Aerial display system with marionettes articulated and supported by airborne devices
US8876571B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2013 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D2109/254
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for performing an aerial display. The system includes a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a ground control system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs. The system further includes a marionette with a body and articulatable appendages attached to the body. The body and appendages are supported with tether lines extending between the marionette and the UAVs. Then, during a display time period, the UAVs concurrently execute the flight plans to position and articulate the marionette within a display air space. In some embodiments, the UAVs each is a multicopter, and each of the multicopters includes a local controller operating to move the multicopter through a series of way points defined by the flight plan associated with the multicopter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.