Lighter-than-air (LTA) Vehicle Health and Lifetime Estimation

    公开(公告)号:US20220207932A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-30

    申请号:US17135320

    申请日:2020-12-28

    Applicant: LOON LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to health and lifetime estimation for a lighter-than-air vehicle. A method for vehicle health and lifetime estimation may include receiving flight data inputs associated with a vehicle, determining a gas temperature based on the flight data inputs, estimating a gas amount remaining in a balloon envelope of the vehicle, estimating a gas leak rate based on the gas amount, estimating a component lifetime representing an estimated lifetime of a component of the vehicle, and determining a remaining lifetime output based on one or both of the gas leak rate or the component lifetime, the remaining lifetime output indicating a remaining lifetime estimate for the vehicle. The method also may include simulating a terminal event and causing the vehicle to take an action based on the remaining lifetime estimate.

    Context-based flight mode selection

    公开(公告)号:US11370540B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-28

    申请号:US16560487

    申请日:2019-09-04

    Abstract: A system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to switch between different flight modes during operation. The system includes one or more processors configured to determine, based on sensor data received from one or more sensors carried by the UAV, a change in environment of the UAV from a first environment type to a second environment type. In response to determining the change in environment, the one or more processors configured to switch a flight mode of the UAV from a first flight mode to a second flight mode, and effect operation of the UAV in accordance with a second set of operating rules for operating in the second environment type.

    LANDING A VERTICAL LANDING VEHICLE
    36.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220197307A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-23

    申请号:US17456834

    申请日:2021-11-29

    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for controlling landing of a vertical landing vehicle. In one illustrative example, a method controls landing of a vertical landing vehicle. A landing profile for landing the vertical landing vehicle is determined by the computer system using a third derivative of a position equation, an initial position, an initial speed, a final speed, and a touchdown point for the vertical landing vehicle. Landing of the vertical landing vehicle is controlled using the landing profile.

    Loss-of-control prevention and recovery flight controller

    公开(公告)号:US11360491B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-14

    申请号:US15927482

    申请日:2018-03-21

    Abstract: A loss-of-control prevention and recovery automatic control system of an aircraft is provided having a plurality of flight control mode, including a nominal flight control mode, a loss-of-control prevention control mode, a loss-of-control arrest control mode, and a nominal flight restoration control mode, as well as a supervisory control system capable of monitoring the flight states and flight events of the aircraft and determining which flight control mode to activate.

    Drone air traffic control over wireless networks for package pickup and delivery in an order defined by coordinates

    公开(公告)号:US11341860B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-24

    申请号:US16783219

    申请日:2020-02-06

    Inventor: Lee Priest

    Abstract: Systems and methods for package pickup and delivery, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, include communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV to pick up a package at a pickup location and to deliver the package to a delivery location, wherein; and directing the UAV to follow an outbound flight path including a plurality of locations to travel to, in a specific order, while outbound to deliver the package, and an inbound flight path including the plurality of locations to travel to, in an order reverse of the specific order, while inbound from delivering the package.

    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NAVIGATING AN UNMANNED VEHICLE BASED ON A CALCULATION OF RELATIVE DISTANCE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A START LOCATION AND A DESIGNATED DROP LOCATION

    公开(公告)号:US20220121222A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-21

    申请号:US17505016

    申请日:2021-10-19

    Applicant: DRONEUP, LLC

    Abstract: Unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) selection information identifying a UAV, flight path information, and a relative elevation difference value that is a difference between a first elevation value of a start location and a second elevation value of a drop location are received. Navigation of the UAV is initiated using the UAV selection information and the flight path information. A relative altitude difference value is obtained using a first altitude value of the UAV associated with the start location and a second altitude value of the UAV associated with the drop location. In response to a difference between the relative elevation difference value and the relative altitude difference value being outside a predefined threshold, UAV is caused to adjust the second altitude value such that an updated difference between the relative elevation difference value and an updated relative altitude difference value is within the predefined threshold.

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