US 11,868,143 B2
Methods of climb and glide operations of a high altitude long endurance aircraft
Derek Lisoski, Simi Valley, CA (US); and Bart Dean Hibbs, Simi Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Appl. No. 17/605,899
Filed by AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 23, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/029652
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/223115, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/854,830, filed on May 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/838,783, filed on Apr. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/838,833, filed on Apr. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0121223 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. G05D 1/04 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01)
CPC G05D 1/042 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); G05D 1/0005 (2013.01); B64U 2101/00 (2023.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
at least one solar array;
at least one battery pack comprising at least one battery and at least one power tracker, wherein the power tracker is configured to:
receive energy from the at least one solar array; and
regulate and supply the received energy to the at least one battery based on a time of day; and
at least one motor of the at least one UAV, wherein the at least one battery is configured to transfer energy to the at least one motor;
wherein power from the at least one motor is configured to ascend the at least one UAV to a second altitude when the at least one battery is at or near capacity, and wherein the second altitude is higher than the first altitude; and
wherein power from the at least one motor is configured to descend the at least one UAV to the first altitude after the Sun has set to conserve energy stored in the at least one battery.