Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation

Terrafugia, Inc.

Other

Tacshot, Inc.

Andrew Mark Heafitz

Carl Curtis Dietrich

Robert William Parks

William Robert Bosworth

Dominic L Barone

Edmund Golaski

Felipe Bohorquez

Igor Janjic

William Thalheimer

John Allee

Jose Antonio L Turalba

Samuel Adam Schweighart

Kevin Colburn

Dagny Dukach

Anna Zolnikov

Elizabeth Von Der Heydt

Jason Grzywna

Lluis Penalver-Aguila

Chris Bogdanowicz

Bryan Sandoz

Julie Henion

Ethan Stowe

A method is provided for horizon detection. The method includes acquiring an image that depicts a view of an environment, and defining a line pattern of lines that divide the image into respective pairs of image segments. The line pattern is formed of lines that are parallel, or intersecting at a common point of intersection. The method includes searching the lines of the line pattern to identify one of the lines as an estimated true horizon in the image that divides the image into a respective pair of image segments at a boundary of greatest difference in average brightness between the image segments from among the respective pairs of image segments. The method includes determining true horizon in the image from the estimated true horizon. The method may also include an evaluation of the estimated true horizon or the true horizon as to verify one or more expected characteristics.

Horizon detection to support an aircraft on a mission in an environment

An example of the present disclosure provides a stereo camera assembly of an object tracking system. The stereo camera assembly comprises a wide-angle lens camera mounted on a mounting structure and a telephoto lens camera mounted on the mounting structure such that a field of view of the telephoto lens camera is at least partially encompassed by a field of view of the wide-angle lens camera.

Object tracking system including stereo camera assembly and methods of use

Presented are weight distribution systems for aircraft center of gravity (CG) management, methods for making/operating such systems, and aircraft equipped with CG management systems. A method is presented for managing the CG of an aircraft. The aircraft includes first and second landing gears and an airframe that removably attaches thereto one or more payloads and/or hardware modules. The method includes supporting the aircraft on a support leg that operatively attaches to the airframe and, while supported on the support leg, determining if the aircraft pivots onto the first or second landing gear. If the aircraft pivots onto either landing gear, the method responsively identifies a new airframe position for the payload/hardware module that will shift the aircraft's CG to within a calibrated 'acceptable' CG range; doing so should balance the aircraft on the support leg. The payload/hardware module is then relocated to the new airframe position.

Weight distribution systems and control logic for center of gravity management of aircrafts

Rotor assemblies for aircraft are described where one or more blades of the rotor assembly includes a blade alignment device that passively orients a blade in response to an airflow around the blade alignment device when the rotor assembly is free-wheeling. One embodiment comprises a method of operating a rotor assembly for aircraft. The method comprises operating the rotor assembly in a free-wheeling state, where the rotor assembly includes a rotary hub that rotates about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the rotary hub. At least one of the plurality of blades includes a blade alignment device. The method further comprises aligning the at least one of the plurality of blades in response to airflow around the blade alignment device when the rotor assembly is in the free-wheeling state.

Passive rotor alignment in a free-wheeling state

Rotor assemblies for aircraft are described that include a plurality of blades that are disposed vertically on a common axis along different horizontal planes. When the rotor assemblies are free-wheeling, the blades form a vertically stacked configuration, and when the rotor assembly is driven in rotation to generate lift, the blades bloom out from the vertically stacked configuration. At least one of the blades in the rotor assembly has a blade geometry that is different with respect to other blades such that when the blades are vertically stacked and free-wheeling, the collective shape of the blades is aerodynamic in shape, based on the different blade geometry, that reduces aerodynamic drag on the rotor assembly.

Differential blade geometry for rotor assemblies

Methods and apparatus to project aircraft zone indications are disclosed. A disclosed example projection system for displaying an indicator pertaining to an aircraft includes a condition analyzer to determine a condition of at least one of the aircraft or a zone surrounding the aircraft, and a projector to project the indicator on or proximate the zone based on the determined condition.

Methods and apparatus to project aircraft zone indicators

The present invention relates to an electronic gear shifter assembly for a dual-mode flying and driving vehicle. The electronic gear shifter assembly may include a lever moveable between a first shifting path that includes at least one drive-related operating position, and a second shifting path that includes at least one flying-related operating position.

Electronic gear shifter assembly for a dual-mode flying and driving vehicle

A vehicle includes a fuselage having a longitudinal axis and a propulsion system that is coupled to the fuselage. The vehicle also includes a pair of articulated appendages that is coupled to the fuselage. Each one of the articulated appendages includes a plurality of airfoil segments and is moveable between a ground configuration, in which each one of the pair of articulated appendages supports the vehicle during takeoff or landing of the vehicle, and a flight configuration, in which each one of the pair of articulated appendages produces lift during flight of the vehicle.

Combination flight and ground apparatus for a vehicle

Improvements to the hinge of a folding aircraft wing including a load bearing hinge mechanism with multiple locking mechanisms. The mechanism includes rigid panels that cover the hinge area when the wing is deployed, and the wing itself covers the hinge area when the wing is retracted. A control lever is used to actuate the wing and incorporates safety features to prevent unwanted actuation.

Folding wing root mechanism

An imaging device that gives a ground based user immediate access to a detailed aerial photograph of the entire area for a given radius about his present position. The device can be launched into the air, and rotates in a predictable pattern to scan an imager over every point of the ground, from a vantage point high in the air. These pictures can be stored or transmitted to the ground and assembled on a computer to form a spherical picture of everything surrounding the imaging device in the air.

Panoramic aerial imaging device

A motor driven aerial photographic system with a lightweight frame and having a slidable carriage with a shutter and a film advance member, the carriage being slidable within a multiple track guide. The shutter is provided with a slit for exposing the film and the film advance member is provided with gripping members for advancing the film. A motor drive assembly transforms rotational movement of a gear which is driven by a motor into reciprocating linear motion for driving the carriage between a shutter cocking position and a film exposing position. The film to be exposed is engaged by the gripping members and is advanced as the carriage moves to the shutter cocking position. The film and gripping members are disengaged as the carriage moves toward the film exposing position, the film being stationary during exposure. Film guides maintain registration of the film, shutter and lens. A freely slidable protective shutter plate, which is driven by a pair of shuttle members on the carriage, covers the slit during cocking of the shutter and uncovers the shutter to permit exposure of the film as the shutter moves forwardly during the exposure period.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Andrew Mark Heafitz