IP Library Granted Patent US 11,264,925
Granted Patent B2
US 11,264,925 · App. 14/179,418 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

Bi-stable, sub-commutated, direct-drive, sinusoidal motor controller for precision position control

Inventors: Michael Leonardi (Simi Valley, CA); William Nicoloff (Camarillo, CA)
Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
H02P6/10B60L15/20B60L2200/10B60L2220/16B60L2240/421B60L2240/423B60L2260/32Y02T10/64Y02T10/72
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,264,925
App. No.
14/179,418
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric motor controller system for modulating requested motor torque via oscillating the instantaneous torque, including a bi-stable torque controller; a proportional-integral (PI) velocity controller a proportional-integral-differential (PID) position controller; and sinusoidal zero-velocity table mapping.

Claims (13)

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sensor apparatus, comprising:

a UAV;

a direct-drive brushless motor coupled to a fuselage of the UAV, the direct-drive brushless motor providing one or more rotatable angular positions; and

a sensor coupled to the direct-drive brushless motor, wherein the sensor is rotatable based on the one or more rotatable angular positions provided by the direct-drive brushless motor during approach and landing with the ground and the sensor is rotated to a pre-determined position prior to landing, and wherein the direct-drive brushless motor is configured to freely rotate the sensor upon physical contact with the ground after landing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the direct-drive brushless motor is coupled to the UAV through a support.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is coupled to an exterior of the direct-drive brushless motor, wherein the direct-drive brushless motor is configured to rotate around an inner stator, and wherein the inner stator is fixed to the UAV through the support.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is coupled to an exterior of the direct-drive brushless motor, and wherein the direct-drive brushless motor is configured to rotate around an inner stator.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the inner stator is fixed to the UAV.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is rotatably driven by the direct-drive brushless motor without the benefit of reduction gears.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is rotatably driven by the direct-drive brushless motor upon the UAV approaching the ground.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is directly coupled to the direct-drive brushless motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more angular positions for landing provided by the direct-drive brushless motor to the sensor, comprise at least one of: a stowed rear-facing angular position for landing, a forward-facing angular position for landing, and a pre-determined position for landing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined position prior to landing is based on the sensor being away from an expected point of impact with the ground upon landing.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 19, 2021
From: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055343/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2016
From: NICOLOFF, WILLIAM
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 039263/0066 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2016
From: LEONARDI, MICHAEL
To: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 039061/0157 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2012050451 · Aug 10, 2012
Provisional Application 61523195 · Aug 12, 2011
Related Publication 20140312815A1 · Oct 23, 2014