公开(公告)号：US20180107211A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-19

申请号：US15295995

申请日：2016-10-17

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Martin Schubert ,  Michael Grundmann ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Philip Watson

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G06N7/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0044 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  G01C21/005 ,  G01C21/20 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G06N7/005 ,  G08G5/0013 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0026 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/025

Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a client computing device, an indication of a target drop-off spot for an object within a first virtual model of a first region of a delivery destination. A second virtual model of a second region of the delivery destination may be determined based on sensor data received from one or more sensors on a delivery vehicle. A mapping may be determined between physical features represented in the first virtual model and physical features represented in the second virtual model to determine an overlapping region between the first and second virtual models. A position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model may be determined based on the overlapping region. Based on the position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model, the delivery vehicle may be navigated to the target drop-off spot to drop off the object.

公开(公告)号：US20220357753A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-10

申请号：US17825295

申请日：2022-05-26

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Martin Friedrich Schubert ,  Michael Jason Grundmann ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Philip Edwin Watson

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06N7/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G01C21/20

Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a client computing device, an indication of a target drop-off spot for an object within a first virtual model of a first region of a delivery destination. A second virtual model of a second region of the delivery destination may be determined based on sensor data received from one or more sensors on a delivery vehicle. A mapping may be determined between physical features represented in the first virtual model and physical features represented in the second virtual model to determine an overlapping region between the first and second virtual models. A position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model may be determined based on the overlapping region. Based on the position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model, the delivery vehicle may be navigated to the target drop-off spot to drop off the object.

公开(公告)号：US11353892B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-07

申请号：US16429842

申请日：2019-06-03

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Martin Friedrich Schubert ,  Michael Jason Grundmann ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Philip Edwin Watson

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06N7/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G01C21/20

Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a client computing device, an indication of a target drop-off spot for an object within a first virtual model of a first region of a delivery destination. A second virtual model of a second region of the delivery destination may be determined based on sensor data received from one or more sensors on a delivery vehicle. A mapping may be determined between physical features represented in the first virtual model and physical features represented in the second virtual model to determine an overlapping region between the first and second virtual models. A position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model may be determined based on the overlapping region. Based on the position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model, the delivery vehicle may be navigated to the target drop-off spot to drop off the object.

公开(公告)号：US20190286124A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16429842

申请日：2019-06-03

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Martin Friedrich Schubert ,  Michael Jason Grundmann ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Philip Edwin Watson

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06N7/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G01C21/20

Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a client computing device, an indication of a target drop-off spot for an object within a first virtual model of a first region of a delivery destination. A second virtual model of a second region of the delivery destination may be determined based on sensor data received from one or more sensors on a delivery vehicle. A mapping may be determined between physical features represented in the first virtual model and physical features represented in the second virtual model to determine an overlapping region between the first and second virtual models. A position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model may be determined based on the overlapping region. Based on the position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model, the delivery vehicle may be navigated to the target drop-off spot to drop off the object.

公开(公告)号：US10353388B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-16

申请号：US15295995

申请日：2016-10-17

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Martin Schubert ,  Michael Grundmann ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Philip Watson

IPC: G05D1/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G06N7/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G01C21/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/02 ,  G01C21/20

Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a client computing device, an indication of a target drop-off spot for an object within a first virtual model of a first region of a delivery destination. A second virtual model of a second region of the delivery destination may be determined based on sensor data received from one or more sensors on a delivery vehicle. A mapping may be determined between physical features represented in the first virtual model and physical features represented in the second virtual model to determine an overlapping region between the first and second virtual models. A position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model may be determined based on the overlapping region. Based on the position of the target drop-off spot within the second virtual model, the delivery vehicle may be navigated to the target drop-off spot to drop off the object.

公开(公告)号：US09917633B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-13

申请号：US15053024

申请日：2016-02-25

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Richard DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B10/11 ,  G05D1/00 ,  H04B7/185 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04B10/112 ,  B64B1/40

CPC classification number: H04B7/18504 ,  B64B1/40 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  H04B10/1123 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118

Abstract: A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.

公开(公告)号：US09828081B1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-28

申请号：US14227096

申请日：2014-03-27

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Clifford Biffle

IPC: B64B1/06 ,  B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/62

CPC classification number: B64B1/06 ,  B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/62

Abstract: A balloon is provided having an exostructure comprised of hollow struts or rods and an envelope positioned over the exostructure, and a pump for pumping air out of the balloon to create an air pressure differential between the pressure inside the envelope and the atmospheric pressure outside the envelope, a control system configured to allow air to flow into the envelope to control the altitude of the balloon, and to operate the pump to pump air out of the envelope to control the altitude of the balloon, wherein the material of the envelope is arranged so as to sag between the struts or rods and form at least one catenary surface when there is an air pressure differential between the pressure inside of the balloon envelope and the atmospheric pressure outside the envelope.