公开(公告)号：US20180372868A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-27

申请号：US16103318

申请日：2018-08-14

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Scott Isaacs ,  Amir Navot ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Frederik Schaffalitzky ,  Scott A. Green

IPC: G01S17/08 ,  G08G5/04 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S13/08 ,  G01S15/08

Abstract: This disclosure describes an automated mobile vehicle that includes one or more distance determining elements configured to detect the presence of objects and to cause the automated mobile vehicle to alter its path to avoid the object. For example, a distance determining element may be incorporated into one or more of the motors of the automated mobile vehicle and configured to determine a distance to an object. Based on the determined distance, a path of the automated mobile vehicle may be altered.

公开(公告)号：US10149115B1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

申请号：US15416713

申请日：2017-01-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Buchmueller ,  Ronald Joseph Degges, Jr. ,  Jin Dong Kim ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Sang Eun Lee ,  Subram Narasimhan ,  Koohyun Um

IPC: H04W76/10 ,  H04W4/04 ,  H04B1/3822 ,  H01Q3/08 ,  H01Q1/28

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for enabling orientation of directional antennas even when one or more of the directional antennas are moving. Position information for each directional antenna is transmitted using an omnidirectional antenna transmitting at a low bandwidth and a low power. The position information of the directional antennas is used to orient the directional antennas so that a high bandwidth, low power wireless connection can be enabled and/or maintained between the directional antennas. The position information is periodically transmitted and the orientation of the directional antennas is updated as one or more of the directional antennas move so that the wireless connection between the directional antennas is maintained.

公开(公告)号：US10099773B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-16

申请号：US14975265

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Allan Ko

IPC: B64C11/18 ,  B64C11/00 ,  B64C11/20

Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the position of one or more propeller blade treatments of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more propeller blade treatments that may be adjusted between two or more positions. Based on the position of the propeller blade treatments, the airflow over the propeller is altered, thereby altering the sound generated by the propeller when rotating. By altering the propeller blade treatments on multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel, reduce, and/or otherwise alter the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US10068486B1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US15697410

申请日：2017-09-06

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Avi Bar-Zeev ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Steven Gregory Dunn ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G01C21/00 ,  B65G1/04

Abstract: A transportation network is provided that utilizes autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) for identifying, acquiring, and transporting items between network locations without requiring human interaction. A travel path for an item through the transportation network may include multiple path segments and corresponding intermediate network locations, with a different autonomous vehicle utilized to transport the item along each path segment. Different possible next network locations for a travel path may selected based on transportation factors such as travel time, cost, safety, etc. (e.g., as may be related to distance, network congestion, inclement weather, etc.). Local processing (e.g., by a control system of an autonomous vehicle) may perform the selection of a next network location for a travel path (e.g., allowing multiple autonomous vehicles to simultaneously engage and depart with items or otherwise travel without having to contact and wait for instructions from centralized system components, etc.).

公开(公告)号：US10065745B1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US15369527

申请日：2016-12-05

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Amir Navot ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Scott A. Green ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

IPC: F03D1/00 ,  F03D3/00 ,  B64D35/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/14 ,  B64C27/52

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle wherein the battery life may be extended by performing one or more electricity generation procedures on the way to a destination (e.g., a delivery location for an item). In various implementations, the electricity generation procedure may include utilizing an airflow to rotate one or more of the propellers of the automated aerial vehicle so that the associated propeller motors will generate electricity (e.g., which can be utilized to recharge the battery, power one or more sensors of the automated aerial vehicle, etc.). In various implementations, the airflow may consist of a wind, or may be created by the kinetic energy of the automated aerial vehicle as it moves through the air (e.g., as part of a normal flight path and/or as part of an aerial maneuver).

公开(公告)号：US20180190133A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-05

申请号：US15905713

申请日：2018-02-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Navot ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Fabian Hensel ,  Scott A. Green ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Severan Sylvain Jean-Michel Rault

IPC: G08G5/00 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  G07C5/08

CPC classification number: G08G5/0086 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G01S2007/4975 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0676 ,  G05D1/0858 ,  G07C5/0808

Abstract: A system and method for operating an automated aerial vehicle are provided wherein influences of ground effects (e.g., which may increase the effective thrusts of propellers by interfering with the respective airflows) are utilized for sensing the ground or other surfaces. In various implementations, operating parameters of the automated aerial vehicle are monitored to determine when ground effects are influencing the parameters associated with each of the propellers, which correspondingly indicate proximities to a surface (e.g., the ground). Utilizing such techniques, proximities of different portions of an automated aerial vehicle to the ground or other surfaces may be determined (e.g., for detecting issues with an uneven landing area, a sloped ground, etc.).

公开(公告)号：US20180093770A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-05

申请号：US15831003

申请日：2017-12-04

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Ricky Dean Welsh ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Fabian Thomas Hensel ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III ,  Brandon William Porter ,  Walker Chamberlain Robb ,  Joshua White Traube

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/22 ,  B64C27/24

CPC classification number: B64C39/024 ,  B64C27/22 ,  B64C27/24 ,  B64C29/0025 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/165

Abstract: This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a pushing motor and propeller assembly that is oriented at approximately ninety degrees to one or more of the lifting motors. When the UAV is moving horizontally, the pushing motor may be engaged and the pushing propeller will aid in the horizontal propulsion of the UAV.

公开(公告)号：US20180040316A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-08

申请号：US15725633

申请日：2017-10-05

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: G10K11/178 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06N99/00 ,  G01S19/13

CPC classification number: G10K11/178 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2220/00 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D19/02 ,  G05D27/02 ,  G06N99/005 ,  G10K11/17823 ,  G10K11/17853 ,  G10K11/17873 ,  G10K2210/1281 ,  G10K2210/30231 ,  G10K2210/30351 ,  G10K2210/3038 ,  G10K2210/3045

Abstract: Noises that are to be emitted by an aerial vehicle during operations may be predicted using one or more machine learning systems, algorithms or techniques. Anti-noises having equal or similar intensities and equal but out-of-phase frequencies may be identified and generated based on the predicted noises, thereby reducing or eliminating the net effect of the noises. The machine learning systems, algorithms or techniques used to predict such noises may be trained using emitted sound pressure levels observed during prior operations of aerial vehicles, as well as environmental conditions, operational characteristics of the aerial vehicles or locations of the aerial vehicles during such prior operations. Anti-noises may be identified and generated based on an overall sound profile of the aerial vehicle, or on individual sounds emitted by the aerial vehicle by discrete sources.

公开(公告)号：US09812021B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US14315213

申请日：2014-06-25

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Navot ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Frederik Schaffalitzky ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Robert John Anderson

IPC: G08G5/02 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G5/04

CPC classification number: G08G5/045 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/128 ,  B64C2201/145 ,  B64D45/00 ,  G05D1/101 ,  G05D1/102 ,  G08G5/0021 ,  G08G5/0069 ,  G08G5/0078

Abstract: This disclosure describes an automated aerial vehicle that includes one or more object detection elements configured to detect the presence of objects and an avoidance determining element configured to cause the automated aerial vehicle to automatically determine and execute an avoidance maneuver to avoid the objects. For example, an object may be detected and an avoidance maneuver determined based on a position of the object and an object vector representative of a direction and a magnitude of velocity of the object.

公开(公告)号：US09809304B1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US14975548

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: B64C39/06 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64C27/20 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C39/064 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/162

Abstract: This disclosure describes a configuration of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, in which one or more of the propellers are positioned within a duct that includes an active airflow channel within the interior of the duct. The active airflow channel actively moves within the duct so that it remains aligned with the tips of the blades of the propeller within the duct. As the propeller and the active airflow channel rotate, at least some of the airflow structures (e.g., vortices) shed from the blades of the propeller are collected by the active airflow channel and channeled away from the propeller so that a following blade of the propeller does not pass through the collected airflow structures.