公开(公告)号：US11380203B1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-05

申请号：US16796149

申请日：2020-02-20

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Darren Ernest Canavor ,  Charles Edward Cartwright ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Brandon William Porter

IPC: G08G1/16 ,  G05D1/02 ,  H04W4/70 ,  H04W4/40 ,  G05D1/10 ,  G08G1/123

Abstract: Recent location and control information received from “lead” vehicles that traveled over a segment of land, sea, or air is captured to inform, via aggregated data, subsequent “trailing” vehicles that travel over that same segment of land, sea, or air. The aggregated data may provide the trailing vehicles with annotated road information that identifies obstacles. In some embodiments, at least some sensor control data may be provided to the subsequent vehicles to assist those vehicles in identifying the obstacles and/or performing other tasks. Besides, obstacles, the location and control information may enable determining areas traveled by vehicles that are not included in conventional maps, as well as vehicle actions associated with particular locations, such as places where vehicles park or make other maneuvers.

公开(公告)号：US11338932B1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-24

申请号：US16808234

申请日：2020-03-03

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Daniel Buchmueller ,  Brian C. Beckman ,  Amir Navot

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G05D1/08 ,  B64C1/30

Abstract: This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle that may be configured during flight to optimize for agility or efficiency.

公开(公告)号：US11161604B1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-02

申请号：US16158146

申请日：2018-10-11

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Brian C. Beckman ,  Gur Kimchi

IPC: B64C27/39 ,  B64C27/57 ,  B64C27/72 ,  B64C11/20 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B28C7/02

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 shape of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more joints that adjust to alter the shape of the propeller blade. The altered shape of the propeller blade causes the propeller to generate different frequencies of sound as it rotates. By altering multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel or reduce the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle, and/or alter the total frequency generated.

公开(公告)号：US11092961B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-17

申请号：US15673936

申请日：2017-08-10

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jon Stuart Battles ,  James Christopher Curlander ,  Larry Felser ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Pragyana K. Mishra

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G01C21/36 ,  B60W30/00 ,  G01C21/34 ,  G05D1/02

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating autonomous vehicles are described. An autonomous vehicle may detect strategy modes and/or actions of other vehicles in a local environment. The autonomous vehicle may then select a strategy mode for its operations based on the detected strategy modes and/or actions of other vehicles, and based on an operational goal for the autonomous vehicle. The strategy modes may include an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode. The autonomous vehicle may further select an action for its operations based on the selected strategy mode.

公开(公告)号：US11079771B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US15673952

申请日：2017-08-10

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jon Stuart Battles ,  James Christopher Curlander ,  Larry Felser ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Pragyana K. Mishra

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G08G5/00 ,  G08G1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G07C5/00 ,  G06Q10/04 ,  B60W30/00 ,  G08G1/0967 ,  G08G1/16 ,  G08G5/04

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating operations of a plurality of autonomous vehicles are described. An autonomous vehicle management system may receive information from the plurality of autonomous vehicles related to strategy modes, actions, and the environments. The strategy modes may include an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode. The autonomous vehicle management system may then process the received information based on an operational goal for the system as a whole. The autonomous vehicle management system may then instruct modifications to operations of one or more of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to achieve the operational goal for the system.

公开(公告)号：US10981649B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16133573

申请日：2018-09-17

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Louis LeGrand ,  Omri Rand ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Sebastian Fischer ,  Ricky Welsh

IPC: B64C39/06 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C27/26

Abstract: Various reconfigurations of wing sections of a ring wing of an aerial vehicle are described. For example, responsive to a fault or failure of a propulsion mechanism, one or more wing sections may be modified to maintain control and safety of the aerial vehicle. In example embodiments, positions, angular orientations, and/or pitches of one or more wing sections may be modified to maintain control and safety in either a horizontal, wingborn flight orientation, or a vertical, VTOL flight orientation.

公开(公告)号：US10800521B1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-13

申请号：US15362557

申请日：2016-11-28

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Taylor David Grenier ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III ,  Ricky Dean Welsh ,  Richard Philip Whitlock ,  Dominic Timothy Shiosaki

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/50 ,  B64C1/06

Abstract: Described are apparatus and processes for reconfiguring aerial vehicles, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) during navigation of the aerial vehicle between a maneuverability configuration and an efficiency configuration. When an aerial vehicle needs to be able to quickly maneuver in any direction (vertical, horizontal, pitch, roll, yaw) it is operating in a maneuverability configuration. When configured to operate in the maneuverability configuration, the primary function of the aerial vehicle configuration is to increase maneuverability of the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is navigating in a direction that is substantially horizontal, for example when navigating between locations, it may be configured to operate in an efficiency configuration. When configured to operate in the efficiency configuration, the primary function of the aerial vehicle configuration is to increase efficiency of the aerial vehicle and reduce power consumption.

公开(公告)号：US20200239150A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-30

申请号：US16256279

申请日：2019-01-24

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Louis LeGrand, III ,  Shmuel Eisenmann ,  Dominic Shiosaki

IPC: B64D29/06 ,  B64C39/06 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Systems and methods to reduce aerodynamic drag and/or affect flight characteristics of an aerial vehicle may include adjustable fairings associated with one or more components of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable fairings may be coupled to and at least partially surround a motor, propulsion mechanism, motor arm, strut, or other component of an aerial vehicle. In addition, the adjustable fairings may be passively movable between two or more positions responsive to airflow around the fairings, and/or the adjustable fairings may be actively moved between two more positions to affect flight characteristics. Further, the adjustable fairings may include actuatable elements to alter a portion of an outer surface of the fairings to thereby affect flight characteristics. In this manner, adjustable fairings associated with various components of an aerial vehicle may reduce aerodynamic drag and/or may improve control and safety of an aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US10671094B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-02

申请号：US15434741

申请日：2017-02-16

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Gur Kimchi ,  Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III ,  Joshua White Traube

IPC: G05D1/08 ,  B64D47/08 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C15/02 ,  G08G5/00 ,  B64D45/00 ,  G08G5/02 ,  B64D1/12 ,  G08G5/04 ,  F16P3/14 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H02P101/30

Abstract: An aerial vehicle and system for automatically detecting an object (e.g., human, pet, or other animal) approaching the aerial vehicle is described. When an approaching object is detected by an object detection component, a safety profile may be executed to reduce or avoid any potential harm to the object and/or the aerial vehicle. For example, if the object is detected entering a safety perimeter of the aerial vehicle, the rotation of a propeller closest to the object may be stopped to avoid harming the object and rotations of remaining propellers may be modified to maintain control and flight of the aerial vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20200086985A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-19

申请号：US16133573

申请日：2018-09-17

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Louis LeGrand ,  Omri Rand ,  Gur Kimchi ,  Sebastian Fischer ,  Ricky Welsh

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C27/20 ,  B64C27/26 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C39/06

Abstract: Various reconfigurations of wing sections of a ring wing of an aerial vehicle are described. For example, responsive to a fault or failure of a propulsion mechanism, one or more wing sections may be modified to maintain control and safety of the aerial vehicle. In example embodiments, positions, angular orientations, and/or pitches of one or more wing sections may be modified to maintain control and safety in either a horizontal, wingborn flight orientation, or a vertical, VTOL flight orientation.