Patent classifications
B64U10/17
Ganged servo flight control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle
A ganged servo flight control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. The flight control system may include a swashplate having first, second, and third connection portions; a first control assembly connected to the first connection portion of the swashplate; a second control assembly connected to the second connection portion of the swashplate; and a third control assembly connected to the third connection portion of the swashplate. The first control assembly may include two or more servo-actuators connected to operate in cooperation with each other.
Mobile self-leveling landing platform for small-scale UAVs
A mobile self-leveling landing platform vehicle is disclosed that includes a landing surface and one or more wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel, a control arm coupled with the wheel and the body of the landing platform vehicle, and an actuator coupled with the control arm and the body of the platform vehicle. Methods for self-leveling the landing platform vehicle are also disclosed.
Ground Operations for Autonomous Object Pickup
An aircraft based object acquisition system includes an airframe capable of flight. The system includes one or more sensors configured to identify a physical characteristic of an object or an environment. An object acquisition mechanism is coupled to the airframe and configured to manipulate and secure the object to the airframe. A ground based movement system may be configured to position the airframe such that the object is accessible to the object acquisition mechanism. A processor is communicatively configured to control operation of the ground based movement system to approach the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors, and to control the object acquisition mechanism to pick up the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors.
Updating virtual aerial map using sensors associated with aerial vehicles
A system may include a receiver configured to receive sensor data from one or more aerial vehicles, the sensor data including map data including sensed data related to an aerial view from one or more aerial vehicles of terrain and objects on the terrain. The system may also include a map updating processor in communication with the receiver. The map updating processor may receive the map data and identify a geographic location and/or an orientation associated with the map data. The map updating processor may also align, based at least in part on the geographic location and/or the orientation, the map data with a virtual aerial map providing an aerial view of terrain and objects on the terrain. The map updating processor may also incorporate at least a portion of the map data into the virtual aerial map and generate an updated virtual aerial map.
Unmanned Aircraft, Device for Controlling Unmanned Aircraft, Method for Controlling Unmanned Aircraft, and Device for Detecting Failure of Unmanned Aircraft
[Problem to be Solved]
The object is to provide a device, a method and the like which, when a fault occurs, particularly when a fault occurs in an operation of some of rotary wings, can control a flight depending on the fault, or which can be at least used for control when a fault occurs, or which can detect the fault.
[Solution]
A control device for unmanned aircraft comprising: a rotary-wing control signal generation circuit for generating a rotary wing control signal for causing a driving device to drive a plurality of rotary wings for flying the unmanned aircraft; a measuring device for measuring a physical amount relating to an operation of at least one of the plurality of rotary wings; and a fault detection circuit for detecting a fault in the operation of at least one of the plurality of rotary wings by using the physical amount measured by the measuring device, wherein the rotary-wing control signal generation circuit is configured to generate a rotary wing control signal depending on the fault detected by the fault detection circuit in the operation of at least one of the plurality of rotary wings, is provided.
VEHICLE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICES
A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.
AIRCRAFT LANDING ASSIST APPARATUS, AIRCRAFT LANDING ASSIST METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM
An aircraft landing assist apparatus includes an image obtaining unit, a shape obtaining unit, a measuring unit, and a calculating unit. The image obtaining unit is configured to obtain an image of a surrounding region of a landing point on which an aircraft is to land. The shape obtaining unit is configured to obtain a shape of the surrounding region of the landing point on the basis of the obtained image. The measuring unit is configured to measure an above-air wind direction and an above-air wind velocity. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a landing-point wind direction and a landing-point wind velocity on the basis of the obtained shape of the surrounding region of the landing point, the measured above-air wind direction, and the measured above-air wind velocity.
Method, apparatus and system of providing communication coverage to an unmanned aerial vehicle
A method of providing communication coverage includes collecting a location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while the UAV is in flight, determining a communication signal distribution in a proximity of the UAV, and determining one or more locations for arranging one or more relays based on the communication signal distribution to improve communication signal coverage along a flight path of the UAV.
Autonomous package delivery system
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for enabling unmanned and optionally-manned cargo delivery to personnel on the ground. For example, an aircraft may be used to provide rapid response cargo delivery to widely separated small units in demanding and unpredictable conditions that pose unacceptable risks to both ground resupply personnel and aircrew. Together with a ground vehicle, packages from the aircraft may be deployed to ground personnel in disbursed operating locations without exposing the ground personnel to the aircraft's open landing zone.
PEAK POWER USE WITH PILOT MONITORING
An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.