The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 24, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 25, 2013
Wilfred SO, Mississauga, CA;
Justin Eichel, Waterloo, CA;
Linda VU, Toronto, CA;
Peter Szabo, Cambridge, CA;
Wilfred So, Mississauga, CA;
Justin Eichel, Waterloo, CA;
Linda Vu, Toronto, CA;
Peter Szabo, Cambridge, CA;
Other;
Abstract
A system and method are provided for controlling a plurality of aircraft to lift a common payload. The system comprises of multiple aircraft tethered to a common payload, where the group of aircraft form a swarm that is controlled by a pilot station. Each aircraft is autonomously stabilized and guided through a swarm avionics unit, which further includes sensor, communication, and processing hardware. At the pilot station, a pilot remotely enters payload destinations, which is processed and communicated to each aircraft. The method for controlling a multi-aircraft lifting system includes of inputting the desired location of the payload, and determining a series of intermediary payload waypoints. Next, these payload waypoints are used by the swarm waypoint controller to generate individual waypoints for each aircraft. A flight controller for each aircraft moves the aircraft to these individual waypoints.