Methods and systems for estimating an orientation of a tethered aerial vehicle relative to wind
US9329096B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2015 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/728
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system may include a tether coupled to a ground station. The system may also include an aerial vehicle coupled to the tether and configured to fly in a given path relative to the ground station based on a length of the tether. The system may also include one or more load cells coupled to the tether and configured to provide information indicative of a tether force between the tether and the aerial vehicle. The one or more load cells may be arranged in a given arrangement indicative of a direction of the tether force. The system may also include a controller configured to determine an angle between a direction of wind incident on the aerial vehicle and a plane defined by a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the aerial vehicle based on the tether force.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.