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公开(公告)号：US20190100314A1
公开(公告)日：2019-04-04
申请号：US15853664
申请日：2017-12-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Andre Prager , Trevor Shannon , Evan Twyford , Alexander Miller
Abstract: A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing. The housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether. The apparatus further includes a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot. The slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect touchdown of the payload and a transmitter configured to send a touchdown confirmation signal to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a touchdown detection by the sensor.
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公开(公告)号：US20180072422A1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-15
申请号：US15389326
申请日：2016-12-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Trevor Shannon , Andre Prager
CPC classification number: B64D1/22 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/021 , B64C2201/027 , B64C2201/104 , B64C2201/108 , B64C2201/128 , B66D1/12 , B66D1/60 , B66D2700/0141
Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.
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公开(公告)号：US20180072421A1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-15
申请号：US15389304
申请日：2016-12-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Andre Prager , Trevor Shannon
CPC classification number: B64D1/22 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/148
Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for motorized control of a tether, such as for purposes of user interaction and feedback. In particular, a UAV's control system may determine one or more operational parameters of a motor for a winch disposed in the UAV, the winch including the tether and a spool. The control system may then detect in the one or more operational parameters, an operational pattern of the motor that is indicative of an intentional user-interaction with the tether. Based on the detected operational pattern of the motor that is indicative of the intentional user-interaction with the tether, the control system may determine a motor response process. Then, the control system may operate the motor in accordance with the determined motor response process.
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公开(公告)号：US20170043871A1
公开(公告)日：2017-02-16
申请号：US15339400
申请日：2016-10-31
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Leila Takayama , Matthew Ball , Joanna Cohen , Roger William Graves , Mathias Samuel Fleck , Andrew Lambert , James Ryan Burgess , Paul Richard Komarek , Trevor Shannon
CPC classification number: B64D1/02 , B64C39/02 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/141 , B64C2201/146 , B64D1/12 , B64D1/22 , B64D47/06
Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.
Abstract translation: 公开了一种包括可伸缩有效载荷传送系统的无人驾驶飞行器（UAV）。 有效载荷传送系统可以使用在下降期间固定有效载荷并在到达地面时释放有效负载的组件将有效载荷降低到地面。 组件还可以包括旁路通信模块，用于产生旁观者感知的线索。 当固定有效载荷的组件正在从UAV降低时，旁路通信模块可以产生避免提示，指示旁观者应避免干扰组件。 组件还包括生成数据的传感器，至少部分地用于确定下降组件何时位于或接近地面，在该点组装件释放有效载荷。 旁观者通信模块可以停止回避提示，并且UAV可以收回组件。
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5.发明申请公开(公告)号：US20180257779A1
公开(公告)日：2018-09-13
申请号：US15977908
申请日：2018-05-11
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Trevor Shannon , Andre Prager
Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and correcting errors when picking up and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may control the motor to lower the tether and monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether a payload has detached from the tether. This process of lowering the tether and monitoring the motor current may be repeated up to a predetermined number of times, at which point the control system may operate the motor to detach the tether from the spool, leaving both the tether and the payload behind.
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Patent Agency Ranking
6.发明授权公开(公告)号：US10000285B2
公开(公告)日：2018-06-19
申请号：US15389338
申请日：2016-12-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Trevor Shannon , Andre Prager
CPC classification number: B66D1/12 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/141 , B64D1/22 , B66D1/60 , B66D2700/0141
Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and correcting errors when picking up and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may control the motor to lower the tether and monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether a payload has detached from the tether. This process of lowering the tether and monitoring the motor current may be repeated up to a predetermined number of times, at which point the control system may operate the motor to detach the tether from the spool, leaving both the tether and the payload behind.
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公开(公告)号：US20180141682A1
公开(公告)日：2018-05-24
申请号：US15358935
申请日：2016-11-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Jesse Blake , Jim Schmalzried , Trevor Shannon , Michael Simonian , Sindre Klepp , Stephen Benson , Adam Woodworth
CPC classification number: B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/18
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.
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公开(公告)号：US09783295B2
公开(公告)日：2017-10-10
申请号：US15470610
申请日：2017-03-27
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Leila Takayama , Matthew Ball , Joanna Cohen , Roger William Graves , Mathias Samuel Fleck , Andrew Lambert , James Ryan Burgess , Paul Richard Komarek , Trevor Shannon
CPC classification number: B64D1/02 , B64C39/02 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/141 , B64C2201/146 , B64D1/12 , B64D1/22 , B64D47/06
Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.
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公开(公告)号：US09630715B2
公开(公告)日：2017-04-25
申请号：US15339400
申请日：2016-10-31
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Leila Takayama , Matthew Ball , Joanna Cohen , Roger William Graves , Mathias Samuel Fleck , Andrew Lambert , James Ryan Burgess , Paul Richard Komarek , Trevor Shannon
CPC classification number: B64D1/02 , B64C39/02 , B64C39/024 , B64C2201/128 , B64C2201/141 , B64C2201/146 , B64D1/12 , B64D1/22 , B64D47/06
Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.
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10.发明申请公开(公告)号：US20180072418A1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-15
申请号：US15389138
申请日：2016-12-22
Applicant: X Development LLC
Inventor： Trevor Shannon , Andre Prager , Zhefei Li , Kyle Liske
Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system is provided including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage, a tether having a first end secured to a winch system positioned in the UAV and a second end secured to a payload coupling apparatus, a payload coupling apparatus receptacle positioned in the fuselage of the UAV, a payload having a handle, wherein the handle of the payload is positioned within a slot in the payload coupling apparatus. A method of securing a payload to a UAV is also provided.
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