US 12,337,949 B2
Methods and systems for retaining lateral control of an unmanned aerial vehicle during landing with leveled inboard propellers
Bart Dean Hibbs, Simi Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to AeroVironment, Inc., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/212,840.
Application 18/212,840 is a continuation of application No. 17/684,019, filed on Mar. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,724,793.
Application 17/684,019 is a continuation of application No. 17/298,499, granted, now 11,292,583, issued on Apr. 5, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2020/063640, filed on Dec. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/945,815, filed on Dec. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0331373 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64C 11/46 (2006.01); B64C 3/14 (2006.01); B64C 3/32 (2006.01); B64C 3/42 (2006.01); B64C 39/08 (2006.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/90 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 11/46 (2013.01) [B64C 3/14 (2013.01); B64C 3/32 (2013.01); B64C 3/42 (2013.01); B64C 39/08 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/90 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
at least one microcontroller in communication with at least one first engine and at least one second engine, wherein the at least one microcontroller is configured to:
determine an angular position of at least one inboard propeller attached to the at least one first engine;
send a first signal to the at least one first engine to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to the ground upon landing; and
send a second signal to the at least one second engine to adjust rotation of at least one tip propeller attached to the at least one second engine while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
wherein the at least one inboard propeller would strike the ground during rotation of the at least one inboard propeller upon landing; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.