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| 1 | 10848374 | Providing network connectivity for a service disruption | According to some aspects, disclosed methods and systems may include receiving a message indicating a loss of connectivity to a network of a distressed device associated with a location. The method may include connecting, via one or more network devices, to the distressed device associated with the location. The method may also include transmitting information between the distressed device and the network. | Michael J. O'Reirdan (Riverton, CA), Phillip A. Sanderson (Mount Laurel, NJ) | Comcast Cable Communications, Llc (Philadelphia, PA) | 2018-05-21 | 2020-11-24 | H04W4/00, H04L12/26, H04L12/24, H04W24/04, H04W84/12, H04W92/12, H04W92/10 | 15/985247 |
| 2 | 10846843 | Utilizing artificial intelligence with captured images to detect agricultural failure | A device receives images of a field on a farm, and filters the images of the field to generate filtered images. The device isolates planting lanes in the filtered images, where the planting lanes include lanes formed by crops in the field, and the planting lanes are isolated via a masking technique or a sliding windows technique. The device identifies plant gaps in the planting lanes, where the plant gaps correspond to portions of the planting lanes that are missing crops, the plant gaps are identified based on a heat map when the masking technique is utilized to isolate the planting lanes, and the plant gaps are identified based on sliding windows when the sliding windows technique is utilized to isolate the planting lanes. The device superimposes the plant gaps over the images to generate a visual representation of stressed areas in the field, and performs an action based on the visual representation of the stressed areas. | Adalberto Gonzalez (Nuevo Leon, MX), Badri Lokanathan (Atlanta, GA), Artemis Koutsorodi (Chicago, IL), Ankur Mathur (Chicago, IL), Brandon Webber (Noblesville, IN) | Accenture Global Solutions Limited (Dublin, IE) | 2018-12-18 | 2020-11-24 | G06T7/00, G06Q50/02, G06K9/46, G06T7/11, G06K9/00, G06Q10/06 | 16/224301 |
| 3 | 10836483 | Ad hoc dynamic data link repeater | In one possible embodiment, a system capable of a self-propagating data link includes an unmanned vehicle having a data link transceiver and at least one deployable data link transceiver. The unmanned vehicle having a deployment means for deploying the at least one deployable data link transceiver. | Gil Michael (Oak Park, CA) | Aerovironment, Inc. (Simi Valley, CA) | 2016-07-19 | 2020-11-17 | B64C39/02, H04B7/185, B64D17/78, B64C27/02, B64B1/40, H04B1/3822, F42C13/00 | 15/214425 |
| 4 | 10796268 | Apparatus and method for providing shipment information | An apparatus, including: a shipment conveyance device which is a shipping container, a pallet, or a piece of luggage, a global positioning device, located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, which determines a position or location of the shipment conveyance device, a processor which generates a message in response to an occurrence of an event or in response to a request for information regarding the shipment conveyance device which request is automatically received by a receiver, and which message contains information regarding a shipment of the shipment conveyance device, and a transmitter, located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, which transmits the message to a communication device associated with an owner of the shipment conveyance device or an individual authorized to receive the message. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | Gtj Ventures, Llc (Yonkers, NY) | 2019-01-05 | 2020-10-06 | G06Q10/08 | 16/240714 |
| 5 | 10794712 | Dynamic target coverage using mobile assets | Techniques for providing target coverage using mobile assets are described, including techniques for dynamically adjusting routing of mobile assets to cover targets when a disruption occurs in the original routing and target coverage plans. Mobile assets are assigned routes to cover target areas and adherence to the routes is monitored. If a first mobile asset experiences a route interruption, other mobile assets are automatically re-routed to cover the target areas originally covered by the route of the first mobile asset. | Thomas Guzik (Edina, MN) | Getac Technology Corporation (Taipei, TW), Whp Workflow Solutions Inc. (North Charleston SC) | 2017-09-21 | 2020-10-06 | G01C21/34, G01C21/00, G01C21/20, G06Q10/04 | 15/712077 |
| 6 | 10767682 | Frangible fasteners with flexible connectors for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods | Frangible fasteners with flexible connectors for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative aircraft includes a fuselage portion, a wing portion, a winglet carried by the wing portion, and a frangible fastener coupling the winglet portion to the wing portion. The frangible fastener can include an outer body with a first portion in contact with the wing portion, a second portion in contact with the winglet portion, and a frangible portion between the first and second portions. A flexible member is positioned at least partially within the outer body and is connected to the first portion so as to extend through and out of the second portion. A stop element is carried by the flexible member. | Michael Matthew Leon (Washougal, WA), Kristian Rubesh (Bingen, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2017-06-29 | 2020-09-08 | F16B31/02, F16B41/00, B64C23/06, B64C1/26 | 15/638137 |
| 7 | 10736121 | Dynamic transmission control for a wireless network | In one possible embodiment, a wireless network with dynamic transmission control is provided that includes a multiple of nodes. The nodes include an arbiter and multiple client nodes. The arbiter is configured to control an operation of the client nodes by defining communications operation cycles and allocating a bandwidth to each of the client nodes on a cycle by cycle basis in response to requests for bandwidth from the client nodes. | John F. Grabowsky (Camarillo, CA), Phillip T. Tokumaru (Thousand Oaks, CA), Robert J. Kniskern (Fort Wayne, IN), Nicholas S. Currens (Lima, OH), Allan L. Levine (Thousand Oaks, CA) | Aerovironment, Inc. (Simi Valley, CA) | 2015-05-01 | 2020-08-04 | H04W72/08, H04W72/04, H04W72/12, H04B7/185, H04L29/08, H04W28/20 | 14/702445 |
| 8 | 10732283 | Ladar sensor for landing, docking and approach | A system for landing or docking a mobile platform is enabled by a flash LADAR sensor having an adaptive controller with Automatic Gain Control (AGC) . Range gating in the LADAR sensor penetrates through diffuse reflectors. The LADAR sensor adapted for landing/approach comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, transmit optics, receive optics, a focal plane array of detectors, a readout integrated circuit, camera support electronics and image processor, an image analysis and bias calculation processor, and a detector array bias control circuit. The system is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. | Patrick Gilliland (Santa Barbara, CA), Robert W Koseluck (Santa Barbara, CA), Steve Penniman (Goleta, CA), Brad Short (Goleta, CA), Joseph Spagnolia (Ventura, CA), Roger Stettner (Santa Barbara, CA) | Continental Advanced Lidar Solutions Us, Llc (Carpinteria, CA) | 2017-12-20 | 2020-08-04 | G01C3/08, B64G1/64, B64D47/00, G01S17/18, G01S17/89, G01S7/4863, G01S7/486, G01S7/481, G01S17/88, B64D39/00 | 15/848253 |
| 9 | 10708548 | Systems and methods for video analysis rules based on map data | Systems, methods and computer-readable media for creating and using video analysis rules that are based on map data are disclosed. A sensor (s) , such as a video camera, can track and monitor a geographic location, such as a road, pipeline, or other location or installation. A video analytics engine can receive video streams from the sensor, and identify a location of the imaged view in a geo-registered map space, such as a latitude-longitude defined map space. A user can operate a graphical user interface to draw, enter, select, and/or otherwise input on a map a set of rules for detection of events in the monitored scene, such as tripwires and areas of interest. When tripwires, areas of interest, and/or other features are approached or crossed, the engine can perform responsive actions, such as generating an alert and sending it to a user. | Zeeshan Rasheed (Herndon, VA), Dana Eubanks (Herndon, VA), Weihong Yin (Great Falls, VA), Zhong Zhang (Great Falls, VA), Kyle Glowacki (Reston, VA), Allison Beach (Leesburg, VA) | Avigilon Fortress Corporation (Vancouver, CA) | 2018-09-24 | 2020-07-07 | H04N7/18, G08B13/196, G06K9/00, G06T17/05, G06K9/62, G06K9/32 | 16/139446 |
| 10 | 10705131 | Method and apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines | The preferred embodiments relate to power engineering and can be used for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines. A method for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines includes installing, on a lightning-protector cable or power conductor, an apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines, controlling the movement of the apparatus, controlling the operation of apparatuses for inspecting the overhead power transmission lines, and receiving, processing and analyzing data produced by those apparatuses. Furthermore, the placement and control of the movement of the fault-locating apparatus are carried out with the aid of a helicopter-type aircraft. The apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines comprises a control system, apparatuses for inspecting the overhead power transmission lines, and a drive system, wherein the apparatus additionally comprises a helicopter-type aircraft. | Lubov Olegovna Vinogradova (Ekaterinburg, RU), Vadim Aleksandrovich Krivorotov (Zarechny, RU), Alexander Viktorovich Lemekh (Ekaterinburg, RU), Viacheslav Andreyevich Tretyakov (Goeppingen, DE), Arnold Georgiyevich Shastin (Zarechny, RU) | Obschestvo S Ogranichennoj Otvetstvennostyu "Laboratoriya Buduschego" (Ekaterinburg, RU) | 2014-03-12 | 2020-07-07 | G01R31/08, B64D47/00, H02G1/02 | 15/116349 |
| 11 | 10673520 | Cellular command, control and application platform for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device can be configured to detect a physical connection with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight controller through an interface. The device can identify a UAV identifier associated with the UAV flight controller and determine, based on the UAV identifier, an application programming interface (API) for communicating with the UAV flight controller. Using the API, the device can establish a communications link with the UAV flight controller and perform an action based on the communications link. | Warren J. Westrup (Irving, TX), Joe Cozzarelli (Whippany, NJ), Eric T. Ringer (Portland, OR), Derek Wade Ohlarik (Flemington, NJ), Mauricio Pati Caldeira de Andrada (South Plainfield, NJ), David B. Murray (Fanwood, NJ), X (Portland, OR) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-11-07 | 2020-06-02 | H04B7/185, G06F9/54, G06F8/60, H04W76/10 | 15/806044 |
| 12 | 10672281 | Flight planning using obstacle data | A device can receive obstacle data from a plurality of sources. The obstacle data can include location data associated with obstacles. The device can determine weightings for the obstacles based on the plurality of sources. Each of the weightings can indicate a measure of reliability/accuracy of the information regarding an obstacle. The device can process the obstacle data to associate the obstacles with airspace voxel (s) , that represent one or more 3D portions of airspace, based on the location data, receive flight parameters relating to a proposed flight plan of a UAV through airspace represented by a set of airspace voxels, determine whether the set of airspace voxels includes any of the airspace voxel (s) , and perform one or more actions to cause a recommendation, regarding the proposed flight plan and based on the determination, to be provided. The recommendation can be based on one or more of the weightings. | Matthew S. Fanelli (Washington, DC), Shane Pierce Williams (Monument, CO), Jonathan Evans (Portland, OR), Tariq Rashid (Jacksonville, FL) | Verizan Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2018-04-10 | 2020-06-02 | G08G5/00, B64C39/02, B60L58/18, G05D1/02, G06F3/01, G06T17/05, B60L3/00, G06T19/00, G02B27/01, H04N13/383 | 15/949855 |
| 13 | 10660111 | Network resource allocation for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives network condition information. The network condition information is indicative of network resource availability at a plurality of locations. The device processes the network condition information to associate network resource availability identified in the network condition information with one or more airspace voxels that represent one or more three-dimensional (3D) portions of airspace corresponding to the plurality of locations. The device receives flight parameters relating to a proposed flight plan of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through airspace represented by a set of airspace voxels, and network performance parameters associated with the proposed flight plan. The device determines that the network resource availability that is associated with the set of airspace voxels fails to satisfy the network performance parameters, and performs one or more actions to enable the UAV to access network resources that satisfy the network performance parameters. | Matthew S. Fanelli (Portland, OR), Jonathan Evans (Portland, OR), Amit Gupta (Highland Park, NJ), Parvez Ahmad (Fremont, CA) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2018-03-19 | 2020-05-19 | H04W4/00, H04W28/26, H04W4/40, G08G5/00, H04W72/04, H04W72/08 | 15/925465 |
| 14 | 10656305 | Method and apparatus for simulating spectral information of geographic areas | A method and apparatus for simulating spectral representation of a region of interest is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a physical characteristic of a geospatial portion of the region of interest, associating the determined physical characteristic with a material of a spectral library, the spectral library having at least one spectral definition material, associating the spectral definition of the material with the geospatial portion of the region of interest, wherein the material is at least partially representative of the geospatial section of the region of interest, and generating the simulated spectral representation of the region of interest at least in part from at least the associated spectral definition of the at least one material. | Robert J. Klein (Ballwin, MO), Pamela L. Blake (Huntington Beach, CA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2016-07-01 | 2020-05-19 | G06K9/00, G01V99/00, G01J3/28, G06K9/46 | 15/201136 |
| 15 | 10650686 | Flight plan recommendation based on analysis of airspace voxels | A device can receive information that identifies an airspace voxel that represents a three-dimensional portion of airspace during a particular time period. The device can associate one or more airspace parameters with the airspace voxel. The one or more airspace parameters can represent one or more conditions that relate to flight through the airspace voxel during the particular time period. The device can receive one or more flight parameters regarding a potential flight plan of an aircraft through a plurality of airspace voxels, including the airspace voxel, during the particular time period. The device can analyze the one or more flight parameters and a plurality of airspace parameters, associated with the plurality of airspace voxels, using one or more airspace rules. The device can output a recommendation regarding the potential flight plan based on analyzing the one or more flight parameters and the plurality of airspace parameters. | Jonathan Evans (Portland, OR), Dana Maher (Portland, OR), Tariq Rashid (Jacksonville, FL) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-10-04 | 2020-05-12 | G05D1/00, G08G5/00 | 15/725012 |
| 16 | 10645169 | Managing unmanned aerial vehicle flight data | A device can be configured to receive flight data associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) , at least some of the flight data being received from the UAV, store the flight data, receive, from a requesting device, a flight data request, the flight data request including information identifying the UAV or a flight of the UAV, determine response data based on the flight data request and based on an entity associated with the requesting device, the response data including a subset of the flight data, which is available to be accessed by the entity, and perform an action associated with the response data. | Jonathan Evans (Portland, OR), Eric T. Ringer (Portland, OR), Warren Westrup (Irving, TX), Derek Wade Ohlarik (Flemington, NJ), Joe Cozzarelli (Whippany, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-11-20 | 2020-05-05 | H04L29/08, B64C39/02, G05D1/00, G08G5/00 | 15/818454 |
| 17 | 10631306 | Wireless spectrum management system | A spectrum management system to allocate frequencies in a plurality of wireless communication systems in geographical proximity includes a spectrum manager to allocate a pool of frequencies among the wireless communication systems. Each system is allocated a set of frequencies for selecting on which frequency to operate with at least one of the sets of frequencies including more than one frequency, and at least two of the allocated sets different from each other. The system additionally includes a database to store and organize information used by the spectrum manager to perform the allocation. | Ron Yogev (Netanya, IL) | Amimon Ltd. (Ra'anana, IL) | 2016-12-28 | 2020-04-21 | H04W72/08, H04W72/04, H04W16/14, H04W16/10 | 16/066676 |
| 18 | 10627812 | Risk based driver assistance for approaching intersections of limited visibility | An automotive driver assistance for a vehicle with an improved capability to handle obstructed sensor coverage includes steps of acquiring sensor data on an environment of the vehicle from at least one sensor, of generating an environment representation based on the acquired sensor data and of predicting at least one behavior of the vehicle. The method determines at least one area in the environment of the vehicle wherein for the at least one area either a confidence for the sensor data is below a threshold or no sensor data is available and generates at least one virtual traffic entity in the at least one determined area, wherein the virtual traffic entity is adapted to interact with the at least one predicted behavior of the vehicle. A risk measure for each combination of the at least one virtual traffic entity and the predicted behavior of the vehicle is estimated, the calculated risk measure is evaluated and a controlling action for the vehicle is executed based on the evaluated risk measure. | Julian Eggert (Offenbach, DE), Tim Puphal (Offenbach, DE), Tsukasa Sugino (Offenbach, DE), Florian Damerow (Uelversheim, DE) | Honda Research Institute Europe Gmbh (Offenbach/Main, DE) | 2018-02-13 | 2020-04-21 | G05D1/00, B60W30/095, G08G1/16 | 15/895325 |
| 19 | 10618654 | Unmanned aerial vehicle platform | A device receives a request for a flight path of UAV from a first location to a second location in a region, and determines, based on credentials associated with the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device and a network. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on the request and component information associated with the UAV. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the capability information and one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path based on one or more of the weather information, the air traffic information, the obstacle information, or the regulatory information associated with the region, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-09-28 | 2020-04-14 | B64C39/02, G06Q10/00, G05D1/10 | 15/718665 |
| 20 | 10609340 | Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics | A vehicle and trailer display system is disclosed. The display system includes a plurality of imaging devices disposed on the vehicle, each having a field of view. The display system further includes a screen disposed in the vehicle operable to display images from the imaging devices. A controller is in communication with the imaging devices and the screen and is operable to receive a hitch angle corresponding to the angle between the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the hitch angle, the controller is operable to select a field of view of an imaging device to display on the screen. | Sudipto Aich (Palo Alto, CA), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Alex Maurice Miller (Canton, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2017-11-07 | 2020-03-31 | H04N7/18, B62D13/06, B60W30/00, B62D15/02, B60D1/24, B60D1/62, B60R1/00, G01B11/26, G01B7/30 | 15/805918 |
| 21 | 10607462 | Aerial imaging privacy enhancement system | A camera-based security system protects an asset by detecting an aerial surveillor and consequently storing notifications into a video archive, alerting to an operator console, and actuating privation apparatus. One or more cameras provides video streams to a processor which derives object motion. Attributes of object motion trigger notification to record and alert on conditions associated with an aerial surveillor. Tracking of pixels, pixel blocks, and motion vectors enable rules based determination of an airborne surveillance vehicle according to characteristic hovering or lingering by masking LSB of accumulated positive and negative movements. Actuators cause privation enhancement apparatus to obfuscate the protected asset (structure, area, or volume) or to interpose between the protected asset and the surveillor. The method traces a travel path of an object, and determines a ray from a private property to a surveillor drone. | Dean Drako (Austin, TX) | Eagle Eye Networks, Inc. (Austin, TX) | 2019-07-28 | 2020-03-31 | G08B13/196, G06T7/20, H04N7/18, H04N5/247, G06T7/13, H04N19/30, B64C39/02, H04N19/513, H04N19/20 | 16/524131 |
| 22 | 10600327 | Unmanned aircraft transportation | A method of transporting an unmanned aircraft (UA) is provided. The method may include determining a route for transporting an unmanned aircraft (UA) . Further, the method may include determining at least one vehicle for transporting the UA along the determined route. The method may also include deploying the UA to a first waypoint of the determined route. Moreover, the method may include docking the UA to a first docking station mounted to a first vehicle of the at least one vehicle proximate the first waypoint. In addition, the method may include transporting the UA to a second waypoint of the determined route via the first vehicle, and undocking the UA from the first docking station at the second waypoint. | Glen Evan (Sunnyvale, CA) | Fujitsu Limited (Kawasaki, JP) | 2017-08-07 | 2020-03-24 | G08G5/00, G08G5/02, B64F1/12, G01S5/00, G06Q10/08, G05D1/00, H04W4/02, B64C39/02, G05D1/10, H04W4/40 | 15/671122 |
| 23 | 10592991 | System and method for detecting potential property insurance fraud | Methods for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes include determining a concentration of a molecular constituent at the insured property. The molecular constituent may be a byproduct or residual product of anthropogenic fire accelerants or anthropogenic sources of ignition or explosion. In some embodiments, the concentration of the molecular constituent at the insured property is determined using spectral imaging technology. Radiative transfer computer models may be used to determine the concentration of the molecular constituent based on spectral images. | Patrick D. Brown (Marlborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2018-02-28 | 2020-03-17 | G06Q40/00, G06T11/20, G06K9/52, G06K9/00, G06F16/51, G06Q40/08, G06K9/46 | 15/907841 |
| 24 | 10582321 | Identification of unmanned aerial vehicles based on audio signatures | A device may receive audio information that includes an audio signature. The device may identify an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on the audio signature. The UAV may be identified based on a UAV identifier that is encoded into or determined based on the audio signature. The device may obtain profile information associated with the UAV based on the UAV identifier. The device may provide the profile information. | Gaurav Goel (Los Gatos, CA), Kiran Naiga (Mountain View, CA) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2016-09-29 | 2020-03-03 | H04R29/00, G10L25/51, G08G5/00, G10L25/48, G10L17/26, B64C39/02 | 15/280641 |
| 25 | 10562492 | Control, monitoring and/or security apparatus and method | An apparatus, including a receiver which receives information regarding a limitation or restriction for allowing or prohibiting a control operation or monitoring operation regarding a vehicle or premises, a memory which stores the information, and a first controller programmed to perform a control or monitoring operation regarding the vehicle or premises. The receiver receives a first signal transmitted from a second controller, containing information regarding the control operation or monitoring operation. The first controller determines, using the information, if the control operation or monitoring operation is allowed or disallowed. If allowed, the first controller transmits a second signal to a third controller. The third controller generates a third signal in response to the second signal, which activates, deactivates, enables, disables, controls an operation of, or monitors an operation of, the vehicle or premises, or a system, equipment system, equipment, component, device, or accessory, of the vehicle or premises. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | Gtj Ventures, Llc (Yonkers, NY) | 2003-04-23 | 2020-02-18 | G08B1/08, B64D45/00, B60R25/33, B60R25/102 | 10/420799 |
| 26 | 10546441 | Control, monitoring, and/or security, apparatus and method for premises, vehicles, and/or articles | An apparatus, including a server computer, located remote from a premises, a computer or processor located at the premises, and a user device located at a location remote from the server computer and the premises. The server computer receives a first message and generates a second message containing information regarding an individual identified as already being present inside the premises. The second message contains information regarding whether or not the premises is occupied. If the premises is occupied, the second message contains information identifying the individual identified as being inside of, or occupying, the premises. The server computer transmits a control signal or monitoring signal to the computer or processor. The computer or processor performs the control operation or the monitoring operation. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | --- | 2014-05-20 | 2020-01-28 | G07C9/00, H04L29/08, H04L29/06, G08B25/00 | 14/281922 |
| 27 | 10543854 | Gaze-guided communication for assistance in mobility | The invention assists a person in acting in a dynamic environment. A method and a system for assisting a person operating an ego-vehicle a person supporting the operation of the ego-vehicle in a dynamic environment such as a traffic environment is proposed. The method encompasses determining a gaze direction of the person and identifying a target object based thereon, generating prediction information predicting a future behavior of the target object and the ego-vehicle, estimating a time-to-event or a distance or a distance variation for the ego-vehicle and the target object and generating a signal for driving an actuator and indicative of the estimated time-to-event, distance or distance variation. The actuator causes a stimulation being perceivable by the person by its perceptual capabilities based on the generated signal. The method determines whether assistance for assessing the dynamic situation is requested, for example by monitoring a gaze behavior of the person. | Christiane Wiebel-Herboth (Offenbach, DE), Matti Kruger (Offenbach, DE) | Honda Research Institute Europe Gmbh (Offenbach/Main, DE) | 2018-10-19 | 2020-01-28 | B60Q1/00, B60W50/16, B60K35/00, B60W50/10, B60W30/095, G06F3/01, B60W50/14 | 16/165234 |
| 28 | 10522047 | Guidance system of a drone | A guidance system for a drone is described, said system comprising: a plurality of poles fixed to the ground and associated with a private or public electric power grid, a plurality of devices fixed to the poles and powered by the electric power grid, said devices being interconnected in a wireless network and comprising a radio communication module for communicating with the drone, a controller connected to the wireless network and intended to program a flight path of the drone between two or more poles by transmitting configuration commands to the respective devices of the wireless network, for configuring the radio communication modules, wherein the radio communication module of one pole in the flight path is configured to guide the drone towards the radio communication module of a following pole in the flight path. | Alessandro Giusti (Lugano, CH), Luca Maria Gambardella (Tradate, IT), Giovanni Minetti (Coldrerio, CH), Jerome Guzzi (Personico, CH) | Paradox Engineering Sa (Novazzano, CH), Supsi (SCOULA UNIVERSITARIA PROFESSIONALE DELLA SVIZZERA ITALIANA), (Manno Ch) | 2016-01-15 | 2019-12-31 | G08G5/00, G05D1/02, B60L53/80, B64C39/02, B60L53/60, G01S1/68 | 15/545631 |
| 29 | 10518877 | Inter-vehicle communication for hazard handling for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for inter-vehicle communication for hazard handling with an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) . for certain example embodiments, at least one machine may: (i) receive one or more flight attributes from a remote UFV, with the one or more flight attributes indicative of one or more flight characteristics of the remote UFV, or (ii) adjust a flight path of a UFV based at least partially on one or more flight attributes received from a remote UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-19 | 2019-12-31 | G05D1/10, G08G5/00, B64C39/02 | 13/720694 |
| 30 | 10513350 | Capture devices for unmanned aerial, vehicles, including track-borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods | Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion, a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion, and a carriage carried by, and movable along, the carriage track. The system can further include a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the at least one boom portion, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage. | Peter Kunz (Hood River, OR), Clifford Jackson (White Salmon, WA), Craig Aram Thomasian (The Dalles, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2018-02-09 | 2019-12-24 | B64F1/02 | 15/892701 |
| 31 | 10507914 | Spooler for unmanned aerial vehicle system | In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle, an exit geometry sensor for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry. | Jason S. Walker (Medford, MA), John W. Ware (Brookline, MA), Samuel A. Johnson (Loveland, CO), Andrew M. Shein (Winchester, MA) | Flir Detection, Inc. (Stillwater, OK) | 2016-02-11 | 2019-12-17 | B64C39/02, B64D47/08, H02G11/02, B64F3/00 | 15/041211 |
| 32 | 10501178 | Controlled range and payload for unmanned vehicles, and associated systems and methods | The presently disclosed technology is directed generally to unmanned vehicle systems and methods configured to satisfy a first set of export control regulations, such as those within the jurisdiction of one government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of Commerce) without falling within the purview of a second set of export control regulations, such as export control regulations within the jurisdiction of another government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of State) . Through limited range of operation, limited payload types, limited capabilities, and tamper-proof or tamper-resistant features, embodiments of the unmanned vehicle system are designed to fall within the purview and under control of one agency and not within the purview and under control of another agency. | Jeffrey H. Knapp (Hood River, OR), David Tasker (Beaverton, OR), Gary Lee Viviani (Lyle, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2017-12-04 | 2019-12-10 | B64C39/02, G05D1/00, G06Q30/00, G06Q50/18, G06Q10/10, G05D1/10, G06Q50/26, B64C19/00 | 15/831086 |
| 33 | 10490791 | Container venting system | The present invention extends to a container venting system. A wall portion of a container includes a (e.g., thermo-sensitive) panel. Any portion of the panel exposed to sufficient heat crumbles or ruptures (e.g., without burning) creating an opening in the wall portion. In one aspect, a container is included in a vehicle (e.g., an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ) . The container includes a panel in an external wall of the vehicle. Any portion of the panel exposed to sufficient heat crumbles to create an opening in the external wall of the vehicle. A container can be a sealed container with the panel sealed to the wall portion or to the external wall of the vehicle. The interior of the sealed container can contain a battery cell. Creating an opening allows gases to vent out of the sealed container and/or to vent outside of the vehicle. | Paul E. I. Pounds (Brisbane, AU) | Olaeris, Inc. (Burleson, TX) | 2017-10-02 | 2019-11-26 | B64D45/00, H01M2/12 | 15/722992 |
| 34 | 10482772 | System and method for generating an optimized search and rescue profile for an in-flight aircraft | Methods and systems are provided for generating a flight profile for search and rescue (SAR) operations. The method comprises monitoring flight parameters of an in-flight aircraft engaged in star operations through the aircraft's flight management system (FMS) . The flight parameters are transmitted to a ground-based FMS that accesses a terrain database and a real-time weather database. With this information, the ground-based FMS generates a star flight profile for the aircraft. The flight profile is then transmitted to the in-flight aircraft's FMS. | Sanju Kumari (Karnataka, IN), Minni Ambooken (Karnataka, IN), Subhadeep Pal (Karnataka, IN), Nithin Ambika (Karnataka, IN) | Honeywell International Inc. (Morris Plains, NJ) | 2017-10-18 | 2019-11-19 | G08G5/00, G01C23/00, B64D43/00 | 15/786725 |
| 35 | 10462639 | Enhanced gateway safety system | A method comprising receiving non-voice information concerning an emergency event captured by at least one electronic device, selecting a responding agency to receive the non-voice information, based on at least one of a unique identifier and location information, and directing the non-voice information to the selected agency, via a broadband internet connection, to provide enhanced situational awareness regarding the emergency event to a responding agent at the selected agency. A method comprising receiving non-voice information concerning an emergency event, selecting a responding agency to which to direct the non-voice information, processing the non-voice information to be compatible with at least one of an intake or dispatch system utilized by the selected agency, and directing the processed non-voice information to the selected agency, via a broadband internet connection, to provide enhanced situational awareness regarding the emergency event to a responding agent at the selected agency. | Scott H. Adams (Boca Raton, FL), Thomas J. Margetta (Boca Raton, FL), Russell Orzel (Boca Raton, FL) | Strax Technologies, Llc (Boca Raton, FL) | 2018-01-25 | 2019-10-29 | H04W4/14, H04W4/90, H04W4/02, H04W4/06, H04W88/02 | 15/879545 |
| 36 | 10462389 | Method and apparatus for using a regionally specific spectral model to identify the spectral bands for use for isolating remotely sensed materials of interest | A system and method for collecting spectral data of a region of interest with a sensor is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating a simulated spectral representation of a region of interest, identifying at least one of the plurality of materials as a material of interest within the region of interest, identifying other of the plurality of materials not identified as a material of interest as background materials within the region of interest, selecting a subset spectral portion of the spectral data according to the simulated spectral representation of the material of interest and the simulated spectral representation of the background materials within the region of interest, and configuring the sensor to collect a subset spectral portion of the spectral data. | Robert J. Klein (Ballwin, MO), Anthony W. Baker (Gilbertsville, PA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2016-07-01 | 2019-10-29 | H04N19/00, G01J3/02, G01J3/28, G06K9/00, G06T7/11, G06T7/70, H04N5/33 | 15/201137 |
| 37 | 10460429 | Auto-ranging parametric spatial filtering | A portable image enhancement device comprising an optical image sensor, a rangefinder, a parametric control, a central processing unit (CPU) , and a user interface. The sensor receives image data for a target object in a tactical scene. The rangefinder continually measures distance from the device to the target object, which may be in motion relative to each other. The parametric control tunes a parametric variable (e.g., spatial frequency, filter shape, orientation) that the CPU uses, along with the potentially-changing target distance, to create custom spatial filters and apply them to create a filtered scene from the tactical scene. Each spatial filter is of a two-dimensional (2D) Fourier-domain type (e.g., high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, band-stop, orientation) . A spatial filter, target distance, and parametric variable combination may be stored as a preset filter for subsequent retrieval and application to a newly-input tactical scene. The user interface displays dynamically-tunable filtered scene (s) . | Alan R Pinkus (Bellbrook, OH), David W Dommett (Beavercreek, OH), Allan Pantle (Oxford, OH), Jordan M Haggit (Picherington, OH) | United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Air Force (N/A) | 2018-01-03 | 2019-10-29 | G06T5/20, G06T7/60 | 15/861035 |
| 38 | 10440229 | Aerial imaging privacy enhancement system | A camera-based security system protects an asset by detecting an aerial surveillor and consequently storing notifications into a video archive, alerting to an operator console, and actuating privation apparatus. One or more cameras provides video streams to a processor which derives object motion. Attributes of object motion trigger notification to record and alert on conditions associated with an aerial surveillor. Tracking of pixels, pixel blocks, and motion vectors enable rules based determination of an airborne surveillance vehicle according to characteristic hovering or lingering by masking LSB of accumulated positive and negative movements. Actuators cause privation enhancement apparatus to obfuscate the protected asset (structure, area, or volume) or to interpose between the protected asset and the surveillor. The method traces a travel path of an object, and determines a ray from a private property to a surveillor drone. | Dean Drako (Austin, TX) | --- | 2017-11-15 | 2019-10-08 | H04N1/44, G06T7/13, H04N7/18, G06T7/292 | 15/814356 |
| 39 | 10429519 | System and a relative method for detecting polluting substances using a remotely piloted vehicle from a haptic command device | A system (10) for the remote detection of substances, comprising a vehicle (20) that is mobile in space and remote-piloted using a control device (40) with a haptic interface suitable to return a force feedback to a user of the control device (40) , wherein the vehicle (20) is equipped with a position sensor (22) and a sensor (21) for detecting a physical quantity whose intensity depends on the distance of at least one substance present in a detection point located in a vicinity of the position of the vehicle (20) . | Jacopo Aleotti (Suzzara, IT), Stefano Caselli (Reggio Emilia, IT), Giorgio Micconi (Fontanellato, IT), Giacomo Benassi (Reggio Emilia, IT), Nicola Zambelli (Scandiano, IT), Andrea Zappettini (Reggio Emilia, IT), Davide Calestani (Parma, IT) | Universita Degli Studi Di Parma (Parma, IT), Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (Rome IT) | 2016-09-19 | 2019-10-01 | G01T1/169, G05D1/00, G01V5/02, G01T7/00 | 15/763985 |
| 40 | 10429514 | Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location assurance | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location assurance. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates corresponding to at least an apparent location of at least one UFV, or (ii) perform at least one analysis that uses at least one or more SPS coordinates and at least one assurance token. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Federal Way, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2017-10-11 | 2019-10-01 | G01S19/21, H04L29/06, G08G5/00, B64C39/02, G01C21/00, G01S19/14, G01S19/39, G05D1/10, F41H11/02, B64C33/00, G01D1/10 | 15/730629 |
| 41 | 10407181 | Locking line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods | Locking line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a line capture body having a line slot with an open end and closed end, and a retainer positioned proximate the line slot and movable between first position in which the retainer blocks access to the line slot and a second position in which the retainer allows access to the line slot. A locking device is operably coupled between the capture body and the retainer and is movable between an unlocked position to allow movement of the retainer between the first and second positions, and a locked position to block such movement. A release device is operably coupled to the locking device and movable between a secured position with the locking device secured in the locked position, and a released position with the locking device movable between the locked and unlocked positions. | Matthew Grubb (Bingen, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2016-06-27 | 2019-09-10 | B64F1/02, B64C39/02 | 15/194492 |
| 42 | 10399674 | Systems and methods countering an unmanned air vehicle | Systems and methods for countering an unmanned air vehicle are disclosed. Representative methods include directing an interceptor UAV toward a target UAV, and directing the interceptor UAV back to ground along a controlled flight path, for example, in response to an instruction not to engage with the target UAV, and/or in response to an unsuccessful engagement. Another representative method includes disabling the target UAV by deploying a disabling element (e.g., a net) from the interceptor UAV to contact the target UAV. Representative systems include a target acquisition system, a launch control system, and an engagement system carried by the interceptor UAV. In particular embodiments, the interceptor UAV can have a generally cylindrical fuselage, one or more fins carried by the fuselage, counter-rotating propellers carried by the fuselage, and a disabling system that is configured to disable the target UAV. | Wayne Goodrich (White Salmon, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2015-07-16 | 2019-09-03 | B64C39/02, G05D1/12, B64C11/48, F41H11/02, B64C5/06, F41H13/00 | 14/801479 |
| 43 | 10394858 | Utilization of third party networks and third party unmanned aerial vehicle platforms | A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and selects a network based on the network requirements. The device generates flight path instructions, and device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. The device receives, at a particular point of the flight path, an indication that the UAV is leaving a coverage area of the network and entering a coverage area of a third party network, and hands off the UAV to a third party device to permit the third party device to monitor traversal of the flight path by the UAV, via the third party network. | Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-07-24 | 2019-08-27 | G06F16/29, H04W4/00, H04W40/02, G06Q10/08, H04W36/30, G08G5/00, H04W36/14, H04W12/06 | 15/657651 |
| 44 | 10392126 | Method and apparatus for controlling vehicle attitude display | A vehicle attitude display such as a Primary Flight Display presents pitch and bank information by displaying a vehicle avatar as fixed, with respect to a moving artificial horizon while displaying a movable symbol at a position along the vehicle avatar that is proportional to the symmetry of the vehicle. Parts of the display are dynamically emphasized or de-emphasized to support rapid assimilation of key data. Display format may be dynamically adjusted depending on vehicle use conditions. Display is intended for use both in-vehicle, and remotely. | Denis Louviot (Colomiers, FR), Stephane Conversy (Toulouse, FR), Helene Gaspard-Boulinc (Toulouse, FR) | Ecole Nationale De L'aviation Civile (Toulouse, FR) | 2017-12-21 | 2019-08-27 | B64D45/00, G01C23/00 | 15/849818 |
| 45 | 10380900 | Information collection and component/software upgrades for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives, from a user device, a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel in a geographical region, and determines a suggested component/software for the UAV based on capability information associated with the UAV. The device provides, to the user device, information associated with the suggested component/software, and calculates the flight path based on the capability information, real time information, and non-real time information associated with the geographical region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel in the geographical region via the flight path. | Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2019-08-13 | B64C39/02, G06Q10/08, G05D1/10, B64D47/08, G08G5/00 | 14/282195 |
| 46 | 10371493 | Target assignment projectile | A system for communicating with a projectile in flight toward an intended target includes a barrel-launched projectile and a remote receiver. The barrel-launched projectile includes an ordnance portion, an active communications apparatus and an onboard speed control. The active communications apparatus includes an onboard receiver, an electromagnetic wave reception device, and an active transmitter. The electromagnetic wave reception device includes at least one from the group consisting of an antenna and a photo receptor and is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic wave reception device is connected to provide a signal derived from the electromagnetic signal to the onboard receiver to deploy the onboard speed control. The active transmitter is connected and configured for transmitting a signal to the remote receiver during flight and before activation of the speed control. The transmitted signal is directed within a cone angle extending in a direction opposite of the barrel-launched projectile's flight direction. The onboard speed control includes a shaped explosive charge. Deploying the onboard speed control initiates explosion of the shaped explosive charge. The explosion of the shaped explosive charge adjusts velocity of the barrel-launched projectile. | William P. Parker (Waitsfield, VT), Thomas F. A. Bibby (St. Albans, VT) | Marsupial Holdings, Inc. (Waitsfield, VT) | 2018-08-27 | 2019-08-06 | F42B12/00, F42B12/38, F42B12/36 | 16/113218 |
| 47 | 10332405 | Unmanned aircraft systems traffic management | The present invention provides a traffic management system for managing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) operating at low-altitude. The system includes surveillance for locating and tracking UASs in uncontrolled airspace, for example, in airspace below 10,000 feet MSL. The system also includes flight rules for safe operation of UASs in uncontrolled airspace. The system further includes computers for processing said surveillance and for applying the flight rules to UASs. The traffic management system may be portable, persistent, or a hybrid thereof. | Parimal Kopardekar (Cupertino, CA) | The United States of America As Represented By The Administrator of Nasa (Washington, DC) | 2014-12-19 | 2019-06-25 | G08G5/00 | 14/577272 |
| 48 | 10305176 | Conformal antennas for unmanned and piloted vehicles and method of antenna operation | A vehicle includes a body providing structural support and defining a fuselage perimeter and including a plurality of bands, a plurality of antennas integrated into the plurality of bands, and a transceiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of antennas. The transceiver is configured to power selected sub-sets of the plurality of antennas to generate a directional antenna beam. | Raj Bridgelall (Planno, TX), Michael Corcoran (Grand Forks, ND) | University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND), Ndsu Research Foundation (Fargo ND) | 2015-05-19 | 2019-05-28 | B64C1/36, B64D43/00, H04B7/06, H01Q3/26, H01Q1/28, H01Q1/27, H04B7/185 | 14/716288 |
| 49 | 10295312 | Methods and apparatuses for active protection from aerial threats | Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector. | David Sharpin (Simi Valley, CA), James Kolanek (Goleta, CA), Mark A. Cvetnic (Chaska, MN), Mike Hutchings (Newbury Park, CA), James Tennison (Ventura, CA), Kent Carl Nelson (Simi Valley, CA), Harold Kregg Hunsberger (Simi Valley, CA), Behshad Baseghi (Santa Barbara, CA) | Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. (Plymouth, MN) | 2015-10-26 | 2019-05-21 | F41H11/02, F42B10/14, F41G7/00, F42B10/66, G06T7/246, F42B10/26, F42B15/01, F42B10/00 | 14/922711 |
| 50 | 10279906 | Automated hazard handling routine engagement | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for automated hazard handling routine engagement. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) , may: (i) detect at least one motivation to engage at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV, or (ii) engage at least one automated hazard handling routine of a UFV based at least partially on at least one motivation. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-31 | 2019-05-07 | G05D1/00, G08G5/00, B64C39/02 | 13/731363 |
| 51 | 10270137 | Battery status and failure detector | The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, apparatus, and computer program products for detecting battery status and failure. In general, detecting mechanical swelling of a battery cell along with optional measurement of temperature increases can be used to identify a battery cell as failing or failed. Force strain sensors or similar extension/compression sensors can be mounted in a (e.g., fire resistant) sleeve surround a battery pack and/or between cells in a battery pack. In some embodiments, extension/compression sensors are used along with temperature probes to detect battery cell failure. | Paul E. I. Pounds (Brisbane, AU) | Olaeris, Inc. (Burleson, TX) | 2015-03-27 | 2019-04-23 | H01M10/30, G01R31/392, H01M10/42, H01M10/48, G01R31/396 | 14/671160 |
| 52 | 10250825 | Night vision device with periodic infrared illumination and global shutter CMOS sensor | An apparatus includes a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, an infrared light generating circuit, and a processor circuit. The CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of picture elements, where light integration begins on all of the picture elements simultaneously in response to a first control signal. A duration, an intensity, or both a duration and an intensity of infrared illumination produced by the infrared light generating circuit is controlled by a second control signal. The processor circuit is enabled to generate the first control signal and the second control signal. A period of the infrared illumination is shorter than an integration period of the CMOS image sensor. | Luyi Sun (Shanghai, CN) | Ambarella, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) | 2015-11-02 | 2019-04-02 | H04N5/353, H04N5/33, H04N5/374, H04N5/378, H04N7/18, H04N5/225, H04N5/235 | 14/929673 |
| 53 | 10187616 | Unmanned aerial vehicle inventory system | Various embodiments provide a system and method for an unmanned aerial inventory system for maintaining an inventory record of shipping vessels at a storage facility. According to certain embodiments, the aerial inventory system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle having a detector and a transceiver. The detector is configured to detect an identifier of the shipping vessel. The transceiver is configured to transmit information relating to the identifier detected by the detector. The system may also include an operator device having a processor and a display. The operator device may be configured to receive information transmitted from the transceiver relating to the detected identifier and control the display of at least a portion of the information on the display. The operator device may further be configured to control at least a portion of a flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle. | James W. Shondel (Chicago, IL) | --- | 2014-06-04 | 2019-01-22 | H04N7/18, G06Q10/08, G05D1/10 | 14/295725 |
| 54 | 10152876 | Control, monitoring, and/or security apparatus and method | An apparatus, including a first controller located at a vehicle which monitors, and detects an event regarding, a system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of the vehicle. The vehicle is a shipping container, pallet, tote, or piece of luggage. The first controller generates and transmits a first signal, containing information regarding the event, to a second controller. The second controller is located remote from the vehicle, automatically receives the first signal, and generates and transmits a second signal, containing information regarding the event, via the Internet or World Wide Web to a communication device located remote from the second controller. The apparatus activates, de-activates, disables, re-enables, or controls an operation of, the system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of the vehicle. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | Gtj Ventures, Llc (Yonkers, NY) | 2005-07-13 | 2018-12-11 | G08B26/00, B60R25/045, B60R25/33, B60R25/104, B60R25/20, B60R25/25, B60R25/30, B60R25/042, G08B29/00, B60R25/10 | 11/180822 |
| 55 | 10136351 | Mobile edge computing for tele-operation | An apparatus includes radio transceiver equipment configured to transmit and receive radio signals to and from mobile devices within a coverage area of a Radio Access Network. A Mobile Edge Computing server is integrated with the radio transceiver equipment. The Mobile Edge Computing server is configured to host at least one application instantiating a virtual Rendezvous Point operative to support a bidirectional data link between a predetermined pair of the mobile devices. | William Carson McCormick (Ottawa, CA), Mehdi Arashmid Akhavain Mohammadi (Ottawa, CA) | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, CN) | 2016-08-30 | 2018-11-20 | H04M3/00, H04W76/15, G08C17/02, H04W28/02 | 15/251711 |
| 56 | 10114127 | Augmented reality visualization system | An augmented reality (AR) system comprising a head mounted display (HMD) configured to display one or more AR visualizations within an operator's field of view (FOV) , a control system including a processor and a storage system configured to store machine readable instructions, sensors configured to determine at least location and/or orientation of said sensors including a head mounted and device mounted sensor, and a communication system configured to communicate data between elements of the AR system. The software including various subroutines or machine readable instructions including an orientation/location instructions for determining orientation and/or position of the sensors, a visualizations generation instructions section configured to generate a visualization showing an aim point of a device coupled to said device mounted sensor, a path of travel of a projectile launched from said device, or an impact point of said projectile. Embodiments can include one or more photogrammetry processing sections. | Christopher A Brown (Bloomington, IN), Matthew Juhl (Springville, IN) | The United States of America, As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy (Washington, DC) | 2016-05-11 | 2018-10-30 | G06T19/00, F41G3/14, F41G3/16, G01S19/47, G06F3/01, G01S19/53, F41G3/06, F41G3/02, G02B27/01, G06F3/0484, G06F1/16 | 15/152533 |
| 57 | 10112646 | Turn recovery human machine interface for trailer backup assist | A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes an input receiving a backing command and outputting a control signal based thereon. A controller receives the control signal, generates a vehicle steering command based on the control signal, and determines a length of a recovery period based on the control signal. The system also includes an interface outputting an indication of the length of the recovery period. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2016-05-05 | 2018-10-30 | B62D13/06, B60K35/00, B62D15/02, B60R1/00 | 15/146933 |
| 58 | 10110856 | Systems and methods for video analysis rules based on map data | Systems, methods and computer-readable media for creating and using video analysis rules that are based on map data are disclosed. A sensor (s) , such as a video camera, can track and monitor a geographic location, such as a road, pipeline, or other location or installation. A video analytics engine can receive video streams from the sensor, and identify a location of the imaged view in a geo-registered map space, such as a latitude-longitude defined map space. A user can operate a graphical user interface to draw, enter, select, and/or otherwise input on a map a set of rules for detection of events in the monitored scene, such as tripwires and areas of interest. When tripwires, areas of interest, and/or other features are approached or crossed, the engine can perform responsive actions, such as generating an alert and sending it to a user. | Zeeshan Rasheed (Herndon, VA), Dana Eubanks (Herndon, VA), Weihong Yin (Great Falls, VA), Zhong Zhang (Great Falls, VA), Kyle Glowacki (Reston, VA), Allison Beach (Leesburg, VA) | Avigilon Fortress Corporation (Vancouver, CA) | 2015-12-04 | 2018-10-23 | H04N7/18, G06T17/05, G06K9/00, G06K9/32, G06K9/62, G08B13/196 | 14/959919 |
| 59 | 10089890 | Dynamic selection of unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region, and calculates the flight path based on the request and based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, regulatory information, or historical information associated with the region. The device determines required capabilities for the flight path based on the request, and selects, from multiple UAVs, a particular UAV based on the required capabilities for the flight path and based on a ranking of the multiple UAVs. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-02-24 | 2018-10-02 | G08G5/00, B64C39/02, H04B7/185, G01C23/00 | 15/441519 |
| 60 | 10088286 | Target assignment projectile | A system for communicating with a projectile in flight toward an intended target includes a barrel-launched projectile and a remote receiver. The barrel-launched projectile includes an ordnance portion, an active communications apparatus and an onboard speed control. The active communications apparatus includes an onboard receiver, an electromagnetic wave reception device, and an active transmitter. The electromagnetic wave reception device includes at least one from the group consisting of an antenna and a photo receptor and is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic wave reception device is connected to provide a signal derived from the electromagnetic signal to the onboard receiver to deploy the onboard speed control. The active transmitter is connected and configured for transmitting a signal to the remote receiver during flight and before activation of the speed control. The transmitted signal is directed within a cone angle extending in a direction opposite of the barrel-launched projectile's flight direction. The onboard speed control includes a shaped explosive charge. Deploying the onboard speed control initiates explosion of the shaped explosive charge. The explosion of the shaped explosive charge adjusts velocity of the barrel-launched projectile. | William P. Parker (Waitsfield, VT), Thomas F. A. Bibby (St. Albans, VT) | Marsupial Holdings, Inc. (Waitsfield, VT) | 2017-05-01 | 2018-10-02 | F42B10/00, F42B12/38, F42B12/36 | 15/584014 |
| 61 | 10049583 | Flight condition evaluation and protection for unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely-piloted vehicles | A framework for combining a weather risk analysis with appropriate operational rules includes a data initialization component, a rules processing component, and one or more weather risk analysis and assessment tools to evaluate a flight condition. The framework applies current, historical, predicted and forecasted weather data to the one or more operational rules governing a mission, a payload, a flight plan, a craft type, and a location of the mission for aircraft such as an unmanned aerial vehicle or remotely-piloted vehicle, and generates advisories based on the evaluation of flight conditions such as a mission compliance status, instructions for operation of unmanned aircraft, and management advisories. The flight condition advisories include either a ''fly'' advisory or a ''no-fly'' advisory, and the framework may also provide a mission prioritization and optimization system. | Dustin M. Salentiny (Grand Forks, ND), John J. Mewes (Mayville, ND) | Clearag, Inc. (Santa Ana, CA) | 2016-02-01 | 2018-08-14 | G08G5/02, G08G5/00, B64C39/02, G05D1/00, G05D1/10 | 15/012479 |
| 62 | 10043397 | Mission prioritization and work order arrangement for unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely-piloted vehicles | A framework for combining a weather risk analysis with appropriate operational rules includes a data initialization component, a rules processing component, and one or more weather risk analysis and assessment tools to evaluate a flight condition. The framework applies current, historical, predicted and forecasted weather data to the one or more operational rules governing a mission, a payload, a flight plan, a craft type, and a location of the mission for aircraft such as an unmanned aerial vehicle or remotely-piloted vehicle, and generates advisories based on the evaluation of flight conditions such as a mission compliance status, instructions for operation of unmanned aircraft, and management advisories. The flight condition advisories include either a ''fly'' advisory or a ''no-fly'' advisory, and the framework may also provide a mission prioritization and optimization system. | Dustin M. Salentiny (Grand Forks, ND), John J. Mewes (Mayville, ND) | Clear Ag, Inc. (Santa Ana, CA) | 2016-02-01 | 2018-08-07 | G05D1/00, G05D1/02, B64C39/02, G08G5/00, G05D1/10 | 15/012510 |
| 63 | 10039114 | Radio access network for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device may determine an elevation of an unmanned aerial vehicle, or may determine multiple signal strengths corresponding to multiple communications between the unmanned aerial vehicle and multiple base stations. The multiple communications may be transmitted via one or more frequency bands. The device may identify, based on the elevation or the plurality of signal strengths, a frequency band, of the one or more frequency bands, via which to unmanned aerial vehicle is to communicate. The device may establish a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and a base station, of the multiple base stations, using the frequency band. | Thomas H. Tan (San Jose, CA) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2015-04-14 | 2018-07-31 | H04W72/08, H04B7/185, H04W84/00, H04W16/14 | 14/685887 |
| 64 | 10025992 | Bulk searchable geo-tagging of detected objects in video | An apparatus comprising a sensor, an interface and a processor. The sensor may be configured to generate a video signal based on a targeted view of an environment. The interface may be configured to receive status information of the apparatus at a time of generation of the video signal. The processor may be configured to (i) detect one or more objects in the video signal, (ii) determine a location of the one or more objects relative to the sensor and (iii) generate metadata. The location of the one or more objects may be based on (i) the status information of the apparatus and (ii) a field of view of the sensor. The metadata may correspond to the location of the one or more objects. | Alexander Fink (San Jose, CA), Shimon Pertsel (Mountain View, CA) | Ambarella, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) | 2017-09-05 | 2018-07-17 | G06K9/46, G06K9/00, G06F17/30, G06K9/62 | 15/695237 |
| 65 | 10021466 | Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, recording, and transmitting fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control data | Systems and methods for enabling a handheld device to easily collect, analyze, transmit, and act on wireless information transmitted from various instruments on hydrocarbon production and pipeline skids. The handheld device preferentially presents available data streams based on which instruments are closest to the handheld device, as determined using available information such as signal strength or GPS or other location-based services. | Kennon Guglielmo (San Antonio, TX), Frank Murphy (Tulsa, OK) | Fw Murphy Production Controls, Llc (Tulsa, OK) | 2016-03-14 | 2018-07-10 | H04Q9/00, G01V11/00, E21B41/00, E21B43/00 | 15/069937 |
| 66 | 10015041 | Providing network connectivity for a service disruption | According to some aspects, disclosed methods and systems may include receiving a message indicating a loss of connectivity to a network of a distressed device associated with a location. The method may include connecting, via one or more network devices, to the distressed device associated with the location. The method may also include transmitting information between the distressed device and the network. | Michael J. O'Reirdan (Riverton, NJ), Phillip A. Sanderson (Mount Laurel, NJ) | Comcast Cable Communications, Llc (Philadelphia, PA) | 2015-09-17 | 2018-07-03 | H04W4/00, H04L12/24, H04L12/26, H04W24/04, H04W84/12, H04W92/12 | 14/857291 |
| 67 | 10011247 | Control, monitoring and/or security apparatus and method | An apparatus, including a memory which stores information regarding a limitation or restriction for allowing or prohibiting a control, monitoring, or security, operation, regarding a vehicle or a premises, a first controller located remote from the vehicle or premises, which is specially programmed to perform the control, monitoring, or security, operation, regarding the vehicle or premises. The first controller receives a first signal transmitted from a second controller. The first signal contains information regarding a control, monitoring, or security, operation, regarding the vehicle or premises. The second controller is located at a location remote from the first controller and remote from the vehicle or premises. The first controller determines, utilizing the information regarding the limitation or restriction, whether the control, monitoring, or security, operation, is allowed. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | Gtj Ventures, Llc (Yonkers, NY) | 2003-04-23 | 2018-07-03 | G08B1/08, B60R25/102, B60R25/25, B60R25/33, B64D45/00 | 10/420795 |
| 68 | 9991763 | Gas turbine engine with multiple electric generators | A power plant for a small aircraft with a gas turbine engine that drives a number of electric generators, where a gear box transmit power from the engine shaft to the number of generators, the gear box having a single input shaft that drives a number of driven gears with each driven gear having a generator drive shaft that extends out both sides, and an electric generator connected to each side of the drive shaft. A compact arrangement of generators are formed where each generator can be disengaged from the drive shaft to regulate total electrical output or to prevent a damaged generator from causing damage to other parts of the system or aircraft. | James P Downs (Hobe Sound, FL), Robert L Memmen (Stuart, FL) | Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc. (Jupiter, FL) | 2017-06-07 | 2018-06-05 | F02B63/04, B64D35/02, B64D27/24, H02K7/108, F01D15/12, F01D15/10, H02K7/18, H02K7/10, B64C39/02, H02K7/116, B64D27/10, H02P9/04, B64D27/02, F02D29/06 | 15/616590 |
| 69 | 9981740 | Layered architecture for customer payload systems | A layered architecture for customer payload systems is disclosed to provide a scalable, reconfigurable integration platform targeted at multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) , and remove both UAV specific and payload equipment specific characteristics that increase complexity during integration. The layered architecture is a modular design architecture that is split by function. Standard interfaces are implemented between functional layers to increase reconfiguration possibilities and to allow reuse of existing components and layers without modification to the payload or UAV. The standard interfaces also promote easy connection and disconnection from other layer components. Additionally, once the layered architecture is implemented, technological or functional requirements changes can be isolated to one specific component layer, not the entire payload stack. As a result, payload designs based on the layered architecture reduces design time and cost, and allows for easier integration, operation, upgrades, maintenance, and repair. | Troy T. Dunkelberger (South Riding, VA), Justin Adkins (Clifton, VA) | Northrup Grumman Systems Corporation (Los Angeles, CA) | 2010-08-06 | 2018-05-29 | B64C39/00, G06F17/00, B64C39/02 | 12/852159 |
| 70 | 9977962 | Method and apparatus for on-board software selection of bands of a hyperspectral sensor based on simulated spectral representation of the region of interest | A system and method for surveying a region of interest with a mobile platform having a sensor having a plurality of narrow spectral bands spanning a contiguous frequency space is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating a simulated spectral representation of a region of interest, identifying at least one of the plurality of materials as a material of interest within the region of interest, identifying other of the plurality of materials not identified as a material of interest as background materials within the region of interest, sensing, with the sensor, spectral data in the region of interest in the plurality of narrow spectral bands, selecting and transmitting only the spectral data of the one of more of the plurality of spectral bands of the sensor according to the simulated spectral representation of the material of interest. | Robert J. Klein (Ballwin, MO), Shane D. Arnott (Brisbane, AU) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2016-07-01 | 2018-05-22 | G06K9/00, G06K9/46, G06K9/32, G06T17/05 | 15/201141 |
| 71 | 9971943 | Vehicle trailer angle detection system and method | A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view. | Jeremy John Greenwood (Sutton Coldfield, GB), Stephen Nicholls (Witney, GB), Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford (Grayshill, GB) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2016-12-06 | 2018-05-15 | B60R1/00, G06K9/00, B62D13/06, B62D15/02, G01B11/27, G06T7/00, G06T7/20, G08G1/16, H04N5/225, B60W50/14, H04N7/18 | 15/370223 |
| 72 | 9969428 | Trailer backup assist system with waypoint selection | A display system for a vehicle attached to a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a display configured to show an aerial view of the vehicle and the trailer and a plurality of waypoints, each indicating a possible parking location for the trailer. The system also includes a device that interfaces with the display and is operable to select one of the plurality of waypoints and set a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint. | Michael Hafner (Ann Arbor, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2015-04-01 | 2018-05-15 | B62D13/06, B62D15/02, B60D1/24, G08G1/14, B60W30/00, H04N7/18, B60D1/62 | 14/676197 |
| 73 | 9966790 | Conformal body capacitors suitable for vehicles | A vehicle system includes a plurality of capacitors each forming a portion of a vehicle structure, and a parallel electrical link between a pair of the plurality of capacitors, such that the pair of capacitors act as an aggregate capacitor. | Raj Bridgelall (Planno, TX), Michael Corcoran (Grand Forks, ND) | University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND), Ndsu Research Foundation (Fargo ND) | 2014-08-12 | 2018-05-08 | H02J7/34, H01G11/10, B64C1/00, B60L11/00, B60L11/18, H01G11/76 | 14/457662 |
| 74 | 9944408 | Systems and methods for recovering and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft | Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft. | Robert Gilchrist, III (Cook, WA), John Stafford (Lyle, WA), Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA), Allen Smith (Hood River, OR), Jaime Mack (White Salmon, WA), Steven M. Sliwa (White Salmon, WA), Bradley Schrick (Bingen, WA), Robert Hughes (Springfield, VA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2011-10-21 | 2018-04-17 | B64F1/02 | 13/279148 |
| 75 | 9940677 | System and method for detecting potential property insurance fraud | A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the spectral difference can be used to determine whether a change in the condition of the property was potentially fraudulently caused. | Patrick D. Brown (Marlborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2015-01-05 | 2018-04-10 | G06Q40/08, G06T11/20, G06K9/52, G06F17/30, G06K9/00, G06K9/46 | 14/589327 |
| 76 | 9926008 | Trailer backup assist system with waypoint selection | A method of backing a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided herein. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of waypoints on a display of the vehicle and selecting one of the plurality waypoints. The method also includes setting a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint and determining a backing path based on the selected waypoint and the set trailer orientation. The method further includes backing the trailer along the backing path. | Michael Hafner (Ann Arbor, MI), Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2015-02-20 | 2018-03-27 | B62D13/06, B62D15/02, B60D1/62, H04N7/18, G08G1/14, B60D1/24, B60W30/00 | 14/627758 |
| 77 | 9918210 | Enhanced gateway safety system | A method comprising receiving non-voice information concerning an emergency event captured by at least one electronic device, selecting a responding agency to receive the non-voice information, based on at least one of a unique identifier and location information, and directing the non-voice information to the selected agency, via a broadband internet connection, to provide enhanced situational awareness regarding the emergency event to a responding agent at the selected agency. A method comprising receiving non-voice information concerning an emergency event, selecting a responding agency to which to direct the non-voice information, processing the non-voice information to be compatible with at least one of an intake or dispatch system utilized by the selected agency, and directing the processed non-voice information to the selected agency, via a broadband internet connection, to provide enhanced situational awareness regarding the emergency event to a responding agent at the selected agency. | Scott H. Adams (Boca Raton, FL), Thomas J. Margetta (Boca Raton, FL), Russell Orzel (Boca Raton, FL) | Groupcare Technologies, Llc (Boca Raton, FL) | 2016-05-20 | 2018-03-13 | H04W4/02, H04W4/14, H04W4/12, H04W4/06, H04W88/02 | 15/160162 |
| 78 | 9896222 | Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track-borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods | Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion, a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion, and a carriage carried by, and movable along, the carriage track. The system can further include a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the at least one boom portion, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage. | Peter Kunz (Hood River, OR), Clifford Jackson (White Salmon, WA), Craig Aram Thomasian (The Dalles, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2015-11-12 | 2018-02-20 | B64F1/02, B64C39/02, B64C25/68 | 14/939893 |
| 79 | 9896130 | Guidance system for a vehicle reversing a trailer along an intended backing path | A guidance system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided. The system includes a display and a controller configured to generate a steering icon on the display. The steering icon recommends a steering direction and a steering magnitude related to a steering device of the vehicle in order to correct a deviation from an intended backing path. | Maher Ghneim (Plymouth, MI), Yasmin Jawad (Dearborn Heights, MI), Marcus McKinney (Detroit, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2015-09-11 | 2018-02-20 | G08B21/00, B62D15/02, B62D13/06 | 14/851767 |
| 80 | 9890618 | Oil leak containment system and method | Apparatus for containing oil and/or gas leakage from a drilling operation (off-shore or on-shore) comprised of an expandable membrane surrounding a central spline, an apparatus adapted to the removal of the captured oil or gas, and a blowout-handling ''fuse'' capability. The bottom section of the off-shore version includes operator-controlled extension members to expand the membrane to fully surround the drill site. Any further leakage from the well site will further expand the membrane from the spline sections as it moves upward. When the leaked material reaches the top an extraction apparatus included allows it to be extracted safely. | John M Goodman (Garden Grove, CA), Herbert M. Shapiro (Laguna Niguel, CA) | --- | 2015-07-09 | 2018-02-13 | E02B15/04, E02B15/08, E21B17/01, E21B43/01, E02B15/06 | 14/795743 |
| 81 | 9881022 | Selection of networks for communicating with unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request for the flight path. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and determines scores for multiple networks with coverage areas covering a portion of the flight path. The device selects a particular network, from the multiple networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the multiple networks. The device causes a connection with the UAV and the particular network to be established, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2018-01-30 | G06F17/30, G08G5/00, H04B7/185, B64C39/02, H04W36/14, H04B17/318, G06Q10/08 | 14/282378 |
| 82 | 9881021 | Utilization of third party networks and third party unmanned aerial vehicle platforms | A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and selects a network based on the network requirements. The device generates flight path instructions, and device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. The device receives, at a particular point of the flight path, an indication that the UAV is leaving a coverage area of the network and entering a coverage area of a third party network, and hands off the UAV to a third party device to permit the third party device to monitor traversal of the flight path by the UAV, via the third party network. | Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2018-01-30 | G06F17/30, H04W36/30, G08G5/00, G06Q10/08, H04W36/14, H04W12/06 | 14/282217 |
| 83 | 9880281 | LADAR sensor for landing, docking and approach | A system for landing or docking a mobile platform is enabled by a flash LADAR sensor having an adaptive controller with Automatic Gain Control (AGC) . Range gating in the LADAR sensor penetrates through diffuse reflectors. The LADAR sensor adapted for landing/approach comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, transmit optics, receive optics, a focal plane array of detectors, a readout integrated circuit, camera support electronics and image processor, an image analysis and bias calculation processor, and a detector array bias control circuit. The system is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. | Patrick Gilliland (Santa Barbara, CA), Robert W. Koseluk (Santa Barbara, CA), Steve Penniman (Goleta, CA), Brad Short (Goleta, CA), Joseph Spagnolia (Ventura, CA), Roger Stettner (Santa Barbara, CA) | Continental Advanced Lidar Solutions Us, Llc. (Carpinteria, CA) | 2015-02-11 | 2018-01-30 | G01C3/08, B64D47/00, B64D39/00, G01S17/10, G01S17/88, G01S7/486, G01S7/481, B64G1/64, G01S17/89 | 14/619405 |
| 84 | 9878804 | Systems and methods for producing temperature accurate thermal images | Aerial thermal images of a ground surface may be captured using a thermal image sensor. The images may be contrasted, georeferenced, orthorectified, and/or stitched together to form a complete thermal image. The complete thermal image may include a plurality of pixels with display values corresponding to temperatures of the ground. Local temperature sensors may measure the temperature at locations on the ground. Based on display values for pixels corresponding to the locations on the ground and the temperature measurements, a curve mapping display values to temperature measurements may be calculated. Temperatures may be calculated for pixels for which the temperature was not previously known. Users may select a temperature range of interest, and pixels with temperature values within the temperature range of interest may be distinctively marked. The pixels may be marked with different colors based on where their temperature value falls within the temperature range of interest. | Eric Olsen (Bountiful, UT) | --- | 2014-10-21 | 2018-01-30 | H04N5/33, B64C39/02, G06F3/0484, B64D47/08, G06K9/00 | 14/519362 |
| 85 | 9875454 | Accommodating mobile destinations for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a location to an anticipated location associated with a mobile device, and determines capability information for the UAV based on component information associated with the UAV. The device receives information associated with a current location, a direction of travel, and a speed of the mobile device, and calculates the flight path from the location to the anticipated location associated with the mobile device based on the capability information and based on the information associated with the current location, the direction of travel, and the speed of the mobile device. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the location to the anticipated location associated with the mobile device, based on the flight path instructions. | Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2018-01-23 | G06Q10/08, G08G5/00, B64C39/02, H04W4/02, H04W12/06 | 14/282456 |
| 86 | 9868527 | Controlled range and payload for unmanned vehicles, and associated systems and methods | The presently disclosed technology is directed generally to unmanned vehicle systems and methods configured to satisfy a first set of export control regulations, such as those within the jurisdiction of one government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of Commerce) without falling within the purview of a second set of export control regulations, such as export control regulations within the jurisdiction of another government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of State) . Through limited range of operation, limited payload types, limited capabilities, and tamper-proof or tamper-resistant features, embodiments of the unmanned vehicle system are designed to fall within the purview and under control of one agency and not within the purview and under control of another agency. | Jeffrey H. Knapp (Hood River, OR), David Tasker (Beaverton, OR), Gary Lee Viviani (Lyle, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2016-01-15 | 2018-01-16 | G05D1/00, G06Q10/10, G06Q30/00, B64C39/02, G06Q50/18, G05D1/10, B64C19/00, G06Q50/26 | 14/996804 |
| 87 | 9856036 | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements. | Matthew Robert Dickson (Hood River, OR), Craig Aram Thomasian (The Dalles, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2016-03-09 | 2018-01-02 | B64F1/02, B64C39/02, B64F1/04 | 15/065626 |
| 88 | 9854209 | Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics | A vehicle and trailer display system is disclosed. The display system includes a plurality of imaging devices disposed on the vehicle, each having a field of view. The display system further includes a screen disposed in the vehicle operable to display images from the imaging devices. A controller is in communication with the imaging devices and the screen and is operable to receive a hitch angle corresponding to the angle between the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the hitch angle, the controller is operable to select a field of view of an imaging device to display on the screen. | Sudipto Aich (Palo Alto, CA), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Alex Maurice Miller (Canton, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-05-29 | 2017-12-26 | H04N7/18, B62D15/02, B60D1/24, B60W30/00, B60D1/62, B62D13/06, B60R1/00, G01B7/30, G01B11/26 | 14/289888 |
| 89 | 9844880 | Unmanned vehicle retrofitting applique assembly | A robotic applique assembly for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle includes an assembly body configured to be positioned into the vehicle in substantially the same area occupied by a user of the vehicle. The assembly body can have a series of segments including a torso segment, a bench segment and a leg segment. The segments are pivotally coupled one to another to allow adjustment of position of the segments relative to one another. | George A. Takach (Sandy, UT) | Kairos Autonomi, Inc. (Sandy, UT) | 2015-08-06 | 2017-12-19 | B25J9/16, B25J9/00 | 14/820337 |
| 90 | 9841506 | System and method for dual-mode location determination | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. In one embodiment, the observation data is communicated to the processor using either a satellite communication network or through a mobile telephone network. | Jay Brosius (Frederick, MD), James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA), Richard Burtner (Ashburn, VA) | Skybitz, Inc. (Herndon, VA) | 2012-08-27 | 2017-12-12 | G01S1/00, G01S1/24, G01S19/25, G01S5/00, G01S5/14, G01S19/09, G01S19/40 | 13/594984 |
| 91 | 9811084 | Identifying unmanned aerial vehicles for mission performance | 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. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2017-02-24 | 2017-11-07 | G05D1/00, G07C5/00, B64C39/02, G08G5/00, G06Q10/04 | 15/441764 |
| 92 | 9810789 | Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location assurance | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location assurance. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) coordinates corresponding to at least an apparent location of at least one UFV, or (ii) perform at least one analysis that uses at least one or more SPS coordinates and at least one assurance token. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2013-09-30 | 2017-11-07 | G01S19/42, G08G5/00, G05D1/00, G01C21/00, G01S19/21, B64C39/02, G01S19/14, G01S19/39, G05D1/10, H04L29/06, B64C33/00, F41H11/02 | 14/042302 |
| 93 | 9806310 | Battery failure venting system | The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, apparatus, and computer program products for protecting against runaway thermal failure of a battery pack. A fireproof container is built with a thermo-sensitive panel cover leading to the outside environment. When battery failure causes temperatures to rise inside one of the compartments, the panel cover material reacts, causing it open, allowing flames and hot gasses to vent and preventing the buildup of heat internally. Internal sensors may detect the activation of the cover material and allow an electric or electronic circuit to isolate the contents of the failed container from the rest of the system. | Paul E. I. Pounds (Brisbane, AU) | Olaeris, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX) | 2015-03-27 | 2017-10-31 | H01M2/12, B64D45/00 | 14/671202 |
| 94 | 9791316 | System and method for calibrating imaging measurements taken from aerial vehicles | Systems and methods are provided for calibrating spectral measurements taken of one or more targets from an aerial vehicle. Multiple photo sensors may be configured to obtain spectral measurements of one or more ambient light sources. The obtained spectral measurements of the one or more ambient light sources may be used to calibrate the obtained spectral measurements of the target. | Michael Ritter (San Diego, CA), Michael Milton (San Diego, CA) | Slantrange, Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 2016-09-23 | 2017-10-17 | G01J3/46, G01J3/02, G01J3/28, G01J1/42, G01J1/44, G01J1/04 | 15/275194 |
| 95 | 9783293 | Unmanned aerial vehicle platform | A device receives a request for a flight path of UAV from a first location to a second location in a region, and determines, based on credentials associated with the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device and a network. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on the request and component information associated with the UAV. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the capability information and one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path based on one or more of the weather information, the air traffic information, the obstacle information, or the regulatory information associated with the region, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-10-10 | B64C39/02, G05D1/10, G06Q10/00 | 14/282145 |
| 96 | 9779309 | Bulk searchable geo-tagging of detected objects in video | An apparatus comprising a sensor, an interface and a processor. The sensor may be configured to generate a video signal based on a targeted view of an environment. The interface may be configured to receive status information of the apparatus at a time of generation of the video signal. The processor may be configured to (i) detect one or more objects in the video signal, (ii) determine a location of the one or more objects relative to the sensor and (iii) generate metadata. The location of the one or more objects may be based on (i) the status information of the apparatus and (ii) a field of view of the sensor. The metadata may correspond to the location of the one or more objects. | Alexander Fink (San Jose, CA), Shimon Pertsel (Mountain View, CA) | Ambarella, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) | 2015-07-07 | 2017-10-03 | G06K9/46, G06F17/30, G06K9/62, G06K9/00 | 14/792824 |
| 97 | 9776716 | Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) inter-vehicle communication for hazard handling | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) inter-vehicle communication for hazard handling. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine may: (i) receive one or more flight attributes from a remote UFV, with the one or more flight attributes indicative of one or more flight capabilities of the remote UFV, or (ii) adjust a flight path of a UFV based at least partially on one or more flight attributes received from a remote UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwah Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-20 | 2017-10-03 | G06F17/10, B64C39/02, G05D1/10, G08G1/16, G06G7/78 | 13/722874 |
| 98 | 9773301 | Systems and methods for producing temperature accurate thermal images | Aerial thermal images of a ground surface may be captured using a thermal image sensor. The images may be contrasted, georeferenced, orthorectified, and/or stitched together to form a complete thermal image. The complete thermal image may include a plurality of pixels with display values corresponding to temperatures of the ground. Local temperature sensors may measure the temperature at locations on the ground. Based on display values for pixels corresponding to the locations on the ground and the temperature measurements, a curve mapping display values to temperature measurements may be calculated. Temperatures may be calculated for pixels for which the temperature was not previously known. Users may select a temperature range of interest, and pixels with temperature values within the temperature range of interest may be distinctively marked. The pixels may be marked with different colors based on where their temperature value falls within the temperature range of interest. | Eric Olsen (Bountiful, UT) | --- | 2016-04-22 | 2017-09-26 | G06T5/00, G06T5/50, G06T5/40 | 15/136358 |
| 99 | 9747809 | Automated hazard handling routine activation | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for automated hazard handling routine activation. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) , may: (i) detect at least one motivation to activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV, or (ii) activate at least one automated hazard handling routine of the UFV based at least partially on at least one motivation. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-31 | 2017-08-29 | G06F17/10, G08G5/04, G08G1/16, G06G7/78, G05D1/00, B64C39/02 | 13/731407 |
| 100 | 9742771 | System and method for using a separate device to facilitate authentication | A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including receiving a request from a first device to access information content of a second device. The process further includes forwarding a token to the second device by way of a second wireless network, to obtain a second device token, and forwarding the token to the first device by way of the first network to obtain a first device token, wherein the first device forwards the first device token to the second device by way of a third network. A confirmation that the token was received at the first device is based on the result of the comparison indicating a match between the first device token and the second device token. Access to the information content of the second device is authorized in response to the confirmation. Other embodiments are disclosed. | Fred Hewitt Smith (Old Town, ME), Cynthia Smith (Old Town, ME) | Angel Secure Networks, Inc. (Old Town, ME) | 2016-01-25 | 2017-08-22 | G06F15/16, G06F21/00, G06F21/43, G06F21/62, G06F21/34, G06F21/35, H04L29/06, H04L29/08, H04W4/00, H04W12/08, G06F21/10, G06F21/31, G06F21/32, H04W84/12, H04W84/04, H04W12/04 | 15/005688 |
| 101 | 9671790 | Scheduling of unmanned aerial vehicles for mission performance | A device receives a request for a mission that includes traversal of a flight path from one or more first locations to a second location and performance of mission operations, and determines required capabilities and constraints for the mission based on the request. The device identifies UAVs based on the required capabilities and the constraints, and calculates a cost effective mission plan, for the identified UAVs, based on the required capabilities and the constraints. The device generates mission plan instructions, for the cost effective mission plan, that include flight path instructions for the flight path and mission instructions for the mission operations. The device provides the mission plan instructions to the identified UAVs to permit the identified UAVs to travel from the one or more first locations to the second location, via the flight path, and to perform the mission operations. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-06-06 | G08G5/00, G05D1/10, B64C39/02, B64D47/08 | 14/282205 |
| 102 | 9669946 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William R. McDonnell (St. Louis, MO), Charles H. Baker (Union, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (Saint Louis, MO) | 2014-10-20 | 2017-06-06 | B64F1/02, B64C25/68, B64F1/10, B64F1/04, B64D3/00, B64C39/02 | 14/518348 |
| 103 | 9669926 | Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) location confirmance. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain at least one indication of at least one location of a UFV, or (ii) attempt to counter at least one attack against a location determination for the UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2013-08-30 | 2017-06-06 | B64D45/00, G08G5/00, G01C21/00, B64C39/02, H04L29/06 | 14/015669 |
| 104 | 9646283 | Secure payload deliveries via unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV. The device calculates the flight path based on the capability information, and generates flight path instructions that include delivery confirmation instructions. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location to deliver a payload, and obtains, based on the delivery confirmation instructions, user credentials associated with a user at the second location. The device determines whether the user is an authorized recipient of the payload, based on the user credentials, and causes the UAV to selectively deliver the payload to the user based on whether the user is the authorized recipient of the payload. | Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-05-09 | G06Q10/08, B64D1/02, G08G5/00, B64C39/02 | 14/282419 |
| 105 | 9638501 | Target assignment projectile | A projectile includes an ordnance portion configured to impact a target and a communication apparatus positioned rearward of the ordnance portion. The projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch. | William P. Parker (Waitsfield, VT), Thomas F. A. Bibby (St. Albans, VT) | William P. Parker (Waitsfield, VT) | 2004-09-27 | 2017-05-02 | F42B10/00, F42B12/36, F42B12/38 | 10/483753 |
| 106 | 9613536 | Distributed flight management system | A method for operating a distributed flight management system. The method includes operating a control station instance of the distributed flight management system. The method includes receiving flight management system data from a remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes receiving time-space-position information of the remotely accessed vehicle from the remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes updating the control station instance of the distributed flight management system based at least on the received flight management system data and the time-space-position information of the remotely accessed vehicle. The method includes outputting updated flight management system data for transmission to the remotely accessed vehicle to synchronize a remotely accessed vehicle instance of the distributed flight management system with the control station instance of the distributed flight management system. | Brian R. Wolford (Cedar Rapids, IA), Thomas L. Vogl (Cedar Rapids, IA), Stephanie D. Burns (Ely, IA), Steven C. Morling (Cedar Rapids, IA), Matthew M. Lorch (Cedar Rapids, IA) | Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA) | 2015-04-13 | 2017-04-04 | G08G5/00 | 14/685455 |
| 107 | 9592851 | Control modes for a trailer backup assist system | A trailer backup assist system, according to one embodiment, provides a sensor that senses a hitch angle between a trailer and a vehicle. The trailer backup assist system also provides a selection device for selecting a longitudinal direction of the trailer or the vehicle in a static orientation. Further, the trailer backup assist system provides a controller that generates a steering command to the vehicle when reversing based on the hitch angle to guide the trailer in the selected longitudinal direction. The controller determines a kinematic relationship of the trailer and the vehicle based on a length of the trailer and a wheelbase of the vehicle, whereby the steering command is generated based on the kinematic relationship. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Douglas Scott Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-06-23 | 2017-03-14 | B62D6/00, B62D12/00, B62D13/06, B62D15/02 | 14/312021 |
| 108 | 9586679 | Automatic pitch change rotary wing rotor system and method of rotor control | A helicopter main rotor control system includes a trunnion head mountable to a rotatable helicopter mast wherein the trunnion head has a control bar pivot supported by the trunnion head and pivotal about an axis substantially at a right angle to the helicopter mast. A control bar extends through the control bar pivot at a right angle thereto, and a pair of opposing leaf hinges are pivotal about the control bar and centered about said trunnion head. Each leaf hinge has a hinge plate extending from the control bar and defines a rotor blade mount hole therethrough. | John Neal Cupp, Sr. (Corona, CA), John Neal Cupp, Jr. (Huntington Beach, CA) | --- | 2015-08-04 | 2017-03-07 | B64C11/00, B64C27/54, B64C27/02, A63H27/00, B64C27/52 | 14/818105 |
| 109 | 9583007 | Dynamic selection of unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region, and calculates the flight path based on the request and based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, regulatory information, or historical information associated with the region. The device determines required capabilities for the flight path based on the request, and selects, from multiple UAVs, a particular UAV based on the required capabilities for the flight path and based on a ranking of the multiple UAVs. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2015-12-22 | 2017-02-28 | G01C23/00, G01S5/00, B64C39/02, G08G5/00, G06Q10/06, B60L8/00, G06Q50/30, B60L11/18, G01C21/20, G05D1/10 | 14/978443 |
| 110 | 9583006 | Identifying unmanned aerial vehicles for mission performance | 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. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-02-28 | G08G5/00, G05D1/00, B64C39/02, G07C5/00 | 14/282179 |
| 111 | 9569972 | Unmanned aerial vehicle identity and capability verification | A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV from a first location to a second location, credentials for the UAV, and component information for the UAV. The device determines, based on the credentials, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device and a network, and determines whether the UAV is capable of flight based on the component information and maintenance information. The device calculates, the flight path based on capability information for the UAV and/or other information, and determines whether the UAV is capable of traversing the flight path based on the capability information and/or the other information. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-02-14 | G08G5/00, B64C39/02 | 14/282153 |
| 112 | 9567074 | Base station control for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for base station control for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) . for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a base station, may: (i) obtain at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first UFV, or (ii) transmit to a second UFV at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a first UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-28 | 2017-02-14 | B64C39/02, G08G5/00 | 13/730202 |
| 113 | 9566911 | Vehicle trailer angle detection system and method | A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view. | Jeremy John Greenwood (Sutton Coldfield, GB), Stephen Nicholls (Long Hanborough, GB), Andrew Stephen Bell Crawford (Warwick, GB) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2015-09-15 | 2017-02-14 | G06T7/20, B62D13/06, B60R1/00, B62D15/02, H04N7/18, H04N5/225, G06T7/00, G01B11/27, G08G1/16 | 14/854285 |
| 114 | 9555832 | Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics | A display system for a vehicle and trailer is disclosed. The system comprises an interface configured to receive a directional input and a controller in communication with the interface and a screen. The controller is operable to receive a hitch angle and determine a heading direction of the trailer. The controller is further operable to determine a predicted heading of the vehicle aligned with the trailer based on the hitch angle. The predicted heading of the trailer is then displayed by the controller on the screen. | David Dean Smit (Ann Arbor, MI), Matthew Y. Rupp (Canton, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Douglas Scott Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-06-25 | 2017-01-31 | B62D13/06, B62D15/02, B60W30/00, H04N7/18, G01B21/22 | 14/314376 |
| 115 | 9542850 | Secure communications with unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines, based on credentials of the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV, and calculates the flight path. The device determines whether the UAV is capable of traversing the flight path based on the capability information, and generates, when the UAV is capable of traversing the flight path, flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides the flight path instructions and credentials of the device to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location when the UAV authenticates the device based on the credentials of the device. | Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-01-10 | G08G1/0967, G08G5/00, H04L29/12, H04B7/185 | 14/282485 |
| 116 | 9540119 | Remotely piloted aircraft telemetry recording using the command and control data link system and related method | A system and related method for reception and storage of a command and control (C2) data link between a control station and a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) for RPV operation. From the C2 data link, the system receives and stores command signals generated by the control station as well as telemetry data associated with and generated by the RPV. The system operates to compare the received telemetry data to 1) the command signal to assure RPV compliance, 2) stored information associated with the RPV to determine a RPV anomaly, and 3) stored information associated with a high value asset (HVA) . Should the comparison reveal a threat to the RPV or HVA, the system alerts an authority to mitigate the threat. The system and method aggregates data associated with specific RPV type or operator to support several safety initiatives, methods used to perform predictive maintenance planning, and accident recreation and investigation. | Richard E. Heinrich (Marion, IA) | Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA) | 2015-05-12 | 2017-01-10 | B64D45/00, H04W4/02 | 14/710025 |
| 117 | 9540102 | Base station multi-vehicle coordination | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for base station multi-vehicle coordination. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a base station, may: (i) effectuate one or more communications with at least a first UFV and a second UFV, or (ii) transmit to a first UFV at least one command based at least partially on one or more communications with at least a first UFV and a second UFV. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2013-03-13 | 2017-01-10 | B64C39/02, G05D1/00, G08G5/00 | 13/800391 |
| 118 | 9533683 | Sensor failure mitigation system and mode management | A trailer backup assist system includes a sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a steering input device that provides a backing path of the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a controller that generates a steering command for the vehicle based on the hitch angle and the backing path. The controller generates a countermeasure for operating the vehicle when the sensor fails to sense the hitch angle. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-12-05 | 2017-01-03 | B60W30/10, B60W10/20, B60W50/02, B60W30/18, B60W50/04, B60W50/10, B60W50/14, B60W10/18 | 14/562081 |
| 119 | 9529357 | Method and apparatus for operator supervision and direction of highly autonomous vehicles | A system for automating the control of a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) includes a computer having a processor and a memory, a display operatively coupled to the computer and configured to display a future operating condition of the RPV and an input device operatively coupled to the computer. A predicted noodle tool is executed by the processor and configured to indicate a predicted future path of the RPV by generating a predicted noodle segment on the display. A directed noodle tool is executed by the processor to indicate a pilot-adjustable proposed future flight path of the RPV by generating a directed noodle segment on the display. Further, an input device mode selector is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to selectively map the input device to either manipulate a control surface of the RPV, or to manipulate the directed noodle segment. | Jeffrey Eggers (Leesburg, VA), Mark Draper (Beavercreek, OH), Robert Shaw (Beavercreek, OH), Joshua Hamell (San Marcos, CA), Heath Ruff (Dayton, OH) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Air Force (Washington, DC) | 2014-06-09 | 2016-12-27 | G05D1/00 | 14/298992 |
| 120 | 9527587 | Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) coordination | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) coordination. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain one or more theater characteristics, or (ii) coordinate at least one behavior of at least one UFV based, at least partially, on one or more theater characteristics. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2013-04-19 | 2016-12-27 | B64C39/02, G05D1/10, G08G5/00 | 13/866743 |
| 121 | 9527586 | Inter-vehicle flight attribute communication for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for inter-vehicle flight attribute communication for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) . for certain example embodiments, at least one machine may: (i) obtain at least one indication related to imparting at least one flight attribute corresponding to a UFV, or (ii) transmit to a remote UFV at least one indicator of at least one flight attribute corresponding to a UFV based at least partially on at least one indication related to imparting at least one flight attribute. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-27 | 2016-12-27 | B64C39/02, G05D1/10 | 13/728642 |
| 122 | 9522677 | Mitigation of input device failure and mode management | A trailer backup assist system includes a sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a steering input device that provides a backing path of the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a controller that generates a steering command for the vehicle based on the hitch angle and the backing path. The controller generates a countermeasure for operating the vehicle when the steering input device fails to provide the desired backing path fails or the controller otherwise fails to sense the input signal from the steering input device. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-12-05 | 2016-12-20 | B62D1/00, B62D6/00, B62D5/00, B60W30/10, B60W10/18, B60W10/20, B60W50/02 | 14/562101 |
| 123 | 9511799 | Object avoidance for a trailer backup assist system | A trailer backup assist system, according to one embodiment, includes a steering input device for inputting a desired backing path of a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a first sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a second sensor that senses a proximity of an object in a perimeter field of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer. A controller of the trailer backup assist system generates an available set of backing paths for the trailer based on the proximity of the object and the hitch angle. The available set of backing paths does not include backing paths that cross a space occupied by the object or that cause a jackknife condition between the vehicle and the trailer. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-06-20 | 2016-12-06 | B62D6/00, B62D12/00, B62D13/06, B62D15/02 | 14/310039 |
| 124 | 9506774 | Method of inputting a path for a vehicle and trailer | A method of inputting a path is provided. The method includes the steps of generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on at least one of image data and satellite image data, displaying the aerial view on a display having a touch screen, and registering a touch event on the touch screen that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer. | John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), Matt Y. Rupp (Canton, MI), Michael Hafner (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-08-14 | 2016-11-29 | G01C21/36, B60D1/62, H04N7/18, B60R1/00, B60D1/24, B60W30/00, G08G1/16, B62D15/02, B62D13/06, G01B11/26, G01B7/30 | 14/459926 |
| 125 | 9505496 | Aerial insect release apparatus | An apparatus to aerially dispense payload containers from an aircraft is provided. The apparatus includes an outer portion, including an opening to allow a payload container to leave the apparatus when the payload container is in alignment with the opening. The apparatus also includes an inner portion, configured to rotate within the outer portion. The inner portion has one or more cutouts that retain the payload container. The apparatus further includes an actuator, coupled to the inner portion, and a processor circuit. The processor circuit commands the actuator to rotate the inner portion to cause the payload container to align with the opening. | Michael Beaugavin Markov (Oceanside, CA) | --- | 2014-10-19 | 2016-11-29 | B64D1/02, B64D1/12, A01K1/08, B64D1/08, B64C39/02 | 14/517870 |
| 126 | 9500497 | System and method of inputting an intended backing path | A path input system is provided. The path input system includes at least one imaging device for generating image data. A GPS device is included for generating satellite image data. A controller generates an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on the image data and the satellite data. A display is included for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-08-14 | 2016-11-22 | G01C21/36, B60D1/62, B60R1/00, B60D1/24, H04N7/18, B60W30/00, B62D13/06, G08G1/16, B62D15/02, G01C21/32, G01B11/26, G01B7/30 | 14/460003 |
| 127 | 9488736 | Locally measured movement smoothing of GNSS position fixes | A method of improving position determination of a device using locally measured movement. A first position fix of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver system of a device is accessed. A second position fix of the GNSS receiver system is accessed at a time subsequent to the first position fix. Locally measured device movement information is obtained from at least one sensor, that is in a known physical relationship to the device, for a time period after the first position fix and no later than the second position fix, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an image capture device. The quality of measurement of the second position fix is improved by disciplining the second position fix based on the locally measured device movement information. | Shawn D. Weisenburger (Denver, CO), Richard Rudow (Mesa, AZ), Nicholas C. Talbot (Ashburton, AU), Peter Van Wyck Loomis (Sunnyvale, CA), James M. Janky (Los Altos, CA) | Trimble Navigation Limited (Sunnyvale, CA) | 2014-05-02 | 2016-11-08 | G01S19/47, G06T7/20, G01S19/45, G01S19/48, G01S19/00 | 14/268898 |
| 128 | 9470579 | System and method for calibrating imaging measurements taken from aerial vehicles | Systems and methods are provided for calibrating spectral measurements taken of one or more targets from an aerial vehicle. Multiple photo sensors may be configured to obtain spectral measurements of one or more ambient light sources. The obtained spectral measurements of the one or more ambient light sources may be used to calibrate the obtained spectral measurements of the target. | Michael Ritter (San Diego, CA), Michael Milton (San Diego, CA) | Slantrange, Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 2014-09-08 | 2016-10-18 | G01J3/46, G01J3/02, G01J3/28 | 14/480565 |
| 129 | 9454703 | Method, system, imaging device, movable device and program product for detecting static elements in video and image sources | The invention relates to a method for determining a static element in images captured by an imaging means mounted on a movable device. The method comprises steps of acquiring a first image and a second image captured by the imaging means. The first image and the second image are captured at capture times separated by a time difference and the method is characterized by the time difference being selected depending on motion parameters of the movable device. A determination measure for corresponding regions of the first and the second image for representing a similarity of the corresponding regions is calculated and a static element of the first and the second image is determined based on the calculated determination measure. An output signal comprising information on the determined static element is generated. | Nils Einecke (Offenbach, DE), Jorg Deigmoller (Offenbach, DE) | Honda Research Institute Europe Gmbh (Offenbach/Main, DE) | 2015-01-27 | 2016-09-27 | G06K9/00, G06K9/52, H04N5/217, G06T7/20, G01N21/94, G01N21/958, B60S1/08 | 14/606540 |
| 130 | 9454151 | User interfaces for selecting unmanned aerial vehicles and mission plans for unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a mission that includes traversal of a flight path and performance of mission operations, and presents a first user interface that requests mission information. The device receives the mission information, and determines recommended UAVs for the mission based on the mission information. The device presents information associated with the recommended UAVs, and receives a selection of a particular UAV via the first user interface. The device determines recommended mission plans based on the mission information and the particular UAV, and presents the recommended mission plans via a second user interface. The device receives a selection of a particular mission plan via the second user interface, and generates mission plan instructions for the particular mission plan. The device provides the mission plan instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel the flight path and perform the mission operations. | Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2016-09-27 | G05D1/00, G06Q10/08 | 14/282249 |
| 131 | 9441985 | Future scene generating system, device, and method for a remotely-operated vehicle | A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a future scene of a remotely-operated vehicle (''ROV'') are disclosed. A future scene generator (''FSG'') may receive remote navigation data from the ROV, receive engine control and steering control (''ECSC'') data representative of engine and steering commands, predict future navigation data based upon the remote navigation data, the ECSC data, and a time delay, retrieve object data corresponding to the future navigation data, generate an image data set based upon the future navigation data and the object data, where the image data set is representative of an image of a future scene located outside the remote vehicle, and provide the image data set to a display unit. If the ROV is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the ECSC data could be engine control and flight controls data, and the image of a future scene could be a three-dimensional perspective. | Mitchell A. Riley (Marion, IA) | Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA) | 2012-07-25 | 2016-09-13 | G01C23/00 | 13/557427 |
| 132 | 9412279 | Unmanned aerial vehicle network-based recharging | A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV. The device calculates the flight path based on the capability information, identifies multiple recharging stations located on or near the flight path, and selects a recharging station from the multiple recharging stations based on one or more factors. The device generates flight path instructions, for the flight path, that instruct the UAV to stop and recharge at the recharging station. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to a location of the recharging station, stop and recharge at the recharging station, and travel from the location of the recharging station to the second location via the flight path. | Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2016-08-09 | G05D3/00, G08G5/04, G05D1/10, G06Q10/00, G01C21/34, G08G5/00 | 14/282518 |
| 133 | 9405296 | Collision targeting for hazard handling | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for collision targeting for hazard handling. for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a base station, may: (i) ascertain at least one target for at least one collision to include an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) , or (ii) transmit at least one command to execute at least one maneuver to divert a UFV at least toward at least one target to induce at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwah Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-31 | 2016-08-02 | G05D1/12, B64C39/02, F41G7/00 | 13/731721 |
| 134 | 9374562 | System and method for calculating a horizontal camera to target distance | A system and method for calculating a horizontal camera to target distance is provided. A camera on board a vehicle is configured to image a target on a trailer that is aligned with the vehicle. A controller is in communication with the camera and is supplied a user-obtained measurement. The controller is configured to calculate a first horizontal distance and a second horizontal distance, and to sum the first and second horizontal distances to calculate a horizontal camera to target distance. | Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), Christopher Scott Nave (Ypsilanti, MI), Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Bradley G. Hockrein (Dexter, MI), Don Jacob Mattern (Canton, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-04-10 | 2016-06-21 | H04N7/18, B62D15/02, B62D9/00, B62D13/00, B62D53/04, B62D12/00, B60D3/00, B60T8/17, B62D13/06, B60Q9/00, B60R1/00, B60W30/00, B60D1/62, B60D1/24, G01B7/30 | 14/249781 |
| 135 | 9354296 | Dynamic selection of unmanned aerial vehicles | A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region, and calculates the flight path based on the request and based on one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, regulatory information, or historical information associated with the region. The device determines required capabilities for the flight path based on the request, and selects, from multiple UAVs, a particular UAV based on the required capabilities for the flight path and based on a ranking of the multiple UAVs. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path, and provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2016-05-31 | G01C23/00, G01S5/00 | 14/282345 |
| 136 | 9352777 | Methods and systems for configuring of a trailer maneuvering system | A system for configuring a trailer model for a trailer maneuvering system is disclosed. The system comprises a controller having a memory and being operable to communicate with the trailer maneuvering system. The controller is configured to receive trailer dimensional data from a mobile device. The trailer dimensional data may then be stored in the memory as a first trailer profile. The controller is operable to access the trailer dimensional data in the first trailer profile to determine at least one vehicle operation configured to maneuver the trailer. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Bruce Frederick Pierce (Farmington Hills, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-09-05 | 2016-05-31 | G06F19/00, H04N7/18, B60W30/00, B62D15/02, B62D13/06, G01B21/02 | 14/477944 |
| 137 | 9340301 | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements. | Matthew Robert Dickson (Hood River, OR), Craig Aram Thomasian (The Dalles, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2014-12-12 | 2016-05-17 | B64F1/02, B64C39/02, B64F1/04 | 14/569443 |
| 138 | 9334052 | Unmanned aerial vehicle flight path determination, optimization, and management | A device receives a request for a flight path from a first location to a second location in a region. The request includes component information associated with components of UAVs in a group. The device calculates a most efficient flight path from the first location to the second location based weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region, and determines capability information for the UAVs in the group based on the component information. The device selects, from the UAVs in the group, a particular UAV that is capable of traversing the most efficient flight path based on the capability information, and generates flight path instructions for the most efficient flight path. The device provides the flight path instructions to the particular UAV to permit the particular UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the most efficient flight path. | Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2016-05-10 | G05D1/00, G05D3/00, G06F7/00, G06F17/00, B64C39/02 | 14/282163 |
| 139 | 9311820 | Configurability options for information, airspace, and property utilized by an unmanned aerial vehicle platform | A device receives aviation information associated with aviation in a geographical region, and receives configurability options associated with the aviation information. The device analyzes the aviation information based on the configurability options to generate analyzed information, and receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location in the geographical region. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the analyzed information and capability information associated with the UAV, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path. | Hani Batla (Teaneck, NJ), Ashok N. Srivastava (Mountain View, CA), Douglas M. Pasko (Bridgewater, NJ), Igor Kantor (Raleigh, NC), Gurpreet Ubhi (Nutley, NJ) | Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 2014-05-20 | 2016-04-12 | G08G5/00 | 14/282237 |
| 140 | 9290204 | Hitch angle monitoring system and method | A hitch angle monitoring system and method are provided. A display shows an imaged scene of a hitch connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer. A processor is configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene, wherein the overlay indicates a hitch angle position limit. A hitch angle position indicator is shown on the display and visually relates a current hitch angle position to the hitch angle position limit. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI) | Ford Global Technologies, Llc (Dearborn, MI) | 2014-06-24 | 2016-03-22 | B62D13/06, B60R1/00, B60W30/00, H04N7/18 | 14/313218 |
| 141 | 9285503 | Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, recording, and transmitting fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control data | Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids) . Said instruments may include handheld computing devices like the Apple iPhone, iPad, or other PDAs, said devices using short or long range, wired or wireless communication. The systems and methods reduce costs, errors, inefficiencies, and increase safety by giving the user simple GUI interfaces for data collection and for action items. The said handheld devices can guide the data collector to the skid location using GPS or other location based services, collect data via wired of wireless methods, guide the data collector through manual data input methods or safety action items, compare current readings to past history and evaluate current safety or out-of-tolerance conditions or entries, among other items. | Kennon Guglielmo (San Antonio, TX), Frank W Murphy (Tulsa, OK) | Enovation Controls, Llc (Tulsa, OK) | 2013-11-26 | 2016-03-15 | G01V1/40, G01V11/00, G05B19/042 | 14/091323 |
| 142 | 9266610 | Controlled range and payload for unmanned vehicles, and associated systems and methods | The presently disclosed technology is directed generally to unmanned vehicle systems and methods configured to satisfy a first set of export control regulations, such as those within the jurisdiction of one government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of Commerce) without falling within the purview of a second set of export control regulations, such as export control regulations within the jurisdiction of another government entity or international body (e.g., the U.S. Department of State) . Through limited range of operation, limited payload types, limited capabilities, and tamper-proof or tamper-resistant features, embodiments of the unmanned vehicle system are designed to fall within the purview and under control of one agency and not within the purview and under control of another agency. | Jeffrey H. Knapp (Hood River, OR), David Tasker (Beaverton, OR), Gary Lee Viviani (Lyle, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2014-05-15 | 2016-02-23 | G05D1/00, B64C39/02, G06Q10/10, G06Q50/18, G06Q50/26, B64C19/00 | 14/278242 |
| 143 | 9248858 | Trailer backup assist system | The trailer backup assist system has a human machine interface coupled to a controller having a setup module, a calibration module, an activation module and a control module configured to receive trailer measurements, apply trailer measurements, activate and control vehicle systems to calibrate and implement a curvature control algorithm that controls the reverse movement of the vehicle-trailer combination in a manner consistent with a driver request. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), Christopher Nave (Ypsilanti, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI), Matt Y. Rupp (Canton, MI), Kenneth Michael Mayer (Ypsilanti, MI), Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI), Martin Fitzpatrick Frey (Saline, MI), Douglas Scott Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI), David Dean Smit (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies (Dearborn, MI) | 2013-10-22 | 2016-02-02 | G06F19/00, B62D13/06, B62D15/02 | 14/059835 |
| 144 | 9235218 | Collision targeting for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) | Disclosed herein are example embodiments for collision targeting for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) . for certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) ascertain at least one target for at least one collision to include a UFV, or (ii) execute at least one maneuver to divert a UFV at least toward at least one target to induce at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA), Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA), Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA), Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA), John D. Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA), Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA) | Elwha Llc (Bellevue, WA) | 2012-12-31 | 2016-01-12 | G05D1/12, F41G9/00, F41G7/22, B64C39/02 | 13/731450 |
| 145 | 9229619 | Ambient activity monitors for hidden computing system and process metadata | A computing system having attached display devices comprising a primary display area controlled by a corresponding attached display device, a running software application coupled to the primary display area, the software application being actively manipulated by a user and the corresponding primary display area being actively perceived by the user, a plurality of software measurement mechanisms, each coupled to hidden internal states of the running software application, data mapping functions each coupled to a plurality of software measurement mechanisms, one or more secondary display areas each controlled by a corresponding attached display device, where each secondary display area does not occlude or obscure the primary display area, one or more display algorithms, each which couples secondary display areas to one or more data mapping functions, in which the secondary display area shows representations of the hidden internal states via the software measurement mechanisms, data mapping functions, and display algorithms. | Sunny J. Fugate (San Diego, CA) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy (Washington, DC) | 2013-02-14 | 2016-01-05 | G06F3/048, G06F3/0484, G06F3/0481 | 13/767131 |
| 146 | 9227726 | Aircraft bird strike prevention | A method comprises continuously discharging a persistent vapor of bird repellant from a non-propulsion apparatus on a flying aircraft into an elevated airspace to substantially cover a runway flight path corridor at a commercial airport to prevent birds from striking subsequent aircraft in the corridor. The discharging automatically begins from a runway at the airport and automatically ends when the corridor is substantially covered. | Kelly L. Boren (Marysville, WA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2012-11-29 | 2016-01-05 | B64D1/18, A01M29/12, B64D1/16, B64D45/00 | 13/689743 |
| 147 | 9218002 | Stall prevention/recovery system and method | A method for operating an aircraft to prevent/recover from a stall condition includes the steps of detecting an actual vertical velocity of the aircraft, calculating vertical velocity error of the aircraft, the vertical velocity error being based upon a comparison between the actual vertical velocity of the aircraft and a commanded vertical velocity of the aircraft, and determining if the aircraft is in one of a near stalled condition and a stalled condition based upon at least the detected vertical velocity error and the polarity of the vertical velocity error. The method further includes the steps of taking control of the aircraft from an operator of the aircraft, reducing a bank angle of the aircraft, pitching the aircraft downward, and increasing the airspeed of the aircraft if the aircraft's airspeed is outside an airspeed window if the aircraft is in one of the near stalled condition and the stalled condition. | Kynn J. Schulte (Arlington, TX), Robert L. Fortenbaugh (Pantego, TX), Kenneth E. Builta (Euless, TX) | Textron Innovations Inc. (Providence, RI) | 2011-02-07 | 2015-12-22 | B65D25/00, G05D1/00, G05D1/08 | 13/522993 |
| 148 | 9187124 | Steering input apparatus for trailer backup assist system | A trailer backup steering input apparatus provides a trailer steering information signal to a trailer backup assist control module of a vehicle through a signal interface thereof. The trailer steering information signal is configured for enabling the trailer backup assist control module to generate electrical steering commands for a steering system of the vehicle as a function of the trailer steering information signal. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is self-contained and physically detachable/detached form the vehicle. Advantageously, such a trailer backup steering input apparatus saves space, allows for greater flexibility with interior styling of the vehicle, and allows all drivers regardless of stature the ability to have the trailer backup steering input apparatus easily accessible while utilizing the trailer backup assist functionality of the vehicle. | Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), John Shutko (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies (Dearborn, MI) | 2012-06-12 | 2015-11-17 | G06F19/00, B62D15/02, G08B21/00, B60T8/24, B62D13/06 | 13/494224 |
| 149 | 9164955 | Trailer active back-up assist with object avoidance | A trailer back-up assist apparatus comprises an obstacle sensing system operable to output information characterizing proximity of a object adjacent to a vehicle-trailer combination while the vehicle-trailer combination is being backed toward a targeted location and a trailer back-up assist system correction apparatus coupled to the obstacle sensing system. The trailer back-up assist system uses the information characterizing proximity of the object to determine if a path of the vehicle-trailer combination needs to be altered to limit a potential of the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object and implements a path correction action to alter the path of travel of the vehicle-trailer combination to reduce the potential for the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Douglas Scott Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI), Darrel Alan Recker (Ypsilanti, MI) | Ford Global Technologies (Dearborn, MI) | 2013-02-04 | 2015-10-20 | B62D6/00, B62D15/02, G06F17/00, B62D13/06, B62D12/00 | 13/759022 |
| 150 | 9164508 | Unmanned vehicle retrofitting system | A system for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, comprising: a quantity of subsystem controllers, including at least: a throttle controller, integratable with an existing throttle system of the vehicle, a brake controller, integratable with an existing brake system of the vehicle, and a steering controller, integratable with an existing steering system of the vehicle, and a master actuator/control system, installable within the vehicle and being operably coupleable to each of the subsystem controllers. | George A. Takach, Jr. (Sandy, UT) | Kairos Autonomi (Sandy, UT) | 2010-04-15 | 2015-10-20 | G05D1/00, G05D1/02 | 12/760801 |
| 151 | 9134416 | Systems and methods of providing a TCAS primary radar | Systems and related methods are delineated for employing a TCAS to provide a radar function for a UAS. One such system comprises a TCAS having at least a transceiver and an antenna, and a processor coupled to the transceiver for receiving signals generated from receipt of reflected energy received over the antenna, the reflected energy resulting from the one or more of a Mode S interrogation waveform and an ATCRBS interrogation waveform transmitted from the antenna. | Gregory T. Stayton (Peoria, AZ) | Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems Llc (Phoenix, AZ) | 2010-12-10 | 2015-09-15 | G01S13/93, G01S3/02 | 12/965738 |
| 152 | 9129528 | Trailer active back-up assist with lane width HMI | A vehicle comprises a communication interface for enabling information to be communicated to a and from an occupant of the vehicle and a trailer back-up assist system coupled to the communication interface. The trailer back-up assist system is operable for determining a selected width of a lane within which the vehicle and an attached trailer are to be backed from a current position of the vehicle to reach a targeted location for the attached trailer and for outputting to the occupant of the vehicle via the communication interface information characterizing an ability of the vehicle to be backed within the lane from the current position of the vehicle. | Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Douglas Scott Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI), Darrel Alan Recker (Ypsilanti, MI) | Ford Global Technologies (Dearborn, MI) | 2013-02-04 | 2015-09-08 | G06F19/00, G08G1/0962, G08G1/16, G01B21/02, B60R1/00, H04N7/18, B62D6/00, B62D13/06, B60C23/00 | 13/758969 |
| 153 | 9109862 | System, device, and method of protecting aircrafts against incoming threats | System, device and method for protecting aircrafts against incoming threats. The system includes: (a) a dual-band Radio Frequency (RF) track-and-confirm module comprising: a dual-band RF receiver to receive high-band RF signals and low-band RF signals, a threat confirmation module to confirm a possible incoming threat based on processing of RF signals received at the dual-band RF receiver, a threat parameters calculator to calculate a fine angular position and a precise angular position of a confirmed incoming threat, based on processing of RF signals received at low-band RF for fine angular position and at high-band RF for precise angular position, (b) a countermeasure directed Laser module to activate a directed Laser countermeasure towards said precise angular position of said confirmed incoming threat. | Ronen Factor (Ramat Gan, IL), David Dragucki (Herzeliya, IL), Ariye Yehuda Caplan (Haifa, IL), Zahi Ben Ari (Haniel, IL), Semion Zelikman (Rishon Lezion, IL), Royee Li-Ran (Herzliya, IL) | Bird Aerosystems Limited (Herzelia, IL) | 2014-01-16 | 2015-08-18 | G06F19/00, G01S7/495, G01S13/86, F41H11/02, G01S7/38, F41H13/00 | 14/156490 |
| 154 | 9084276 | Dynamic transmission control for a wireless network | In one possible embodiment, a wireless network with dynamic transmission control is provided that includes a multiple of nodes. The nodes include an arbiter and multiple client nodes. The arbiter is configured to control an operation of the client nodes by defining communications operation cycles and allocating a bandwidth to each of the client nodes on a cycle by cycle basis in response to requests for bandwidth from the client nodes. | John F. Grabowsky (Camarillo, CA), Phillip T. Tokumaru (Thousand Oaks, CA), Robert J. Kniskern (Fort Wayne, IN), Nicholas S. Currens (Lima, OH), Allan L. Levine, Jr. (Thousand Oaks, CA) | Aerovironment, Inc. (Monrovia, CA) | 2010-09-09 | 2015-07-14 | H04B7/00, H04W72/12, H04L29/08 | 12/878989 |
| 155 | 9075136 | Vehicle operator and/or occupant information apparatus and method | An apparatus including a processing device which identifies a first travel route, on which first travel route a vehicle can travel to a destination, and which generates a first message containing information regarding the first travel route, and a transmitter which transmits the first message to a communication device located at the vehicle. The apparatus automatically detects a departure of the vehicle from the first travel route, identifies a second travel route in response to the detected departure of the vehicle from the first travel route, generates a second message containing information regarding the second travel route, and transmits the second message to the communication device. | Raymond Anthony Joao (Yonkers, NY) | Gtj Ventures, Llc (Yonkers, NY) | 1999-03-01 | 2015-07-07 | H04N7/18 | 09/259957 |
| 156 | 9062948 | Aerial smoke generator system | An aerial smoke generator system includes a pilotless aircraft, an altimeter, a smoke dispensing container, a rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser, and a processor. The altimeter is mounted to the pilotless aircraft. The smoke dispensing container is connected to the pilotless aircraft and has a smoke-producing chemical under pressure and a nozzle valved to release smoke from the smoke dispensing container. The rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser connected to the nozzle so as to release smoke produced by the smoke dispensing container. The rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser has tubular arms extending radially outward and configured to eject smoke under pressure in a direction promoting rotation of the rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser. The processor is connected to the altimeter and the smoke dispensing container so as to initiate a release of smoke when the pilotless aircraft arrives at a designated height. | S. Mill Calvert (Manassas, VA) | Asgs Associates, Trustee for Aerial Smoke Generator System Crt Trust (Manassas, VA) | 2014-10-03 | 2015-06-23 | F42B12/48 | 14/505990 |
| 157 | 9062854 | Lighting systems with heat extracting light emitting elements | Lighting systems with heat extracting light emitting elements are disclosed based on the light emitting surface also functioning as the heat cooling surface. Lighting systems which have only their light emitting surfaces exposed to ambient are disclosed. A thermally conductive mostly reflective light transmitting element provides light diffusion, interconnect, and forms a light recycling cavity providing very low profile and lightweight solid state light sources. These properties make these light sources very useful in applications such as aircraft, rescue, temporary illumination, and automotive where weight directly impacts cost and utility. The integration of drivers and other electrical functions onto the heat extracting light emitting elements is also disclosed. | William R. Livesay (San Diego, CA), Scott M. Zimmerman (Basking Ridge, NJ), Richard L. Ross (Del Mar, CA), Eduardo DeAnda (San Diego, CA) | Goldeneye, Inc (San Diego, CA) | 2014-04-21 | 2015-06-23 | H01L31/0232, F21V23/02, F21K99/00, F21S8/04, F21V29/00, H01L33/64, H01L23/00, H01L33/50 | 14/258000 |
| 158 | 9037350 | Detection of and counter-measures for jackknife enabling conditions during trailer backup assist | A trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller. The jackknife counter-measures controller alters a setting of at least one vehicle operating parameter for alleviating an adverse jackknife condition during backing of the trailer by the vehicle when the jackknife enabling condition detector determines that a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle, restricts a trailer backup steering input apparatus and issues a warning to the driver using the trailer backup steering input apparatus. | Matt Y. Rupp (Canton, MI), David Dean Smit (Ann Arbor, MI), Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI), Roger Arnold Trombley (Ann Arbor, MI), Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI) | Ford Global Technologies (Dearborn, MI) | 2013-10-11 | 2015-05-19 | B62D13/06, B62D15/02 | 14/052062 |
| 159 | 8983680 | Unmanned vehicle retrofitting system | A system for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, comprises a quantity of subsystem controllers. The subsystem controllers include: a throttle controller, integratable with an existing throttle system of the vehicle, a brake controller, integratable with an existing brake system of the vehicle, and a steering controller, integratable with an existing steering system of the vehicle. An actuator control system is operably coupleable to each of the subsystem controllers, and the actuator control system is capable of enabling remote or automated control of each of the subsystem controllers. An interrupt device is operably coupled to the actuator control system, the interrupt device providing selective: i) actuation of the actuator control system to provide remote or automated control of the subsystem controllers, and ii) deactivation of the actuator control system to return the subsystem controllers to a manually controlled state. | George A. Takach, Jr. (Sandy, UT) | Kairos Autonmi, Inc. (Sandy, UT) | 2007-08-24 | 2015-03-17 | G05D1/00 | 11/895639 |
| 160 | 8976340 | Ladar sensor for landing, docking and approach | A system for landing or docking a mobile platform is enabled by a flash LADAR sensor having an adaptive controller with Automatic Gain Control (AGC) . Range gating in the LADAR sensor penetrates through diffuse reflectors. The LADAR sensor adapted for landing/approach comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, transmit optics, receive optics, a focal plane array of detectors, a readout integrated circuit, camera support electronics and image processor, an image analysis and bias calculation processor, and a detector array bias control circuit. The system is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. | Patrick Gilliland (Santa Barbara, CA), Bob Koseluk (Santa Barbara, CA), Steve Penniman (Goleta, CA), Brad Short (Goleta, CA), Joe Spagnolia (Ventura, CA), Roger Stettner (Santa Barbara, CA) | Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc. (Santa Barbara, CA) | 2012-04-16 | 2015-03-10 | G01C3/08 | 13/447717 |
| 161 | 8944373 | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods | Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements. | Matthew Robert Dickson (Hood River, OR), Craig Aram Thomasian (The Dalles, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2012-05-30 | 2015-02-03 | B64F1/02 | 13/483330 |
| 162 | 8929586 | System and method for detecting potential property insurance fraud | A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the spectral difference can be used to determine whether a change in the condition of the property was potentially fraudulently caused. | Patrick D. Brown (Marlborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2012-07-12 | 2015-01-06 | G06K9/00 | 13/547597 |
| 163 | 8917322 | Method and apparatus for digital video latency reduction by real-time warping | In one aspect, video latency reduction by real-time warping is described. In one aspect, an original geometric image model of a digital video frame is adjusted according to a video frame latency, to form an adjusted geometric image model. A geometric image model may represent a field of view from a remote camera used to capture the digital video frame. The adjusted geometric image model may be overlaid onto the original geometric image model to capture a warped image. In one aspect the warped image is re-projected according to the adjusted geometric image model to form a re-projected image. The re-projected image may then be displayed to approximate a real-time field of view from a camera used to capture the digital video frame. In one aspect, an attitude and runway alignment of an unmanned aerial vehicle may be controlled using a displayed, re-projected image. Other aspects are described and claimed. | Andrew C. Olson (Palmdale, CA), Brian E. Brinck (Quartz Hill, CA), John N. Konyn (Riverside, CA) | Lockheed Martin Corporation (Bethesda, MD) | 2011-04-01 | 2014-12-23 | H04N7/18 | 13/078832 |
| 164 | 8864069 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William R. McDonnell (St. Louis, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-10-21 | B64F1/02, B64C25/68 | 14/010176 |
| 165 | 8838289 | System and method for safely flying unmanned aerial vehicles in civilian airspace | A system and method for safely flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) , unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) , or remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) in civilian airspace uses a remotely located pilot to control the aircraft using a synthetic vision system during at least selected phases of the flight such as during take-offs and landings. | Jed Margolin (VC Highlands, NV) | --- | 2007-04-17 | 2014-09-16 | G06F19/00 | 11/736356 |
| 166 | 8823938 | System, apparatus, and method for tracking atmospheric differential absorption | A system, apparatus, and method is provided to remotely measure atmospheric species using a long path differential absorption technique. In one embodiment, a source and a detector are collocated and at the far end of the absorption path a retro-reflector is mounted on a vehicle. The source generates an outgoing laser beam that is transmitted to the retro-reflector and reflected towards the detector as an incoming laser beam, and the detector receives the incoming laser beam that was reflected by the retro-reflector. | Steven M Beck (Palos Verdes Estates, CA), Gary L Loper (Huntington Beach, CA) | The Aerospace Corporation (El Segundo, CA) | 2012-01-11 | 2014-09-02 | G01N21/00 | 13/348468 |
| 167 | 8777157 | Tethered hovering platform | The design and refinement of a tethered hovering platform into a feasible working system is presented. To determine a starting point for the design, a detailed historical search was conducted to find the history and the current state of such technology. Real world current needs are analyzed to produce a mission specification and to drive the preliminary vehicle design. Analysis of environmental conditions and decisions about an initial payload package are made in conjunction with motor and propeller sizing. Initial concept testing to discover feasibility and operational issues was performed, from this, instability issues were discovered. Analyzing these instability issues using known rotorcraft and momentum effects, in conjunction with flight testing, yields possible solutions to the problem. The use of constrained layer dampers as a means of passive stabilization is addressed and suggested as the preferred solution. Testing of passive constrained layer damping verifies the stability of the solution. The system components and manufacturing cost is presented in comparison to current systems using active stabilization. | Ronald M. Barrett (Lawrence, KS), David N. Borys (San Diego, CA), Alex Gladbach (Houston, TX), Dustin Grorud (Milbank, SD), Andrew Spalding (St. Louis, MO) | University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS) | 2009-10-30 | 2014-07-15 | B64F1/12 | 12/610055 |
| 168 | 8696399 | Components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus | Mechanical and electromechanical components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus may include components that are reconfigurable into other construction set components, and that have at least one demarcation defining adjacent segments thereof. The demarcations facilitate reconfiguration of the components to produce other construction set components. Openings to substantially prevent sharp edges from being formed during reconfiguration may be included in the components. An electromechanical drive assembly having an integrated speed control and operable to receive interchangeable, non-circular drive shafts may be provided. The electromechanical drive assembly may be configured to attach to and self-align relative to other construction set components. One or more of the components may be provided with openings through which the non-circular drive shafts may rotate. The drive shaft may be locked in relation to openings of components that, allow the drive shaft to rotate via a lock plate. A bearing plate may also be included. | Robert H. Mimlitch (Rowlett, TX), David Anthony Norman (Greenville, TX) | Innovation First, Inc. (Greenville, TX) | 2013-02-06 | 2014-04-15 | A63H33/00 | 13/760652 |
| 169 | 8672223 | System, device and method of protecting aircrafts against incoming missiles and threats | The present invention includes a system for protecting an aircraft against one or more incoming threats. The system includes one or more electro-optic sensors to scan an area around the aircraft for one or more possible incoming threats, and to generate an indication signal once an incoming threat is detected, an integrated unit combining a Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor (MACS) with Directed Infra-Red Counter Measure (DIRCM) , to verify the incoming threat and to activate a countermeasure against the verified incoming threat, and a processor to receive data from said one or more electro-optic sensors and the integrated MACS-DIRCM unit, and to select a countermeasure technique for deployment against the incoming threat. | Ronen Factor (Ramat Gan, IL), David Dragucki (Herzeliya, IL), Ariye Yehuda Caplan (Haifa, IL), Zahi Ben Ari (Haniel, IL), Semion Zelikman (Rishon Lezion, IL), Royee Li-Ran (Herzliya, IL) | Bird Aerosystems Limited (Herzelia, IL) | 2012-03-28 | 2014-03-18 | G06F19/00 | 13/432029 |
| 170 | 8662441 | Unmanned aerial vehicle launch system | A system for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload includes a launch tube, liquid rocket, and launch control assembly. The rocket is positioned in the launch tube and contains the UAV payload. A booster assembly may include a canister partially filled with liquid. A gas cylinder is filled with compressed gas. The liquid is pre-pressurized by the gas or mixed with the gas right before launch such that, upon launch, liquid and gaseous thrust stages launch the rocket to a threshold altitude. The UAV payload deploys after reaching the threshold altitude. Optional stability tubes may be connected to the launch tube, which may be buoyant for water-based operations. An optional tether may be connected to the liquid rocket for arresting its flight prior to reaching apogee. The UAV payload is not launched directly by the gas/liquid mix. A method of launching the UAV payload is also disclosed. | David Powell (Sanford, FL), Earl Mark (Deland, FL), John T. Houck (Ormond Beach, FL), Keith Huber (Palm Coast, FL) | Sparton Corporation (Schaumburg, IL) | 2012-02-07 | 2014-03-04 | B64F1/10 | 13/367494 |
| 171 | 8630796 | System and method for fast acquisition position reporting | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. The candidate points are considered and refined using code phase measurements from a set of GPS satellites. The candidate point having the lowest residuals or expected to measured code phases is chosen as the location of the mobile terminal. The measurements can be refined to account for various sources of error including measurement bias, relative motion and timing errors. | Mark C. Sullivan (Annandale, VA), James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA) | Skybitz, Inc. (Herndon, VA) | 2005-01-10 | 2014-01-14 | G06F17/00 | 11/030983 |
| 172 | 8619792 | Selective multi-modal transmission alteration | System and methods for an interface alteration device that recognizes in incoming data whether certain predefined conditions exist based on condition evaluation rules, and, as appropriate, alters certain portions of the incoming data based on alteration rules. Transmission tolerance levels also define how transmission of data is to be performed so that the destination node to which the altered and/or unaltered data is transmitted will be unaware that alteration has occurred to the data stream. | Ian Gallimore (Palmyra, PA), Jared Scott Marmen (Bel Air, MD) | Coherent Technical Services, Inc. (Lexington Park, MD) | 2009-01-13 | 2013-12-31 | H04L12/28 | 12/352728 |
| 173 | 8600589 | Point cloud visualization of acceptable helicopter landing zones based on 4D LIDAR | A processor calculates a safe landing zone for an aircraft. The processor executes the following steps: (a) converting 4D point cloud data into Cartesian coordinates to form a height map of a region, (b) segmenting the height map to form boundaries of an object in the region, and (c) determining maximum height within the boundaries of the object. Also included are (d) determining if the maximum height is greater than a predetermined height to form a vertical obstruction (VO) in the region, and (e) determining if the VO is in the line of sight (LOS) of the aircraft to classify the landing zone as safe or unsafe. The processor further includes the step of: (f) forming a slope map over the height map. | Javier Mendez-Rodriguez (Gainesville, VA), Christopher T. Rodgers (Adamstown, MD) | Exelis, Inc. (McLean, VA) | 2012-04-24 | 2013-12-03 | G06F19/00, B64D45/08 | 13/454158 |
| 174 | 8600104 | System and method for assessing a condition of an insured property and initiating an insurance claim process | A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim. | Patrick D. Brown (Marborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2012-10-04 | 2013-12-03 | G06K9/00 | 13/645017 |
| 175 | 8594938 | Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, recording, and transmitting fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control data | Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids) . Said instruments may include handheld computing devices like the Apple iPhone, iPad, or other PDAs, said devices using short or long range, wired or wireless communication. The systems and methods reduce costs, errors, inefficiencies, and increase safety by giving the user simple GUI interfaces for data collection and for action items. The said handheld devices can guide the data collector to the skid location using GPS or other location based services, collect data via wired of wireless methods, guide the data collector through manual data input methods or safety action items, compare current readings to past history and evaluate current safety or out-of-tolerance conditions or entries, among other items. | Kennon Guglielmo (San Antonio, TX), Frank W. Murphy, III (Tulsa, OK) | Fw Murphy (Tulsa, OK) | 2011-04-01 | 2013-11-26 | G01V1/40 | 13/078755 |
| 176 | 8567718 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William Randall McDonnell (St. Louis, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-10-29 | B64C25/68, B64F1/02 | 13/783575 |
| 177 | 8543256 | Transformable teleoperated amphibious fuel truck | According to typical practice of the present invention, a vehicle is remotely controlled and is travelable both in water and on land. The vehicle has two liquid-containment components that are situated generally one above the other. Pumping devices bring about transfer of cargo liquid (e.g., fuel or water) from either component to the other component. In accordance with the liquid transfer, the vehicle turns over, about its longitudinal axis, between two generally opposite buoyant positions, each of which is stable and viable for marine navigation. When the flow of the liquid sufficiently shifts weight from one component to the other, the vehicle inverts, that is, the emptying component flips from the bottom to the top, and the filling component flips from the top to the bottom. One of the buoyant positions of the vehicle is characterized by wheels for amphibiously transitioning the vehicle from water travel to land travel. | Gabor Karafiath (Silver Spring, MD) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy (Washington, DC) | 2011-06-10 | 2013-09-24 | B60F3/00 | 13/157754 |
| 178 | 8517306 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William R. McDonnell (St. Louis, MO), Charles H. Baker (Union, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (St. Louis, MS) | 2006-08-28 | 2013-08-27 | B64F1/02, B64C25/68 | 11/510920 |
| 179 | 8485085 | Network weapon system and method | Allows for the assignment of threat (s) to weapon (s) to allow operators to coordinate actions. Enables dynamic discovery and operation weapon (s) , sensor (s) over a local or public network so available weapons can be selected by operators. Sensors may act as simulated weapons and may also reside in a video surveillance system (VSS) . Sensors may be collocated or away from weapons which may differ in number. Sensors simulating weapons are transparently interchangeable with actual weapons. Simulated actors and events may be injected into system with operator gestures recorded for later analysis. Operator may control more than one weapon or sensor at a time. Operator user interface may be cloned onto another computer for real-time supervision or for later use. Integration of existing VSS with a network of remotely operated weapons or simulated weapons enables a passive video surveillance system upgrade to become a projector of lethal or non-lethal force. | John Goree (San Francisco, CA), Brian Feldman (San Francisco, CA) | Telerobotics Corporation (Goleta, CA) | 2007-08-14 | 2013-07-16 | F41G3/00, F41G3/26 | 11/838873 |
| 180 | 8462042 | Generating a kinematic indicator for combat identification classification | In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, a kinematic indicator generator may receive tracking data describing the position and velocity of a target. The tracking data may be used to identify an event describing an action of the target that may have occurred. The probability that the event occurred may be calculated and indicated by a confidence. The kinematic indicator generator may generate a kinematic indicator that includes the event and the confidence. | Richard P. DeLong (Anoka, MN), Barbara J. Blyth (Ellington, CT) | Raytheon Company (Waltham, MA) | 2009-07-28 | 2013-06-11 | G01S13/78 | 12/510748 |
| 181 | 8337270 | Components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus | Mechanical and electromechanical components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus may include components that are reconfigurable into other construction set components, and that have at least one demarcation defining adjacent segments thereof. The demarcations facilitate reconfiguration of the components to produce other construction set components. Openings to substantially prevent sharp edges from being formed during reconfiguration may be included in the components. An electromechanical drive assembly having an integrated speed control and operable to receive interchangeable, non-circular drive shafts may be provided. The electromechanical drive assembly may be configured to attach to and self-align relative to other construction set components. One or more of the components may be provided with openings through which the non-circular drive shafts may rotate. The drive shaft may be locked in relation to openings of components that allow the drive shaft to rotate via a lock plate. A bearing plate may also be included. | Robert H. Mimlitch, III (Rowlett, TX), David Anthony Norman (Greenville, TX) | Innovation First, Inc. (Greenville, TX) | 2011-03-03 | 2012-12-25 | A63H33/04, A63H29/22 | 13/039449 |
| 182 | 8306258 | System and method for assessing a condition of an insured property | A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim. | Patrick D. Brown (Marlborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-11-06 | G06K9/00 | 13/301281 |
| 183 | 8286907 | Flying entertainment vehicle | An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle. The apparatus includes a lift system, such as a parawing, that is inflated by air to generate lift and further includes a vehicle frame attached to the lift system such as by suspension lines that also space the lift system apart from the vehicle frame. The apparatus includes a thrust assembly supported on the vehicle frame that is operable to propel the vehicle at a flight speed at which the lift system is operated, e.g., the parawing is inflated, to generate lift to suspend the vehicle frame above the ground. The apparatus includes show elements that may be supported on or by the vehicle frame and be configured to be lift neutral. The show elements function to distract observers away from the lift system such as by appearing to provide the lift or features that cause the vehicle frame to fly. | Anthony Paul Dohi (Pasadena, CA), Scott Frazier Watson (Marina del Rey, CA), Robert Scott Trowbridge (La Canada, CA) | Disney Enterprises, Inc. (Redwood City, CA) | 2010-03-05 | 2012-10-16 | B64C7/00, B64C5/00 | 12/718803 |
| 184 | 8276844 | Unmanned aerial vehicle launching and landing system | The invention relates to a system for landing UAV's. The system comprises a slingshot structure that includes arm based structure and an axis installed along the arm of the structure and enabling the arm to move around it. The system comprises a base connecting the axis to a platform at which the system is installable. The system also includes a controlled pulling and braking means that connects the arm of the structure and the platform upon which the system is installable and stretchable elastic installed in a stretched manner at a gap formed between two arms and set to connect with a landing UAV. At the landing phase, the controlled pulling and braking of the system essentially breaks the motion of the arm based structure that is propelled to revolve around the system's axis, and propels the structure to move around the axis. | Amnon Kariv (Ra'anana, IL) | Elbit Systems Ltd. (Rehovot, IL) | 2009-02-02 | 2012-10-02 | B64F1/02 | 12/364206 |
| 185 | 8271149 | Conversion system fault management system for tiltrotor aircraft | The difference between a first position of a first pylon of a tiltrotor aircraft and a second position of a second pylon of the aircraft is prevented from becoming too large. An actuator position error for the first pylon is calculated from a difference between the first position and a commanded first position of the first pylon. An actuator position error for the second pylon is calculated from a difference between the second position and a commanded second position of the second pylon. An absolute value of the actuator position error for the first pylon is compared to the preset limit. If the absolute value of the actuator position error for the first pylon is greater than or equal to a preset limit, the actuator position error for the second pylon is calculated from the difference between the first position and the second position. | Kenneth E. Builta (Euless, TX) | Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (Hurst, TX) | 2006-08-21 | 2012-09-18 | G01C23/00 | 11/507035 |
| 186 | 8258998 | Device, system and method of protecting aircrafts against incoming threats | Device, system and method of protecting aircrafts against incoming threats. for example, a system for protecting an aircraft against an incoming threat includes: one or more electro-optic sensors to substantially continuously search for the incoming threat, and to generate a signal indicating that a possible incoming threat is detected, one or more radar sensors to be activated in response to the signal, and to search for the incoming threat, and a central computer to determine whether or not the incoming threat exists, based on a sensor fusion algorithm able to fuse data received from the one or more electro-optic sensors and data received from the one or more radar sensors. | Ronen Factor (Ramat Gan, IL), David Dragucki (Herzeliya, IL), Ariye Yehuda Caplan (Haifa, IL), Zahi Ben Ari (Haniel, IL), Semion Zelikman (Rishon Lezion, IL), Colin Henry Hamilton (Blaustein, DE), George Weiss (Kipfenberg, DE), Erwin Franz Keller (Oberhaching, DE), Erhard Seibt (Otterfing, DE) | Bird Aerosystems Limited (Herzelia, IL), Eads Deutschland Gmbh (Ottobrunn DE) | 2010-03-04 | 2012-09-04 | G01S13/86, G01S7/38 | 12/659350 |
| 187 | 8255149 | System and method for dual-mode location determination | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. In one embodiment, the observation data is communicated to the processor using either a satellite communication network or through a mobile telephone network. | Jay Brosius (Frederick, MD), James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA), Richard Burtner (Ashburn, VA) | Skybitz, Inc. (Herndon, VA) | 2005-01-28 | 2012-08-28 | G06F17/00 | 11/044708 |
| 188 | 8203460 | Synthetically generated sound cues | A communications system is disclosed that may incorporate a first platform and a second platform. The second platform may have a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of the platforms being mobile. A communications subsystem is included that is adapted to modify a signal sent from the second platform to a user on the first platform that provides a spatial indication to the user as to a position of the second platform relative to the user. | Brian J. Tillotson (Kent, WA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2008-09-30 | 2012-06-19 | G08B25/08 | 12/241546 |
| 189 | 8167242 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William R. McDonnell (St. Louis, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) | 2010-09-29 | 2012-05-01 | B64C25/68 | 12/893407 |
| 190 | 8146854 | Dual rotor vertical takeoff and landing rotorcraft | A rotorcraft having two coaxial, counter-rotating rotors, one proximate to the forward end of the fuselage and one proximate to the aft end of the fuselage, that generate the forces necessary to lift the craft and maneuver it in the air by adjusting the pitch of the rotor blades throughout their rotation, and a method of flying a dual rotor rotorcraft involving taking off in a vertical orientation, climbing vertically, transitioning to generally horizontal flight, flying horizontally, and subsequently repeating the sequence in reverse to land again in a vertical orientation. | John M. Lawrence (Palm Harbor, FL) | --- | 2008-02-28 | 2012-04-03 | B64C27/10 | 12/519988 |
| 191 | 8134510 | Coherent near-field array | A coherent near-field array. The array consists of a number of high-gain elements, each of which directs its beam at the desired target area (either mechanically or electronically) . Each element is coherently fed, so that the phase relationships between different feeds are constant or slowly varying. The elements in the array may be spaced many wavelengths apart. The array relies on interference to generate a number of power density peaks within the target area. | David D. Crouch (Corona, CA), Michael J. Schweiger (Moreno Valley, CA) | Raytheon Company (Waltham, MA) | 2006-08-09 | 2012-03-13 | H01Q19/06, H01Q3/00 | 11/501563 |
| 192 | 8081795 | System and method for assessing a condition of property | A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim. | Patrick D. Brown (Marlborough, CT) | Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford, CT) | 2008-05-09 | 2011-12-20 | G06K9/00 | 12/117867 |
| 193 | 7950029 | Method for interactive television using foveal properties of the eyes of individual and grouped users and for protecting video information against the unauthorized access, dissemination and use thereof | A method of interactive television providing for generating, transforming or displaying video information taking into account individual peculiarities of the user's eye and individual peculiarities of a group of viewer's eyes. The method provides simultaneously all or, at least, two operations from the above operations of formation, conversion and transmission of video signal and display of video information perceptible on the screen of information display facilities for one and/or a group of users or an unrestricted group of users. This is accomplished by one or a combination of various video editing and transmission adjustment techniques. | Aleksandr Ivanovich Andreyko (Moskovskoy oblasti, RU), Andrey Olegovich Kostrikin (Moscow, RU) | --- | 2003-01-24 | 2011-05-24 | H04H60/33, G06K9/00, H04N5/68, H04N11/04, H04N11/02, H04N7/12 | 10/502302 |
| 194 | 7934971 | Components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus | Mechanical and electromechanical components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus may include components that are reconfigurable into other construction set components, and that have at least one demarcation defining adjacent segments thereof. The demarcations facilitate reconfiguration of the components to produce other construction set components. Openings to substantially prevent sharp edges from being formed during reconfiguration may be included in the components. An electromechanical drive assembly having an integrated speed control and operable to receive interchangeable, non-circular drive shafts may be provided. The electromechanical drive assembly may be configured to attach to and self-align relative to other construction set components. One or more of the components may be provided with openings through which the non-circular drive shafts may rotate. The drive shaft may be locked in relation to openings of components that allow the drive shaft to rotate via a lock plate. A bearing plate may also be included. | Robert H. Mimlitch, III (Rowlett, TX), David A. Norman (Greenville, TX) | Innovation First, Inc. (Greenville, TX) | 2002-12-31 | 2011-05-03 | A63H33/04 | 10/335580 |
| 195 | 7931238 | Automatic velocity control system for aircraft | A flight control system for an aircraft receives a selected value of a first parameter, which is either the airspeed or inertial velocity of the aircraft. A primary feedback loop generates a primary error signal that is proportional to the difference between the selected value and a measured value of the first parameter. A secondary feedback loop generates a secondary error signal that is proportional to the difference between the selected value of the first parameter and a measured value of a second flight parameter, which is the other of the airspeed and inertial velocity. The primary and secondary error signals are summed to produce a velocity error signal, and the velocity error signal and an integrated value of the primary error signal are summed to produce an actuator command signal. The actuator command signal is then used for operating aircraft devices to control the first parameter to minimize the primary error signal. | Kenneth E. Builta (Euless, TX), Kynn J. Schulte (Arlington, TX) | Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (Fort Worth, TX) | 2005-09-12 | 2011-04-26 | G05D1/08 | 12/064476 |
| 196 | 7907986 | System and method for controlling a device in vivo | A system and method for controlling a device in vivo. The system and method may utilize a steerable receiver, typically an element that is maneuverable by a magnetic field, for controlling the movement of a device, including the direction, force and velocity of the device movement. | Shlomo Lewkowicz (Kiryat Tivon, IL), Arkady Glukhovsky (Nesher, IL) | Given Imaging Ltd. (Yoqneam, IL) | 2002-09-24 | 2011-03-15 | A61B5/05 | 10/252826 |
| 197 | 7876258 | Aircraft collision sense and avoidance system and method | A collision sense and avoidance system and method and an aircraft, such as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and/or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) , including the collision sense and avoidance system. The collision sense and avoidance system includes an image interrogator identifies potential collision threats to the aircraft and provides maneuvers to avoid any identified threat. Motion sensors (e.g., imaging and/or infrared sensors) provide image frames of the surroundings to a clutter suppression and target detection unit that detects local targets moving in the frames. A Line of Sight (LOS) , multi-target tracking unit, tracks detected local targets and maintains a track history in LOS coordinates for each detected local target. A threat assessment unit determines whether any tracked local target poses a collision threat. An avoidance maneuver unit provides flight control and guidance with a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat. | Michael R. Abraham (O'Fallon, MO), Christian C. Witt (Albuquerque, NM), Dennis J. Yelton (Albuquerque, NM), John N. Sanders-Reed (Cedar Crest, NM), Christopher J. Musial (Albuquerque, NM) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2006-03-13 | 2011-01-25 | G01S13/00 | 11/374807 |
| 198 | 7806366 | Systems and methods for capturing and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft | Systems and methods for capturing and controlling post-recovery motion of an unmanned aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, for example, can include a line capture assembly carried by an unmanned aircraft having a fuselage and a lifting surface. The line capture assembly can include a flexible support line having a first portion attached to an attachment point on the fuselage and a second portion extending from the attachment point spanwise along the lifting surface of the aircraft. The line capture assembly can also include an engagement device coupled to the second portion of the support line. The engagement device is releasably secured to the lifting surface. | Clifford Jackson (White Salmon, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2007-07-10 | 2010-10-05 | B64F1/02 | 11/775600 |
| 199 | 7798445 | Systems and methods for recovering and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft | Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include an inflatable aircraft recovery system having an inflatable portion with a generally vertical orientation. The inflatable portion can also include a landing pocket extending at least partially therethrough. The landing pocket is sized to receive at least a portion of a fuselage of the aircraft. The aircraft recovery system can also include a guidance system at least proximate to the landing pocket and positioned to guide the aircraft toward the landing pocket. | Stephen B. Heppe (Hood River, OR), Jaime Mack (White Salmon, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2008-01-25 | 2010-09-21 | B64F1/02 | 12/020131 |
| 200 | 7712702 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and breaking subsequent grip motion | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR), Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2006-11-21 | 2010-05-11 | B64F1/06 | 11/603810 |
| 201 | 7707944 | Method and apparatus for applying railway ballast | A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates ''on the fly'' surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar. | Ivan E. Bounds (Lake Havasu City, AZ) | Herzog Contracting Corp. (St. Joseph, MO) | 2006-12-04 | 2010-05-04 | E01B29/00, B61L1/02 | 11/566484 |
| 202 | 7679037 | Personal rifle-launched reconnaisance system | A reconnaissance system includes a projectile having an opening through which images of a target area are acquired, a portable launcher having a mechanism for affixing the launcher to a rifle for launching the projectile to fly along and above the target area, an image acquiring device within the projectile for acquiring images of the target area through the opening, a transmitter within the projectile for transmitting during its flight the acquired images to a remote station, a stabilizing mechanism for stabilizing at least one of the projectile and the image acquiring device while flying in a ballistic trajectory above the target area and a remote station. The remote station includes a receiver for receiving the images transmitted from the projectile and a monitor having a display for displaying the received images. | Benjamin Z. Eden (Haifa, IL), Ronen Ben-Horin (Haifa, IL) | Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd. (Haifa, IL) | 2003-12-18 | 2010-03-16 | F42B12/36, F42B12/00, F42B15/00 | 10/539340 |
| 203 | 7578467 | Methods and apparatuses for indicating and/or adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines | Methods and apparatuses for measuring and adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines. A tool for indicating tension in a pliant tension member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, for example, can include a first support member releasably coupled to a flexible line suspended from a support structure. The first support member is positioned generally parallel to the flexible line. The tool can also include a second support member coupled to the first support member and positioned at an acute angle relative to the first support member. The second support member has a center of gravity at a selected distance from the flexible line. The second support member is generally horizontal when the tension in the flexible line is at a desired value. | Wayne Goodrich (White Salmon, WA) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2006-10-30 | 2009-08-25 | B64F1/02, G01L5/04 | 11/590223 |
| 204 | 7511629 | Synthetically generated sound cues | Communication systems and apparatus to allow a user to perceive the relative spatial location or present position of other elements of interest in a control space, such as the location of a speaker participating in a telephone conference or that of an aircraft carrier to a remotely piloted vehicle on final approach. The system inserts synthetic sound cues into the communication to the user that represent the relative position (s) . In one embodiment, the user will perceive the communication as though it were communicated through free space to the user from the relative position of the represented source, so that, for example, the squad leader will perceive his wingman to be at his immediate left. Methods of conveying relative position sound cues are also provided. | Brian J Tillotson (Kent, WA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2006-10-20 | 2009-03-31 | G08B25/08 | 11/551287 |
| 205 | 7484940 | Piezoelectric fluid pump | A compact, high capacity pump for pumping fluid. A first one-way valve is between an inlet port and the pump's fluid chamber. A second one-way valve is between the pump's fluid chamber and an outlet port. A diaphragm separates a piezoelectric stack from the fluid chamber. A power source provides power to the piezoelectric stack causing it to expand and contract. The expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric stack causes fluid to be pumped from the inlet port to the fluid chamber through the first one-way valve and causes fluid to be pumped from the fluid chamber to the outlet port through the second one-way valve. In one preferred embodiment, both one-way valves are disc valves. In another preferred embodiment both one-way valves are MEMS valves. | Conal O'Neill (Livermore, CA) | Kinetic Ceramics, Inc. (Hayward, CA) | 2004-04-28 | 2009-02-03 | F04B17/00 | 10/833838 |
| 206 | 7466992 | Communication device | The communication device which implements the target device location indicating function, the motion visual image producing function, the non-motion visual image producing function, and the auto backing up function. The target device location indicating function indicates the current location of the target device, the motion visual image producing function retrieves the motion visual image data from the camera, the non-motion visual image producing function retrieves the non-motion visual image data from the camera, and the auto backing up function transfers the data stored in the communication device to another computer for purposes of storing backup data therein. | Iwao Fujisaki (Kichijouji Kitamachi Tokyo, JP) | --- | 2004-11-03 | 2008-12-16 | H04M1/00, H04M1/725, H04Q7/20 | 10/904291 |
| 207 | 7439873 | Synthetically generated sound cues | Communication systems and apparatus to allow a user to perceive the relative spatial location or present position of other elements of interest in a control space, such as the location of a speaker participating in a telephone conference or that of an aircraft carrier to a remotely piloted vehicle on final approach. The system inserts synthetic sound cues into the communication to the user that represent the relative position (s) . In one embodiment, the user will perceive the communication as though it were communicated through free space to the user from the relative position of the represented source, so that, for example, the squad leader will perceive his wingman to be at his immediate left. Methods of conveying relative position sound cues are also provided. | Brian J Tillotson (Kent, WA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2006-10-20 | 2008-10-21 | G08B25/08 | 11/551293 |
| 208 | 7411196 | Multi-sensors and differential absorption LIDAR data fusion | A method of acquiring data uses multiple sensors in an aircraft. The method includes the steps of: (a) turning ON a DIAL sensor to detect a target of interest during a first flight pass over a region of interest (ROI) , wherein the target of interest is a gas or oil pipeline leak, (b) detecting the target of interest using the DIAL sensor, and (c) storing location of the detected target in a look up table (LUT) . The method also includes the steps of: (d) during a second flight pass over the ROI, triggering another sensor to turn ON at or about the location stored in the LUT, and (e) confirming presence of the target of interest using both ON-sensors. If necessary, a third flight pass over the ROI is conducted and yet another sensor is triggered to turn ON at or about the location stored in the LUT. Presence of the target of interest is confirmed using all three ON-sensors. | Hooshmand M. Kalayeh (Pittsford, NY) | Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (Wilmington, DE) | 2005-08-18 | 2008-08-12 | G01J5/02 | 11/206540 |
| 209 | 7410125 | Robotically assisted launch/capture platform for an unmanned air vehicle | An embodiment of the invention is directed to a platform for launching and/or capturing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) , particularly a small UAV. The launch/capture platform includes a frame, a floor attached to the frame that is capable of supporting the UAV, means for acquiring and tracking the UAV in flight, a connector and a connector controller, connecting the platform to an external support structure, providing a controllable, adaptive motion of the platform in response to approaching UAV position and attitude, means for launching the UAV from the platform and for capturing an in-flight UAV to the platform, and means for locking down the UAV between the capture and launch of the UAV. Another embodiment of the invention directed to a method for capturing a small, in-flight UAV involves providing a UAV capture platform, providing a UAV capturing means as an integrated component of the platform, providing means for determining in real-time the relative location of an engaging portion of the capturing means with respect to an approaching in-flight UAV, providing means for automatically maneuvering the engaging portion of the capturing means with respect to at least one of a position and an attitude of the approaching in-flight UAV, capturing the UAV, and securing the captured UAV to the capture platform. | Daniel W. Steele (Clay, NY) | Lockheed Martin Corporation (Bethesda, MD) | 2005-05-05 | 2008-08-12 | B64C25/68 | 10/908278 |
| 210 | 7360741 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and breaking subsequent grip motion | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR), Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR) | Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2006-11-21 | 2008-04-22 | B64F1/06 | 11/603815 |
| 211 | 7283156 | Airborne imaging system and method | The airborne imaging system of the present invention includes a blister housing attached to a host vehicle. At the appropriate time in flight, a sensor suite is deployed from the blister housing. The sensor suite is eccentrically weighted to induce a pendular motion as it is suspended from a paradevice. To increase the imaging footprint of the system, the paradevice is designed for angular motion and the look down angle of the imaging system can be adjusted from the vertical. The data is broadcast to a receiving station that processes individual frames to create a continuously updated mosaic of the area of interest. | Scott E. Morgan (St. Paul, MN) | Lockheed Martin Corporation (St. Paul, MN) | 2003-09-12 | 2007-10-16 | H04N7/18, H04Q7/00 | 10/662128 |
| 212 | 7259357 | Electronically controlled sealing, unsealing and/or bonding with metal strip or wire coated with liquefiable substance for redundant application and tamper detection | The invention seals, unseals and/or bonds plastics, waxes and resins via a thermal metal strip or wire coated with liquefiable substances that melt to open or separate and cool to congeal, seal, vulcanize or bond together when the wire or strip is energized in a shorted state (to heat) or not energized (to cool) . Electronic switch modalities and sealing applications are optionally taught for security and tamper detection. In one modality, a unique signal is sent to the gate leg of a micro-processing chip (e.g. an SCR switch) where firmware recognizes the signal and permits current through a thermal wire. This innovation is optionally employed for Homeland Security. | Richard C. Walker (Waldorf, MD) | Kline and Walker Llc (Potomac, MD) | 2003-09-05 | 2007-08-21 | H05B1/00, B29C65/00, C04B37/00 | 10/654992 |
| 213 | 7228261 | Methods and apparatus for testing and diagnosis of weapon control systems | Methods and systems for testing and diagnosis of weapon control systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for testing a weapon control system includes an interface unit and a simulator unit. The interface unit is adapted to be operatively coupled to the weapon control system, and the simulator unit is operatively coupled to the interface unit. The simulator unit receives and analyzes a control signal, and transmits at least one of a first type of responsive signal indicative of a properly functioning component, and a second type of responsive signal indicative of a malfunctioning component. | James V. Leonard (St. Charles, MO), William J. Ebert (Kirkwood, MO), Aaron L. Eggemeyer (Chester, IL), Richard E. Meyer (Florissant, MO), Bobby J. Wilson (Florissant, MO) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2003-08-13 | 2007-06-05 | G06G7/48 | 10/640865 |
| 214 | 7218240 | Synthetically generated sound cues | Communication systems and apparatus to allow a user to perceive the relative spatial location or present position of other elements of interest in a control space, such as the location of a speaker participating in a telephone conference or that of an aircraft carrier to a remotely piloted vehicle on final approach. The system inserts synthetic sound cues into the communication to the user that represent the relative postion (s) . In one embodiment, the user will perceive the communication as though it were communicated through free space to the user from the relative position of the represented source, so that, for example, the squad leader will perceive his wingman to be at his immediate left. Methods of conveying relative position sound cues are also provided. | Brian J. Tillotson (Kent, WA) | The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL) | 2004-08-10 | 2007-05-15 | G08B25/08 | 10/915309 |
| 215 | 7182290 | Methods and systems for starting propeller-driven devices | Methods and systems for starting propeller driven aircraft and other devices are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a removable fixture that is coupled to the propeller and has at least one portion exposed to a flowstream to rotate the propeller during engine start-up. The fixture is configured to separate from the propeller after the engine begins to turn over (e.g., after the engine starts and/or rotates above a threshold rate) . Accordingly, the system can include a releasable link between the fixture and the propeller. | Steven M. Sliwa (White Salmon, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR), Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-10-29 | 2007-02-27 | B64D31/02 | 10/976566 |
| 216 | 7176937 | Methods and apparatus for displaying multiple data categories | Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying data categories each having a plurality of data subcategories. The apparatus comprises a display having a current luminous output capacity that is configured to produce a first visual presentation of first data subcategories and a second visual presentation of second data subcategories and a processor that is configured to control the display. The first data subcategories include one category displayed at ninety percent of the current luminous output capacity and other subcategories having a luminance difference of at least thirty percent of the current luminous output capacity. Second data subcategories have a common luminance that is thirty percent to sixty percent of the luminous output capacity of said display, a color saturation that is greater than seventy-five percent, and a transparency of at least forty percent. | Aaron James Gannon (Anthem, AZ) | Honeywell International, Inc. (Morristown, NJ) | 2003-09-23 | 2007-02-13 | G09G5/02, G09G5/10 | 10/669194 |
| 217 | 7175135 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing unmanned aircraft and constraining motion of the captured aircraft | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and constraining motion of unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. A trigger mechanism coupled to the recovery line can actuate a hoist device to reduce slack in the recovery line. A tension device coupled to the recovery line can absorb forces associated with the impact of the aircraft on the recovery line. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA), Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2007-02-13 | B64F1/02 | 10/759545 |
| 218 | 7165745 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and braking subsequent grip motion | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR), Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-03-24 | 2007-01-23 | B64F1/06 | 10/808725 |
| 219 | 7152827 | Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft, including a container having a guide structure for aircraft components | Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be assembled from a container with little or no manual engagement by an operator. The container can include a guide structure to control motion of the aircraft components. The aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored in the container, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-12-26 | B64C3/56 | 10/759541 |
| 220 | 7152347 | Method and apparatus for applying railway ballast | A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates ''on the fly'' surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar. | Stanley M. Herzog (St. Joseph, MO), Ivan E. Bounds (Lake Havasu City, AZ), Ron Schmitz (Clarksdale, MO), Randy Pogglemiller (Easton, MO), Stephen Bedingfield (Savannah, MO), Dan Laughlin (Platte City, MO), Pat Harris (Lenexa, KS), Tony Shirk (Clarksdale, MO) | Herzog Contracting Corporation (St. Joseph, MO) | 2004-06-17 | 2006-12-26 | E02F1/00 | 10/870843 |
| 221 | 7143974 | Methods and apparatuses for launching airborne devices along flexible elongated members | Methods and apparatuses for cable launching airborne devices (e.g., unmanned aircraft) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongated structure, e.g., a tower, boom or derrick. At least one flexible elongated member (e.g., a cable or rope) can be attached toward one end to the structure and toward another end to the ground or another structure to form an elongated launch path. A cradle, which can carry the airborne device, can also be movably attached to the flexible elongated member and can be accelerated along the launch path. As the cradle decelerates, the aircraft can be released into flight. | Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR), Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-03-31 | 2006-12-05 | B64F1/06 | 10/813906 |
| 222 | 7140575 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for releasably gripping aircraft during launch | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can belaunched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch axis. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the fuselage of the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-11-28 | B64F1/04 | 10/758955 |
| 223 | 7136059 | Method and system for improving situational awareness of command and control units | A method for sharing visual situational information of objects among a number of command and control units. The method includes the steps of providing to each command and control unit a mechanism for storing a digital reference map of a geographical area, receiving by one or more command and control unit an image of a scene which includes one or more object within the geographical area, registration of the received image of the scene to the digital reference map, updating a situational information of the object in the reference map, and transferring the updating of the situational information to one or more other command and control unit. | Jehoshua Kraus (Haifa, IL), Gilad Adiv (Bikat Beit Hakarem, IL), Yigal Sroka (Haifa, IL) | Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd. (Haifa, IL) | 2002-05-23 | 2006-11-14 | G06T15/00 | 10/152837 |
| 224 | 7128294 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for launching aircraft with a wedge action | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that operates with a wedge action. A launch carriage carrying an unmanned aircraft is positioned on first and second launch members. At least one of the launch members moves relative to the other from a first position to a second position, causing the launch carriage to move from a first launch carriage position to a second launch carriage position. As the launch carriage moves, it accelerates the aircraft and releases the aircraft for takeoff. | Cory Roeseler (Hood River, OR), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-10-31 | B64C3/56 | 10/760150 |
| 225 | 7121507 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and storing unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for securing the aircraft after capture | Methods and apparatuses for capturing, recovering, disassembling, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having retainers in accordance with further aspects of the invention. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft, for example, by capturing a first wing of the aircraft and securing a second wing before releasing the first. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA), Clifford Jackson (White Salmon, WA), Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-10-17 | B64F1/02 | 10/758943 |
| 226 | 7114680 | Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft, including a combined launch and recovery system | Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The aircraft can then be retrieved from the recovery line. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-10-03 | B64F1/04 | 10/759742 |
| 227 | 7104863 | Product cycle project development | A method for teaching production cycle project development utilizing a construction set having at least one construction set component designed to be alterable (e.g., robot) for constructing a user-definable apparatus. The teaching may include providing instructions for constructing the user-definable apparatus including at least one construction set component designed to be alterable. The instructions provided may include a task to be completed by the user-definable apparatus. A test environment for the user-definable apparatus to be tested to satisfy predefined specifications may be established. The test environment may be established on top of a desk. The user-definable apparatus may be tested in the test environment to verify that the predefined specifications are satisfied. A determination may be made as to whether the user-definable apparatus satisfies the predefined specifications. Time for redesign of the apparatus in response to the user-definable apparatus being determined not to satisfy the predefined specifications may be allotted. | Robert H. Mimlitch, III (Rowlett, TX), David A. Norman (Greenville, TX) | Innovation First, Inc. (Greenville, TX) | 2002-12-31 | 2006-09-12 | A63H17/00, G09B19/00 | 10/335588 |
| 228 | 7104495 | Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft, including a container having a guide structure for aircraft components | Methods and apparatuses for launching, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be assembled from a container with little or no manual engagement by an operator. The container can include a guide structure to control motion of the aircraft components. The aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored in the container, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft. | Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2005-11-08 | 2006-09-12 | B64F5/00 | 11/269395 |
| 229 | 7097137 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles | A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) . The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2) . | William R. McDonnell (St. Louis, MO) | Advanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) | 2004-01-09 | 2006-08-29 | B64F1/02 | 10/754251 |
| 230 | 7090166 | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for transmitting forces to the aircraft during launch | Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. A launch carriage is positioned on a launch guide structure of the boom and carries the aircraft during takeoff. An energy reservoir is configured to provide energy to the launch carriage during takeoff of the aircraft, and can absorb energy from the launch carriage to decelerate the launch carriage after takeoff. The apparatus can further include a transmission that smoothly and rapidly accelerates and/or decelerates the launch carriage. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-08-15 | B64F1/06 | 10/758948 |
| 231 | 7066430 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft, including extendable capture devices | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies. A tension device coupled to the recovery line can absorb forces associated with the impact of the aircraft and the recovery line. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA), Clifford Jackson (White Salmon, WA), Brian T. McGeer (Underwood, WA), Andreas H. von Flotow (Hood River, OR) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-06-27 | B64F1/02 | 10/758956 |
| 232 | 7059564 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft, including a cleat for capturing aircraft on a line | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured by a recovery line in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having a retainer with two portions spaced apart by a distance great enough to receive the recovery line, e.g., to capture the recovery line with increased security. The line capture device can be operatively mounted on a lifting surface of the aircraft. | Brian D. Dennis (White Salmon, WA) | The Insitu Group, Inc. (Bingen, WA) | 2004-01-16 | 2006-06-13 | B64F1/02 | 10/758940 |
| 233 | 7002800 | Integrated power and cooling architecture | An integrated thermal apparatus for improved electronic device performance has an energy storage device coupled with a thermoelectric management device for managing thermal energy generated by the electronic device. The thermoelectric management device can include a semiconductor thermoelectric device and phase change material, which can be integrated into a foam aluminum structure. The energy storage device can be a nanometallic device. The electrical load electrical efficiency is improved by co-locating it with thermoelectric management device directly on a composite substrate foundation to provide enhanced waste heat conversion to electrical energy. The apparatus manages the thermal and power issues at the substrate level in close proximity to the electrical load and incorporates the needed thermal mass into the support structure by way of a phase change material. | J. Michael Elias (Orlando, FL), Bruce M. Cepas (Orlando, FL), James A. Korn (Orlando, FL) | Lockheed Martin Corporation (Bethesda, MD) | 2002-03-28 | 2006-02-21 | H05K7/20 | 10/107177 |
| 234 | 6965816 | PFN/TRAC system FAA upgrades for accountable remote and robotics control to stop the unauthorized use of aircraft and to improve equipment management and public safety in transportation | This invention, a Protected Primary Focal Node PFN is a Trusted Remote Activity Controller TRAC and mobile communication router platform that provides accountable remote and robotics control to transportation vehicles by interfacing with the vehicles E/E systems. It connects each vehicle either on the earth's surface or near the earth's surface with application specific intranets for air, sea and land travel, via either host commercial servers or agency providers through wireless communication gateways and then further interfaces these vehicles in a larger machine messaging matrix via wireless and IP protocols to further coordinate movement assess and manage equipment use and impact on the world resources, societies infrastructure and the environment. This filing focuses directly on PFN/TRAC System use to augment and upgrade public safety and security in the Airline Industry and restrict any unauthorized use of an aircraft. Additionally, this application and related filings teaches the PFN/TRAC System.TM. use for all vehicle platforms to increase safety and security in a free society like the United State of America. The other related filings instruct in the technology's use for robust and accountable remote control for personal applications, stationary equipment and standalone functions, and coordinates them and interfaces them within the communication matrix. The TRAC controller also performs translation and repeating functions across a wide variety of communication protocols to complete a more mobile flexible matrix or web. This connected communication matrix of computers and humans provides an enhanced Human Machine Interfacing HMI scenario both locally and systemically in real-time for improve equipment management and world stability. | Richard C. Walker (Waldorf, MD) | Kline & Walker, Llc (Potomac, MD) | 2002-10-01 | 2005-11-15 | B64C13/00, B64C13/20, B64D45/00, G06F019/00, G06F007/00 | 10/260525 |
| 235 | 6961171 | Phase conjugate relay mirror apparatus for high energy laser system and method | A system for directing electromagnetic energy. The inventive system includes a first subsystem mounted on a first platform for transmitting a beam of the electromagnetic energy through a medium and a second subsystem mounted on a second platform for redirecting the beam. In accordance with the invention, the second platform is mobile relative to the first platform. In the illustrative embodiment, the beam is a high-energy laser beam. The first subsystem includes a phase conjugate mirror in optical alignment with a laser amplifier. The first subsystem further includes a beam director in optical alignment with the amplifier and a platform track sensor coupled thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the second subsystem includes a co-aligned master oscillator, outcoupler, and target track sensor which are fixedly mounted to a stabilized platform, a beam director, and a platform track sensor. In the best mode, the stable platform is mounted for independent articulation relative to the beam director. A first alternative embodiment of the second subsystem includes first and second beam directors. The first beam director is adapted to receive the transmitted beam and the second beam director is adapted to redirect the received beam. In accordance with a second alternative embodiment, an optical fiber is provided for coupling the beam between the first platform and the second platform. | Robert W. Byren (Manhattan Beach, CA), David Filgas (Newbury Park, CA) | Raytheon Company (Waltham, MA) | 2002-10-17 | 2005-11-01 | H01S3/00, H01S003/00 | 10/272778 |
| 236 | 6948681 | Automated cargo transportation system | A modular automated air transport system comprising an unmanned autonomous aircraft having a selectively detachable control systems portion and a structural air frame portion, wherein the structural air frame portion contains an interior cargo hold, aerodynamic members having control surfaces and at least one propulsion device attached to the structural air frame portion, and wherein the control system portion includes a control computer for autonomously controlling the flight of said air transport system from one known location to a second known location. | John S. Stupakis (Hewitt, NJ) | Boxair Engineering Llc (Hewitt, NJ) | 2003-01-13 | 2005-09-27 | B64C39/00, B64C39/02, B64C001/00 | 10/341206 |
| 237 | 6856288 | Ferrite loaded meander line loaded antenna | A meander line loaded antenna is provided with a ferrite donut surrounding a portion of the meander line so as to effectively lower the operating range of the meander line loaded antenna by as much as 30%. At the lower frequencies the ferrite material introduces a minimal loss of 2 to 3 dB, whereas at the higher frequency range very little current passes through the meander line thus eliminating any effect of the ferrite on antenna performance. The utilization of the ferrite surrounding a meander line element permits the use of the miniaturized antenna and size for size reduces the low frequency cut off of the antenna. | John T. Apostolos (Merrimack, NH), Frank M. Caimi (Vero Beach, FL) | Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. (Nashua, NH) | 2003-04-28 | 2005-02-15 | H01Q9/04, H01Q1/36, H01Q9/42, H01Q001/38 | 10/424375 |
| 238 | 6853452 | Passive remote sensor of chemicals | A remote sensor for use as a handheld, mobile or stand-alone sensor has first (12) and second (16) optical paths, light collecting optics, a sample filter (10) assembly positioned in a first optical Path (12) , a reference filter (14) assembly positioned in a second optical path (16) , a detector assembly to detect the filtered light r other radiation, and a detector output comparison device such as BRD to minimize the effects of common background noise components, differences in light or other radiation source power, and absorption or emission by interfering species. | Gabriel Laufer (Charlottesville, VA) | University of Virginia Patent Foundation (Charlottesville, VA) | 2001-09-17 | 2005-02-08 | G01N21/31, G01N21/35, G01N021/00 | 09/936833 |
| 239 | 6748325 | Navigation system | A carrier, such as an airplane, which outputs a warning sign if an artificial structure, such as a building, is in its path. The CPU of the carrier calculates the path by referring to the destination data representing the destination of the carrier. | Iwao Fujisaki (Tokyo 180-0001, JP) | --- | 2002-11-26 | 2004-06-08 | G01C21/00, G08G5/04, G08G5/00, G06F017/00 | 10/065849 |
| 240 | 6725158 | System and method for fast acquisition reporting using communication satellite range measurement | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. The candidate points are considered and refined using code phase measurements from a set of GPS satellites. The candidate point having the lowest residuals or expected to measured code phases is chosen as the location of the mobile terminal. The measurements can be refined to account for various sources of error including measurement bias, relative motion and timing errors. | Mark C. Sullivan (Annandale, VA), James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA) | Skybitz, Inc. (Dulles, VA) | 2002-07-10 | 2004-04-20 | G01S5/14, G01S5/00, G01S005/02, H04B007/185 | 10/191288 |
| 241 | 6697715 | Instinctive steering system and method for reducing operator error in controlling a vehicle remotely | A method for controlling operation of a remotely piloted vehicle by an operator. The method includes the steps of accepting an operator directional command from a control device, accepting a control device compass reading, adding the operator directional command to the control device compass reading to generate a heading command, and sending the remotely piloted vehicle the heading command. In this manner, the method of the present invention relieves the operator of having to orient himself relative to the direction of the vehicle in order to control the vehicle and thereby provides for instinctive control of the vehicle through elimination of observer translation. | Douglas Freeman (Panama City, FL) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy (Washington, DC) | 2002-06-19 | 2004-02-24 | B64C39/00, B64C39/02, G05D1/00, G06F007/00 | 10/175528 |
| 242 | 6690316 | System and method for automated alerting to geospatial anomalies | An automated inexpensive system and reliable method for detecting spatial anomalies in real time, allows an unsophisticated operator to detect hidden anomalies efficiently and safely. In a preferred embodiment, an FM-CW radar front-end communicates with a personal computer incorporating specific filter and processing circuitry, including an A/D converter and a DSP. A target volume is illuminated from just above its top surface and return signals processed using the PC as programmed with a purpose-built algorithm. Data are down-converted to audio frequencies for ease in handling using inexpensive audio frequency circuitry. for use in avoiding bridged (hidden) crevasses during operation in snowfields, a version is mounted on a long boom extending from the front of the platform on which it is installed, typically a lead vehicle of a convoy. Heretofore, expensive systems requiring full-time monitoring by a well-trained operator were the only safe and reliable solution to insure safe traversal of snowfields. | Norbert E. Yankielun (Lebanon, NH) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Army (Washington, DC) | 2002-09-27 | 2004-02-10 | G01S7/02, G01S13/44, G01S13/00, G01S7/41, G01V3/12, G01S13/88, G01S013/88, G01V003/12 | 10/256182 |
| 243 | 6647328 | Electrically controlled automated devices to control equipment and machinery with remote control and accountability worldwide | This application describes completely in many unique ways and detail all the devices to reduce a vehicle's speed and/or reduce a machines RPMs and/or stop any piece of equipment's as well as guide it if mobile through automated controls. First to slow it down, and guide it and/or control it if necessary (i.e., other pieces of equipment) . Secondly it discusses how to stop any piece of equipment completely. and thirdly, the invention secures it in a safe stationary position either entirely or any number of specific moving parts. Many of these systems are initially here described to slow, reduce speed, steer, stop and/or secure equipment functions. However, they also can be used to increase a piece of equipment's functions. In other words their variations are completely capable to serve any remote or automated controls on a vehicle in the future to provide full robotics systems, e.g., for automated transportation systems, automated manufacturing, etc., either through individually isolated remote control systems and/or interfaced with other off-board systems through communication links, gateway computers, computer networks and the world wide web for inexpensive long distance monitoring and remote control. The invention focuses on the automobile industry but as has always been maintained throughout all these applications these devices and systems are designed to control every piece of equipment. The invention includes various accountable protocols and commercial developments to control speed, brake and steering for an automobile shut down to be performed through automation to a safe controlled secured deactivated state to be considered as a basis for a standard in aggressive vehicle remote control and/or to control and guide a vehicle and/or piece of equipment through many different automated systems. | Richard C. Walker (Waldorf, MD) | Kline and Walker Llc (Potomac, MD) | 2000-12-18 | 2003-11-11 | B60R25/04, B60R25/08, B60R25/10, B60R25/02, G06F007/00 | 09/738901 |
| 244 | 6607164 | Wing airfoil | An airfoil having particular use in a general aviation aircraft operating at generally low speeds. The airfoil has a shape designed to produce high lift coefficients at low speeds, with low drag and lower lift coefficients at higher speeds. The airfoil's lift characteristics are not sensitive to surface roughness on the leading edge caused by the accumulation of foreign matter on the airfoil due to the transition to turbulent flow occurring near the leading edge at high lift coefficients. | Dan M. Somers (Port Matilda, PA) | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (Torrance, CA) | 2001-10-22 | 2003-08-19 | B64C3/00, B64C3/14, B64C003/14 | 09/982972 |
| 245 | 6590526 | Apparatus for census surveying and related methods | A census surveying system may include a residence position collection apparatus to be carried by a vehicle. The residence position collection apparatus may include a range finder for determining nearby residence positions as the vehicle advances along a path of vehicle travel over an area for the census. The census surveying system may also include a processor for downloading and processing the residence positions from the residence position collection apparatus. | Carl Otto Grube (Indian Harbour Beach, FL), John Buford Mocharnuk (Melbourne, FL), William Leonard Matheson (Palm Bay, FL), David Monroe Bell (Palm Bay, FL) | Harris Corporation (Melbourne, FL) | 2002-01-25 | 2003-07-08 | G01C15/00, G01C21/20, G01S5/14, G01S17/00, G01S17/42, H04B007/185, G01S005/02 | 10/057167 |
| 246 | 6567044 | Miniature, unmanned remotely guided vehicles for locating an object with a beacon | Apparatus for and method of locating a subject being monitored as to whereabouts. A beacon having a radio frequency transmitter and receiver is attached to the subject. At least three scanning platforms each having a radio receiver and transmitter and, optionally, an onboard microprocessor and an atomic clock, issue signals which will evoke response signals from the beacon. A central station having a microprocessor, radio receiver and transmitter, and preferably, a display or other output for annunciating location of the sought subject, manages the search. At least one scanning platform is a miniature, unmanned, remotely a piloted vehicle, preferably an aircraft, which passes over a predetermined search area. Response signals from the beacon, when received at a scanning platform, are processed to enable determination of location of the beacon and hence the sought subject by triangulation. Time and location data are acquired by interaction with the global positioning system by the scanning platforms. Alternatively, a single mobile scanning platform can locate the beacon by localization, wherein characteristics of response signals are analyzed and processed. | Ernest A. Carroll (Herndon, VA) | --- | 2001-09-20 | 2003-05-20 | G01S19/51, G01S13/00, G01S13/87, G01S5/14, G01S003/02 | 09/956148 |
| 247 | 6560536 | System and method for rapid telepositioning | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. Alternatively, candidate locations that are consistent with the carrier signal received from GPS satellites can be used. In either case, the candidate points are considered and refined using code phase measurements from a set of GPS satellites. The candidate point having the lowest residuals or expected to measured code phases is chosen as the location of the mobile terminal. The measurements can be refined to account for various sources of error including measurement bias, relative motion and timing errors. | Mark C. Sullivan (Annandale, VA), James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA) | Eagle-Eye, Inc. (Dulles, VA) | 2001-04-11 | 2003-05-06 | G01S5/06, G01S5/00, G01S5/14, H04Q7/38, H04B007/185, C01S005/02 | 09/829993 |
| 248 | 6480788 | System and method for fast acquisition reporting using communication satellite range measurement | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. The candidate points are considered and refined using code phase measurements from a set of GPS satellites. The candidate point having the lowest residuals or expected to measured code phases is chosen as the location of the mobile terminal. The measurements can be refined to account for various sources of error including measurement bias, relative motion and timing errors. | James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA), Mark C. Sullivan (Annandale, VA) | Eagle-Eye, Inc. (Dulles, VA) | 2001-10-26 | 2002-11-12 | G01S5/14, G01S5/00, H04B010/105, H04B007/185 | 09/984069 |
| 249 | 6457673 | Mobile aircraft launcher | A mobile aircraft launcher includes a towable, tiltable, wheeled trailer, a launch beam comprising a plurality of sections hinged to one another, an aircraft-engaging shuttle mounted on the launch beam, and a shuttle-moving drive arrangement mounted on the trailer. The launch beam is mounted on the trailer and is movable between a folded, transport condition, in which the beam sections are generally side-by-side, and a launch condition, in which the beam sections are colinear. In the colinear arrangement, a portion of the launch beam extends forward of the trailer, that portion being supportable entirely through the trailer. | Steve Miller (Cockeysville, MD) | Aai Corporation (Hunt Valley, MD) | 2000-08-16 | 2002-10-01 | B64F1/06, B64F1/00, B64F001/04 | 09/639159 |
| 250 | 6439956 | RC car device | A transmitter together with appropriate software are configured in the shape and form of a remote control unit for use with a handheld game player device. The transmitter may use a conventional radio frequency link to transmit commands to a radio controlled device such as a toy car. The remote control unit, consisting of the transmitter and a game cartridge, is inserted into the game device so that the game player device provides control input and display functionalities to and for the remote control unit. The game player may support synthesis, simulation and testing of a route to be traversed by the radio controlled device. | Patrick Tze Man Ho (Kwai Chung, HK) | Interact Accessories, Inc. (Hunt Valley, MD) | 2000-11-13 | 2002-08-27 | A63F13/02, A63H30/04, A63H30/00, A63H030/00 | 09/709432 |
| 251 | 6437890 | Laser communications link | A laser communications link provides a downlink laser beam having a wavelength suitable for transmission through water transmitted from an aircraft or satellite to a submerged vehicle. An uplink laser beam having a wavelength that is visually undetectable is conducted through the water from the submerged vehicle by an optical fiber and radiated from the optical fiber at the surface of the water to the aircraft or satellite. | Richard Scheps (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) | The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy (Washington, DC) | 1999-03-29 | 2002-08-20 | H04B13/00, H04B13/02, H04B10/22, H04B010/00 | 09/280644 |
| 252 | 6281970 | Airborne IR fire surveillance system providing firespot geopositioning | A system for airborne detection of fires and transmission of fire location and characteristic data to the system ground station. The system includes an airborne pod and an associated ground station. The pod uses a passive infrared (IR) scanning system which employs a rotating and nutating mirror within an air slipstream driven propeller/spinner and is optically coupled to an infrared detector. A computer in the pod receives fire pod GPS position, IR detector fire spot detection pulse or `hit` plus fire spot characteristics, spinner/mirror rotation and nutation angle at the `hit` time and pod platform attitude relative to North-East-down using an on board Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) . The computer then calculates the firespot GPS location, and processes associated firespot characteristic data and downlinks this data to the ground station. Onboard pod video scene cameras also provide operational video that is also downlinked to the ground station. | John H. Williams (Thousand Oaks, CA), Guy F. Cooper (Ventura, CA) | Synergistix Llc (Thousand Oaks, CA) | 1999-03-12 | 2001-08-28 | G01C21/00, G01S5/00, G01S5/02, G01S3/781, G01S5/16, G01S3/78, G01S3/789, G08B17/12, G01S5/14, G01B011/26, G08B017/12, G01J005/02 | 09/267513 |
| 253 | 6278432 | Image delivery and display system | An image delivery and display system embodying a technique for displaying on a client computer of a client-server network a portion of an image stored on the server. Upon receiving a request from the client computer specifying particular x, y coordinates, the server decompresses the image to extract the area of interest, partitions the image area into tiles and extracts the tile containing the x, y coordinates and a certain number of surrounding tiles, recompresses those tiles and transmits those tiles to the client computer. The tile containing the x, y coordinates is extracted, recompressed and transmitted first followed by the surrounding tiles in spiral order. The client computer then decompresses and displays the tiles in that same order. | Viresh Ratnakar (Sunnyvale, CA) | Seiko Epson Corporation (Tokyo, JP) | 1998-06-11 | 2001-08-21 | G06T11/00, H04L29/06, H04L29/08, G09G005/00 | 09/096719 |
| 254 | 6243648 | Fast acquisition position reporting system | A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. The range from the satellite (or other airborne transponder) to the terminal is determined using the known positions of an interrogating transmitter and a satellite, and a known terminal delay between the received signal and the transmission of the return signal, and the round trip time. An arc of locations is determined by computing an intersection of a sphere centered at the satellite having a radius given by the calculated range with a model of the Earth's surface. Only that portion of the arc within the region bounded by the satellite beam pattern is retained. Next, the time when the mobile terminal collected the GPS signal is determined. A satellite orbit model estimates the positions of the GPS satellites at their time of transmission. Using discrete points on the arc as an initial guess, an iterative least squares technique fits the observation data to the predicted data and minimizes residual error. After convergence, this estimated position solution is then screened against the known satellite range, satellite beam boundaries, an acceptable altitude range, and a maximum residual threshold. Those position estimates not meeting these criteria are discarded. The remaining points are then subjected to a final improved position estimate and residual calculation and the best point is selected. | James B. Kilfeather (Purcellville, VA), Mark C. Sullivan (Annandale, VA) | Eagle Eye, Inc. (Herndon, VA) | 1999-07-12 | 2001-06-05 | G01S5/00, G01S5/14, G01S005/02, G04S005/10 | 09/351852 |
