Qualcomm Incorporated

Neurosciences Research Foundation, Inc.

Neuroscience Research Foundation, Inc.

Donald Hutson

Charles Wheeler Sweet, Iii

James Andrew Snook

Jeffrey L Krichmar

Vincent Kemler

Douglas Alan Moore

Michael Franco Taveira

Daniel Warren Mellinger, Iii

Gerald M Edelman

Jonathan Paul Davis

Ross Eric Kessler

Paul Ferrell

Brad Lee Vaughn

Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar

James York Wilson

Aine Mary Shivnan

Jason G Fleischer

Botond Szatmáry

William Henry Von Novak, Iii

Richard Martin

Volodimir Slobodyanyuk

Cody Wheeland

Aleksandr Kushleyev

Mark Stirling Caskey

John Anthony Dougherty

Travis Van Schoyck

Clayton Dumstorff

Courtney Cooley

Saura Naderi

Layne Thomas

Charles Wheeler Sweet Iii

Various embodiments include a drone capable of operating as an airplane, a quad-copter, or a hybrid aircraft using a versatile flight performance envelope enabled by six elements of control. The drone may include a monolithic wing with a propulsion/lift module connected to each wing tip. Each propulsion/lift module may include a pivotal support structure configured to pivot around a longitudinal axis of the monolithic wing, with two pylons extending radially outwardly from the pivotal support structure and at least partially away from one another, and a propulsion units positioned on a distal end of each pylon. The pivotal support structures may be coupled to the monolithic wing via a servo motor enabling a processor to individually control rotation of each propulsion/lift module to provide roll and pitch control. Thrust and rotation of the propulsion units may be individually controlled by the processor to provide yaw, roll and pitch control.

Unmanned aerial vehicle with monolithic wing and twin-rotor propulsion/lift modules

Embodiments include devices and methods for maintaining control of a robotic vehicle when control signals from a main controller are lost. A detector circuit may monitor signals from the main controller to an electronic speed controller (ESC) to detect a loss of valid control signals. The detector circuit may cause an auxiliary controller to begin issuing motor control signals to the ESC in response to detecting a loss of valid control signals. The auxiliary controller may be configured to issue motor control signals to the ESC according to a pre-loaded set of motor control instructions. The pre-loaded set of motor control instructions may be received from the main controller and/or may be configured to cause the auxiliary controller to issue motor control signals to the ESC that control motors in a manner that causes the robotic vehicle to enter a safe mode of operation or execute a particular maneuver.

Managing limited safe mode operations of a robotic vehicle

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a robotic manipulator that includes a base, a first segment, a first joint operatively coupling the base and the first segment, a second segment, and a second joint operatively coupling the first segment and the second segment are provided. The first joint is configured to rotate the first segment about at least two axes of rotation with respect to the base. The second joint is configured to rotate the second segment about at least one axis of rotation with respect to the first segment.

Robotic manipulator

A lighting system for an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) adapts to the environment around the UAV to ensure status notification lights are visible to an operator and/or abide by regulatory lighting requirements. A processor of the UAV may receive information from various sensors regarding environmental conditions and location of the UAV, and adjust a UAV lighting system to ensure visibility under the environmental conditions. Adjustments to the lighting system may include selection of light sources that are illuminated, the illumination intensity of particular light sources, the colors emitted by various light sources and other lighting configurations.

Environmentally aware status LEDs for use in drones

Various embodiments include a drone having a landing control device that is configured to rotate wings into an auto-rotation decent configuration causing the drone to enter a nose-down attitude and spin about a long axis of the drone, and to collectively control pivot angles of the wings to enables control of decent rate and lateral motion during an auto-rotation descent. The landing control device may be a landing carousel including a pivotal frame secured to a drone body and configured to rotate about a carousel axis extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the body. The landing carousel may include a first wing motor configured to pivot a first wing about a wing pivot axis extending parallel to the carousel axis, and a second wing motor configured to pivot a second wing about the wing pivot axis independent of the pivot the first wing.

Spin-landing drone

Various embodiments are disclosed of a device for use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) including two or more gimbals, a gimbal processor, an inertial measurement unit, and a communication connection. The two or more gimbals are pivotally coupled to rotate orthogonally relative to each other. An inner gimbal of the two or more gimbals may support an inner platform for receiving components thereon. An outer gimbal of the two or more gimbals may be pivotally coupled to the drone. The gimbal processor is mounted on the inner platform, wherein the gimbal processor is configured to control pivotal movement of the two or more gimbals. The inertial measurement unit may be fixed relative to the inner platform and coupled to the gimbal processor. The communication connection may be coupled to the gimbal processor and configured to exchange signals with the drone for controlling operations.

Gimbaled universal drone controller

Solid-state electronic light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is disclosed. In one aspect, an electronic device for use in a LIDAR system is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements. The electronic device is configured to receive, from a laser, a beam of light. The electronic device also receives, from a controller, a series of signals that control the electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements to generate a successive series of different diffraction grating patterns configured to move at least one intensity maxima to a corresponding successive series of locations across a field of view (FOV).

Solid-state electronic light detection and ranging (LIDAR)

Embodiments described herein relate to a controller for controlling various aspects of a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the controller including, but not limited to, a controller body having a first portion configured to secure to a user of the controller and a first controller configured for controlling at least flight of the UAV. The controller is portable via the first portion. The first controller is operable with a single hand of the user.

Multi-axis controlller

A robotic device includes multiple sprockets coupled to a tread module. The robotic device also includes multiple first drive gears coupled to a drive shaft gear of the tread module. The robotic device further includes a second drive gear coupled to a carousel gear of the tread module.

Omni-directional treads

Embodiments described herein relates to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) having vibration dampening and isolation capabilities, the UAV including a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a third frame portion. Each of the first frame portion, the second frame portion, and the third frame portion is separated from one another. At least one first support member inelastically coupling the first frame portion and the third frame portion. At least one second support member elastically coupling the second frame portion and one or more of the first frame portion or the third frame portion to isolate the first frame portion and the third frame portion from vibration of the second frame portion.

Unmanned aerial vehicle structures and methods

Systems and methods are described herein related to an unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a frame portion, two rear arms extending away from the frame portion, and at least one rear air propulsion device arranged on each of the rear arms at an orthogonal angle relative to a vertical axis. The at least one rear air propulsion device has an axis of rotation for both lift and rotation based on the angle. The unmanned aerial vehicle has two front arms arranged along a horizontal axis. The vertical axis is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The unmanned aerial vehicle also includes at least one camera arranged on at least one of the front arms. The at least one camera faces a front direction.

Unmanned aerial vehicle

Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.

Adjustable weight distribution for drone

Unmanned aerial vehicles and methods for providing the same are disclosed. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to a support frame. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations with a continuous track for ground propulsion. The unmanned aerial vehicles may have various configurations related to payload clamps.

Remote sensing systems and methods for using the same are disclosed. The remote sensing systems may include mirrors coupled to propulsion portions of a vehicle with which the remote sensing systems are integrated. The remote sensing systems may further include light transmitters and light receivers coupled to fixed portions of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Donald Hutson