公开(公告)号：US10933971B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-02

申请号：US15836782

申请日：2017-12-08

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Adam Woodworth ,  Adem Rudin ,  Stephen Benson

IPC: B64C3/24 ,  B64C3/18 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: An example method of manufacturing a wing includes providing a wing frame. The wing frame includes a primary spar, a drag spar, a plurality of transverse frame elements having at least one spar joiner, and a plurality of mounting elements. The primary spar is coupled to the drag spar via the at least one spar joiner. The method further includes placing the wing frame into a mold, wherein the mold defines a shape of the wing. The method also includes injecting the mold with an air-filled matrix material, such that the air-filled matrix material substantially encases the wing frame and fills the defined shape of the wing, and such that the plurality of transverse frame elements provide torsional rigidity to the wing.

公开(公告)号：US20190329877A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16007809

申请日：2018-06-13

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Stephen Benson ,  Jacob Huffman

IPC: B64C27/30 ,  B64C11/28 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A propulsion unit includes a motor rotor that spins about a central rotational axis, propeller blades each having a proximal base and a distal tip, and pivot mounts each coupling the proximal base of a corresponding one of the propeller blades to the motor rotor. The propeller blades each freely pivot at the proximal base about a corresponding offset pivoting axis that is substantially parallel to but offset from the central rotational axis of the motor rotor.

公开(公告)号：US20190144097A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US15815428

申请日：2017-11-16

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Stephen Benson ,  Adam Woodworth ,  Michael Nowakowski ,  James Schmalzried ,  Adem Rudin

IPC: B64C1/06 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: An energy dispersion plug for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a blunt head section, a wedge section, and a rim section. The blunt head section has an outer side for receiving an impact force and an inner side opposite the outer side. The wedge section has a base end and a distal end opposite the base end. The wedge section extends at the base end from the inner side of the blunt head section towards the distal end and the distal end has a smaller cross-sectional area than the base end. The wedge section is shaped and sized to fit into an open end of a hollow structural member of the UAV and to transfer impact energy incident upon the blunt head section into the hollow structural member to shatter the hollow structural member into fragments.

公开(公告)号：US20190161153A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US15823114

申请日：2017-11-27

Applicant: X Development LLC

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

IPC: B64C1/06

Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for assembling a UAV includes connecting a wing spar with boom carriers to form an H-frame. The wing spar provides mounting locations for securing horizontal propulsion units, and the boom carriers provide mounting locations for securing vertical propulsion units. The method also includes attaching a fuselage body to the wing spar; attaching a pre-formed wing shell to the H-frame; and attaching pre-formed individual boom shells to their corresponding boom carriers. The H-frame provides structural frame for mounting the wing shell and the boom shells.

公开(公告)号：USD852722S1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-02

申请号：US29621800

申请日：2017-10-11

Applicant: X Development LLC

Designer： Adem Rudin ,  Stephen Benson

公开(公告)号：USD852092S1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-25

申请号：US29621957

申请日：2017-10-12

Applicant: X Development LLC

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

公开(公告)号：US20190023133A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US15654644

申请日：2017-07-19

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nick Renold ,  Matthew Nubbe ,  Jim Schmalzried ,  Jesse Blake ,  Scott Velez ,  Dustin Sanders ,  Stephen Benson ,  Evan Twyford

IPC: B60L11/18 ,  B64F1/00 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a landing pad having a housing and a power terminal configured to draw electric power from a power source. The landing pad further includes an electrically conductive landing terminal dorsal to the housing and configured such that, during a landing state of an aerial vehicle, the landing terminal makes contact with a plurality of electric contacts disposed ventrally to a fuselage of the aerial vehicle. The landing terminal is configured to transfer electric power drawn by the power terminal to the aerial vehicle via the electric contacts during the landing state of the aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20190176958A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-13

申请号：US15836782

申请日：2017-12-08

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Adam Woodworth ,  Adem Rudin ,  Stephen Benson

IPC: B64C3/24 ,  B64C3/18

Abstract: An example method of manufacturing a wing includes providing a wing frame. The wing frame includes a primary spar, a drag spar, a plurality of transverse frame elements having at least one spar joiner, and a plurality of mounting elements. The primary spar is coupled to the drag spar via the at least one spar joiner. The method further includes placing the wing frame into a mold, wherein the mold defines a shape of the wing. The method also includes injecting the mold with an air-filled matrix material, such that the air-filled matrix material substantially encases the wing frame and fills the defined shape of the wing, and such that the plurality of transverse frame elements provide torsional rigidity to the wing.

公开(公告)号：US20190106192A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-11

申请号：US15730420

申请日：2017-10-11

Applicant: X Development 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

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：US20190329866A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16007814

申请日：2018-06-13

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Stephen Benson

IPC: B64C11/04 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A propulsion unit includes a motor rotor, a clip-in base mount, a clip-in rotor cap, propeller mounts, and propeller blades. The motor rotor spins about a central rotational axis. The clip-in base mount is disposed on the motor rotor. The clip-in rotor cap is shaped to mate with and detachably clip into the clip-in base mount. The propeller mounts are attached to the clip-in rotor cap. The propeller blades each have a proximal base and a distal tip. The proximal base of each propeller blade mounts to a corresponding one of the propeller mounts.