Methods and systems for transitioning an aerial vehicle between hover flight and crosswind flight

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9994314
SERIAL NO

15376651

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Abstract

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A method includes operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method includes positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method includes transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method includes operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • X DEVELOPMENT LLC

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Chubb, Erik Christopher San Francisco, US 13 222
Vander, Lind Damon Alameda, US 151 906

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