/00677 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/045 ,  G08G9/02 ,  H01Q3/26 ,  H01Q3/2617 ,  H01Q3/28 ,  H01Q3/36 ,  H04B7/0617 ,  H04B7/18506 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N7/183 ,  H04N2005/2255

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an unmanned vehicle for use with a companion unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a position unit that is configured to determine a current position of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a memory unit that is configured to store a planned path of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle includes a control unit that is configured to determine that the unmanned vehicle is off-course based on the current position of the unmanned vehicle and the planned path assigned to the unmanned vehicle, generate a delay and a corrected path for the unmanned vehicle, and communicate the delay and the corrected path to the companion unmanned vehicle. The control unit is further configured to control a movement of the unmanned vehicle along the corrected path after the delay.

公开(公告)号：US20180032089A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-01

申请号：US15221443

申请日：2016-07-27

Applicant: Kitty Hawk Corporation

Inventor： Damon Vander Lind ,  Gregory Mainland Horn

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/104 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64D3/00 ,  B64D13/06 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64D2013/0651 ,  G05D1/0204

Abstract: A system to maintain a phase difference is disclosed. Two or more aircraft fly in a continuous periodic trajectory. The system maintains a phase difference between the two or more aircraft. Telemetry information for a reference aircraft moving in a first periodic trajectory is received. A phase difference between a primary aircraft and the reference aircraft with respect to the first periodic trajectory is determined. A variance in the phase difference between the primary aircraft and the reference aircraft from the target phase difference is determined. A new trajectory for the primary aircraft that decreases the variance in the phase difference with respect to the new periodic trajectory is determined, and the primary aircraft is maneuvered to follow the new trajectory.

公开(公告)号：US09811084B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US15441764

申请日：2017-02-24

Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.

Inventor： Ashok N. Srivastava ,  Douglas M. Pasko ,  Hani Batla ,  Igor Kantor ,  Gurpreet Ubhi

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G07C5/00 ,  G06Q10/04

CPC classification number: G05D1/0027 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/123 ,  B64C2201/126 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G06Q10/047 ,  G07C5/008 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0078 ,  G08G5/0082 ,  G08G5/0091

Abstract: A device receives a request for a mission that includes traversal of a flight path from a first location to a second location and performance of mission operations, and calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the request. The device determines required capabilities for the mission based on the request, and identifies UAVs based on the required capabilities for the mission. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path and mission instructions for the mission operations, and provides the flight path/mission instructions to the identified UAVs to permit the identified UAVs to travel from the first location to the second location, via the flight path, and to perform the mission operations at the second location.

公开(公告)号：US09809306B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US14819048

申请日：2015-08-05

Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.

Inventor： James Alexander Stark ,  Clifford Wong ,  Robert Scott Trowbridge

IPC: B64D47/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/04 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/143 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64D47/02 ,  G05D1/0027 ,  G05D1/0808 ,  G05D1/102 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G08G5/0008 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0034 ,  G08G5/0039 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/04 ,  G08G5/045

Abstract: A system for flock-based control of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system includes UAVs each including a processor executing a local control module and memory accessible by the processor for use by the local control module. The system includes a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs. The flight plans are stored on the UAVs, and, during flight operations, each of the local control modules independently controls the corresponding UAV to execute its flight plan without ongoing control from the fleet manager module. The fleet manager module is operable to initiate flight operations by concurrently triggering initiation of the flight plans by the multiple UAVs. Further, the local control modules monitor front and back end communication channels and, when a channel is lost, operate the UAV in a safe mode.