Methods and systems for transitioning an aerial vehicle between crosswind flight and hover flight
US9169013B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method involves operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether is connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and is connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere has a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method further involves while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method involves after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.