US 12,434,548 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)
Filed by AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/517,784.
Application 18/517,784 is a continuation of application No. 17/605,899, granted, now 11,868,143, previously published as PCT/US2020/029652, filed on Apr. 23, 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 2025/0162721 A1, May 22, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64D 27/353 (2024.01); B64U 50/31 (2023.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 27/353 (2024.01) [B64U 50/31 (2023.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
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 at least one solar array; and
regulate and supply the received energy to the at least one battery based on a time of day;
wherein when the at least one battery is at or near capacity as the solar array is still capturing solar radiation, excess energy dissipated from the at least one solar array is configured to be transferred to at least one motor;
wherein the excess energy from the at least one motor is configured to ascend at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to a second altitude, 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.