公开(公告)号：US20190185158A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US15848402

申请日：2017-12-20

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36 ,  H02J7/35 ,  H02J7/00

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64F1/364 ,  G05D1/104 ,  H02J7/0052 ,  H02J7/355

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Specifically, a control system may determine operational location(s) from which a group of UAVs is to provide aerial transport services in a geographic area. For at least a first of the operational location(s), the system may cause a first UAV from the group to perform an infrastructure deployment task that includes (i) a flight from a source location to the first operational location and (ii) installation of operational infrastructure at the first operational location by the first UAV. In turn, this may enable the first UAV to operate from the first operational location, as the first UAV can charge a battery of the first UAV using the operational infrastructure installed at the first operational location and/or can carry out item transport task(s) at location(s) that are in the vicinity of the first operational location.

公开(公告)号：US11898368B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-13

申请号：US16434570

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: WING Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: B60L53/30 ,  B64U70/90 ,  B64U80/10 ,  B64U80/25 ,  B64U80/40 ,  B64U80/70 ,  E04H6/44 ,  G08G5/00 ,  E04H6/12

CPC classification number: E04H6/44 ,  B60L53/30 ,  B64U70/90 ,  B64U80/10 ,  B64U80/25 ,  B64U80/40 ,  E04H6/12 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  B64U80/70

Abstract: A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20240017814A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US17864975

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Andre Prager ,  Evan Twyford ,  Ivan Qiu ,  Jasper Lewin

IPC: B64C1/14 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C1/1415 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a fuselage body having a cavity that forms a cargo bay for transporting a payload, and a lower access opening for lowering the payload from the cargo bay, the lower access opening including a cargo bay door; a winch system positioned in the cargo bay configured to suspend a payload within the cargo bay; and a cargo bay door monitor which is configured to detect when the payload is applying a weight to the cargo bay door.

公开(公告)号：US11873091B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-16

申请号：US17727364

申请日：2022-04-22

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Trevor Shannon ,  Michael Simonian ,  Sindre Klepp ,  Stephen Benson ,  Adam Woodworth

IPC: B64U70/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64U101/60

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64U70/00 ,  B64U2101/60

Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

公开(公告)号：US11733716B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-22

申请号：US17647808

申请日：2022-01-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Scott Velez ,  Andre Prager ,  Eric Teller ,  Matthew Nubbe

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/0631 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  B64U101/60

CPC classification number: G05D1/104 ,  B64C39/024 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  G06Q10/06315 ,  G06Q10/083 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  B64U2101/60 ,  B64U2201/10 ,  B64U2201/20

Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20210188434A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：US17120804

申请日：2020-12-14

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H02J7/35

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Specifically, a control system may determine operational location(s) from which a group of UAVs is to provide aerial transport services in a geographic area. For at least a first of the operational location(s), the system may cause a first UAV from the group to perform an infrastructure deployment task that includes (i) a flight from a source location to the first operational location and (ii) installation of operational infrastructure at the first operational location by the first UAV. In turn, this may enable the first UAV to operate from the first operational location, as the first UAV can charge a battery of the first UAV using the operational infrastructure installed at the first operational location and/or can carry out item transport task(s) at location(s) that are in the vicinity of the first operational location.

公开(公告)号：US10953984B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-23

申请号：US15848316

申请日：2017-12-20

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Siegfried Zerweckh ,  Andre Prager ,  Scott Velez

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64F1/36

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dedicated to deployment of operational infrastructure, with such deployment enabling charging of a battery of a UAV from a group of UAVs. More specifically, the group of UAVs may include at least (i) a first UAV of a first type configured to deploy operational infrastructure and (ii) a second UAV of a second type configured to carry out a task other than deployment of operational infrastructure. With this arrangement, a control system may determine an operational location at which to deploy operational infrastructure, and may cause the first UAV to deploy operational infrastructure at the operational location. Then, the control system may cause the second UAV to charge a battery of the second UAV using the operational infrastructure deployed by the first UAV at the operational location.

公开(公告)号：US10940932B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-09

申请号：US15730420

申请日：2017-10-11

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Adam Woodworth ,  Adem Rudin ,  Stephen Benson ,  James Schmalzried ,  Kyle Liske ,  Jesse Blake ,  André Prager ,  Nicolas Renold ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: B64C1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/26

Abstract: A modular fuselage for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a battery module, an avionics module, and a mission payload module. The battery module houses a battery to power the UAV. The avionics module houses flight control circuitry of the UAV. The mission payload module houses equipment associated with a mission of the UAV. The battery module, the avionics module, and the mission payload module are detachable from each other and mechanically securable to each other to contiguously form at least a portion of the modular fuselage of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20200278702A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US15930054

申请日：2020-05-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  James Schmalzried ,  Scott Velez ,  Andre Prager ,  Eric Teller ,  Matthew Nubbe

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06Q50/30 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.

公开(公告)号：US20200207473A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-02

申请号：US16816859

申请日：2020-03-12

Applicant: Wing Aviation LLC

Inventor： Jesse Blake ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Trevor Shannon ,  Michael Simonian ,  Sindre Klepp ,  Stephen Benson ,  Adam Woodworth

IPC: B64C39/02

Abstract: An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.