US 12,330,804 B2
Automated self-testing
Alexander David Selwa, San Francisco, CA (US); and Mark Johnson Cutler, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/333,394.
Application 18/333,394 is a continuation of application No. 17/495,554, filed on Oct. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,718,414.
Application 17/495,554 is a continuation of application No. 16/821,601, filed on Mar. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,161,623, issued on Nov. 2, 2021.
Application 16/821,601 is a continuation of application No. 16/355,542, filed on Mar. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,640,231, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/355,542 is a continuation of application No. 16/016,009, filed on Jun. 22, 2018, granted, now 10,273,021, issued on Apr. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025558 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64D 45/00 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01); G07C 5/08 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 45/00 (2013.01) [G07C 5/008 (2013.01); G07C 5/0808 (2013.01); G07C 5/0841 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01); G05D 1/0816 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
determine a flight-time variable associated with an aircraft, including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is flying, wherein the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive center of gravity, wherein the determining of the flight-time variable comprises to:
obtain a thrust associated with a rotor while the aircraft is flying; and
determine the payload-inclusive center of gravity based at least in part on the thrust;
determine whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable, comprising to:
compare the payload-inclusive center of gravity to a first center of gravity threshold represented by a first three-dimensional (3D) shape; and
compare the payload-inclusive center of gravity to a second center of gravity threshold represented by a second three-dimensional (3D) shape wherein the first center of gravity threshold is smaller than the second center of gravity threshold;
in response to determining that the aircraft is airworthy, permit the aircraft to fly at full capacity or an unrestricted capacity, comprising to:
in response to a determination that the payload-inclusive center of gravity does not exceed the first center of gravity threshold represented by the first 3D shape, determine that the aircraft is airworthy; and
in response to determining that the aircraft is marginally airworthy, configure the aircraft with a set of one or more constrained settings, wherein it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the payload-inclusive center of gravity exceeds the first center of gravity threshold and does not exceed the second center of gravity threshold.