公开(公告)号：US20180281984A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US16007293

申请日：2018-06-13

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  ALLAN J. BRUCE ,  JOHN P. MOUSSOURIS

IPC: B64D43/02 ,  G01F1/32 ,  G01F1/46 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64D43/00 ,  G01F1/68 ,  G01P5/165 ,  G01P13/02 ,  G01P5/00

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of sensing three dimensional (3D) airflow by an aircraft includes: collecting measurements characterizing airflow near the aircraft; analyzing the collected measurements; creating, by a processor, a computer model predicting one or more 3D airflow patterns parameter values based on the analyzing; obtaining one or more additional measurements characterizing airflow near an aircraft of the plurality of aircraft, and evaluating an error between an airflow parameter value predicted by the computer model and the one or more additional measurement.

公开(公告)号：US20170267371A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15075097

申请日：2016-03-18

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  ALLAN J. BRUCE ,  JOHN P. MOUSSOURIS

IPC: B64D43/02 ,  G01F1/68 ,  G01F1/46 ,  B64D43/00 ,  G01F1/32

CPC classification number: B64D43/02 ,  B64D43/00 ,  G01F1/32 ,  G01F1/46 ,  G01F1/68 ,  G01P5/00 ,  G01P5/165 ,  G01P13/025 ,  G05D1/104

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of sensing three dimensional (3D) airflow by an aircraft includes: collecting measurements characterizing airflow near the aircraft; analyzing the collected measurements; creating, by a processor, a computer model predicting one or more 3D airflow patterns parameter values based on the analyzing; obtaining one or more additional measurements characterizing airflow near an aircraft of the plurality of aircraft, and evaluating an error between an airflow parameter value predicted by the computer model and the one or more additional measurement.

公开(公告)号：US20170293307A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-12

申请号：US15092781

申请日：2016-04-07

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  ALLAN J. BRUCE ,  JOHN P. MOUSSOURIS

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G01P13/02 ,  G05D1/04 ,  B64C13/16 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G01P5/00 ,  B64C19/02 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: G05D1/104 ,  B64C13/16 ,  B64D43/02

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for close formation flight, comprises a plurality of sensors for collecting measurements characterizing airflow near an aircraft. The plurality of sensors are attachable to at least one of a wing, fuselage, or tail of the aircraft, and the measurements provide information about airflow velocity in a direction transverse to a direction of the aircraft flight.

公开(公告)号：US20170297736A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-19

申请号：US15076478

申请日：2016-03-21

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  ALLAN J. BRUCE ,  JOHN P. MOUSSOURIS

IPC: B64D43/02 ,  G01F1/46 ,  G01F1/32 ,  G01F1/68 ,  B64D43/00

CPC classification number: B64D43/02 ,  B64D43/00 ,  G01F1/32 ,  G01F1/46 ,  G01F1/68 ,  G01P5/00 ,  G01P5/165 ,  G01P13/025 ,  G05D1/104

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for establishing situational awareness during formation flight includes exchanging transponder signals between at least two aircraft, establishing two-way communication links between the at least two aircraft, exchanging telemetry data between the at least two aircraft, and assigning the roles of a leader and a follower to the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20170269612A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15075098

申请日：2016-03-18

Applicant: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.

Inventor： SERGEY V. FROLOV ,  MICHAEL CYRUS ,  ALLAN J. BRUCE ,  JOHN P. MOUSSOURIS

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  G01F9/00 ,  B64D1/16 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C23/06 ,  B64D43/02

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for close formation flight are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of operating aircraft for flight in close formation includes establishing a communication link between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, assigning to at least one of the first aircraft or the second aircraft, via the communication link, initial positions relative to one another in the close formation, providing flight control input for aligning the first and second aircraft in their respective initial positions, tracking, by at least one aircraft in the close formation, at least one vortex-generated by at least one other aircraft in the close formation, and based on the tracking, providing flight control input to adjust a relative position between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.