Methods and systems for damping oscillations of a payload
US10414488B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2016 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D2109/23
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Described herein are methods and systems to dampen oscillations of a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the UAV's control system may dampen the oscillations by causing the UAV to switch to a forward flight mode in which movement of the UAV results in drag on the payload, thereby damping the oscillations. In another example, the control system may cause the UAV to reduce an extent flight stabilization along at least one dimension, thereby resulting in damping of the detected oscillations due to energy dissipation during movement of the UAV along the dimension. In this way, the control system could select and carry out one or more such techniques, and could do so during retraction and/or deployment of the tether.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.