公开(公告)号：US09126682B2

公开(公告)日：2015-09-08

申请号：US14028251

申请日：2013-09-16

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  F03D1/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D1/00 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method involves operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method involves positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method involves transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method involves operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

Abstract translation: 一种方法涉及以悬停飞行方向操作飞行器。 航空器连接到一个系绳，该系绳限定了基于系绳长度的半径的系绳球，并且系绳连接到地面站。 该方法包括将飞行器定位在基本上在系绳球上的第一位置。 该方法包括将空中飞行器从悬停飞行方向转换到前向飞行方向，使得飞行器从系绳球移动。 并且该方法涉及以前向飞行方向操作飞行器，以升高的角度升高到基本上处于系绳球上的第二位置。 第一和第二位置基本上是地面站的顺风向。

公开(公告)号：US20150183517A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-02

申请号：US14620204

申请日：2015-02-12

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Kenneth Jensen ,  Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  F03D9/00 ,  F03D11/04 ,  G05D1/10

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D5/06 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  G05D1/101 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/725

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether may be connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and may be connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere may have a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method may further involve while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method may involve after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.

公开(公告)号：US20150076289A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-19

申请号：US14144545

申请日：2013-12-30

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C13/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle may be connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether may be connected to a ground station. The method may involve positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method may involve transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method may involve operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations may be substantially downwind of the ground station.

Abstract translation: 一种方法可以包括以悬停飞行方向操作飞行器。 航空器可以连接到限定了基于系绳的长度的半径的系绳球的系绳，并且系绳可以连接到地面站。 该方法可以包括将飞行器定位在基本上在系绳球上的第一位置。 该方法可以包括将空中飞行器从悬停飞行方向转换到前向飞行方向，使得空中飞行器从系绳球移动。 并且该方法可以涉及以前向飞行方向操作飞行器，以升高的角度上升到基本上在系绳球上的第二位置。 第一和第二位置可以是地面站的大致顺风向。