US 11,988,742 B2
Detect and avoid system and method for aerial vehicles
Manal Habib, Richmond, CA (US); and Scott Parker, Richmond, CA (US)
Assigned to MightyFly Inc., San Leandro, CA (US)
Filed by MightyFly Inc., Richmond, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/475,476.
Application 17/475,476 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/218,032, filed on Mar. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/079,001, filed on Sep. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/006,173, filed on Apr. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0003863 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 13/00 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01); G01S 13/933 (2020.01); G08G 5/00 (2006.01); G08G 5/02 (2006.01); G08G 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/933 (2020.01) [B64C 29/0025 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); G08G 5/0021 (2013.01); G08G 5/0052 (2013.01); G08G 5/0065 (2013.01); G08G 5/0091 (2013.01); G08G 5/025 (2013.01); G08G 5/045 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
A flying vehicle comprising a nose portion, a set of bilateral wings, a ventral frame, and a tail region;
a storage region comprising a volumetric capacity and a weight capacity for receiving a set of packages at the flying vehicle;
a set of thrust generating devices positioned inferior and posterior to access locations of the storage region, the set of thrust generating devices comprising a first subset supporting a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) operation mode distributed across the ventral frame and a second subset comprising a forward thrust generation device positioned at the tail region;
a set of subsystems in communication with an operational environment of the flying vehicle; and
one or more processors comprising non-transitory media storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors perform:
a monitoring mode comprising monitoring outputs of the set of subsystems;
a detection mode comprising: from said outputs of the set of subsystems, generating a risk assessment characterizing one or more potential hazards associated with the operational environment of the flying vehicle; and
an avoid mode comprising: based upon the risk assessment, returning instructions for execution of a detect and avoid operation, wherein the detect and avoid operation further comprises shifting of a weight distribution of the set of packages at the storage region in coordination with execution of a maneuver.