Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100140415 | VERTICAL TAKE OFF AND LANDING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AIRFRAME STRUCTURE - An unmanned aerial vehicle selectively formed of high strength composite structural part portions and lightweight aerodynamic foam portions to provide a low-cost and lightweight UAV that comports with export, civil airspace, and safety regulations. To further to reduce an overall weight of the UAV, mechanical elements are designed to provide multiple functionalities. Structural elements may be manufactured in same or similar non-specialized processes, and non-structural elements manufactured in same or similar non-specialized processes, reducing overall manufacturing costs. Materials and bonding elements are selected to provide frangibility and yet maintain normal flight structural integrity. | 06-10-2010 |
20110084162 | Autonomous Payload Parsing Management System and Structure for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for making partial deliveries of cargo provisions includes a UAV having one or more ducted fans and a structural interconnect connecting the one or more fans to a cargo pod. The cargo pod has an outer aerodynamic shell and one or more internal drive systems for modifying a relative position of one or more cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod. Control logic is configured to, after delivery of a partial portion of the cargo provisions contained within the cargo pod, vary a position of at least a portion of the remaining cargo provisions to maintain a substantially same center of gravity of the UAV relative to a center of gravity prior to delivery of the partial portion. Other center of gravity compensation mechanisms may also be controlled by the control logic to aid in maintaining the center of gravity of the UAV. | 04-14-2011 |
20110147533 | MORPHING DUCTED FAN FOR VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING VEHICLE - A morphing duct of a ducted fan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle is configured to change shape as function of the flight mode of the vehicle to improve the thrust per unit energy input for the ducted fan. Additionally, the morphing duct may be configured to change shape to change the flight path of the VTOL vehicle. | 06-23-2011 |
20120143482 | ELECTRONICALLY FILE AND FLY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE - Flight plans for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are automatically generated and filed with an air traffic control (ATC) system to quickly and easily secure approval for flying the UAV in a controlled airspace. In one example, one or more flight locations for a UAV are defined using a computing device. Using the computing device, an electronic flight plan is automatically generated based on the defined flight locations for the UAV. The flight plan can be transmitted to an ATC system. ATC approval, with or without modifications, or denial of the flight plan may also be received electronically and indicated on the operator device. | 06-07-2012 |
20120276844 | NON-CONTACT DATA TRANSFER FROM MOVING SYSTEMS - Systems, devices, and methods are described that facilitate the transmission of image data collected by a sensor within a gimbal assembly. A gimbal assembly includes one or more sensors positioned within the gimbal assembly. The one or more sensors collect data. The gimbal assembly is controllable to aim the one or more sensors. The gimbal assembly further includes a communications module within the gimbal assembly. The communications module transmits at least one directional optical signal to communicate data collected by the sensor. At least one transducer is positioned to receive the at least one directional electromagnetic signal. | 11-01-2012 |
20140018976 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNMANNED SYSTEM DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING - Data related to one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is collected and maintained by a device or system. The data may be organized and stored by any suitable memory structure, such as by a set of relational databases. In some examples, a system (or device) that stores such data is configured to generate a plurality of reports, such as a flight log for a particular UAV, a maintenance log for the UAV, and the like. The reports may, in some examples, need to be generated and submitted to governmental agencies in order to comply with governmental laws or regulations, such as U.S. Federal Air Regulations. | 01-16-2014 |
20150371136 | RESPONSE PLANNING AND EXECUTION AIDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for planning and executing a response to an incident includes a planning and execution data source and a processing system. The processing system is in operable communication with the planning and execution database. The processing system is configured to generate pre-planned responses to be executed by associated response assets, store data representative of the pre-planned responses in the planning and execution database, selectively retrieve a pre-planned response from the planning and execution database, communicate with the response assets associated with the retrieved pre-planned response, provide real-time tracking of the retrieved pre-planned response being executed by the associated response assets, and selectively generate recommendations for modifying the retrieved pre-planned response. | 12-24-2015 |