IP Library Granted Patent US 10,532,815
Granted Patent B1
US 10,532,815 · App. 16/418,171 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Two vehicle transportation system

Inventors: Sebastian Thrun (Los Altos Hills, CA); Damon Vander Lind (Alameda, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64D5/00B64C29/0091B64C37/02B64D11/06B64F1/362H01M2/1083H01M10/425B64D27/24B64D2221/00H01M2010/4271H01M2220/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,532,815
App. No.
16/418,171
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A first and a second aircraft are detachably coupled where the first aircraft is configured to perform a vertical landing using a first battery while the first aircraft is unoccupied and the unoccupied first aircraft includes the first battery. In response to detecting a second, removable battery being detachably coupled to the first aircraft, a power source for the first aircraft is switched from the first battery to the second, removable battery. After the switch, the first aircraft takes off vertically using the second, removable battery while occupied. The detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft are flown using the second aircraft (the power to keep the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft airborne comes exclusively from the second aircraft and not the first aircraft).

Claims (69)

1. A system, comprising:

a first battery in a first aircraft; and

a connector in the first aircraft which is configured to:

detachably couple the first aircraft and a second aircraft, wherein the first aircraft is configured to:

perform a vertical landing of the first aircraft using the first battery, wherein:

the first aircraft is unoccupied when the vertical landing is performed;

the unoccupied first aircraft includes the first battery; and

the unoccupied first aircraft excludes a second, removable battery;

detect the second, removable battery being detachably coupled to the first aircraft;

in response to detecting the second, removable battery being detachably coupled to the first aircraft, the first aircraft switches from drawing power from the first battery to drawing power from the second, removable battery; and

after switching from drawing power from the first battery to drawing power from the second, removable battery, the first aircraft performs a vertical takeoff using the second, removable battery, wherein the first aircraft is occupied when the vertical takeoff is performed;

tow the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft using the second aircraft, such that power to keep the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft airborne comes exclusively from the second aircraft and not the first aircraft; and

decouple the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are detachably coupled, the second aircraft is flown in a manner which causes the first aircraft to swing; and

while the first aircraft is swinging, the second aircraft is flown in a manner which deposits the first aircraft on the ground.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the first aircraft further includes one or more of the following: a seat, a compartment for an occupant to stand in, a cockpit, a bicycle-style seat, a backless seat, or a saddle.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the first aircraft further includes a seat and the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the aircraft beneath the seat.

5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the first aircraft further includes a compartment for an occupant to stand in and the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the aircraft above the compartment.

6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the first aircraft performs the vertical landing onto a docking station that enforces a single proper landing position for the first aircraft; and

the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the first aircraft using the docking station.

7. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the first aircraft performs the vertical landing onto a docking station that enforces a single proper landing position for the first aircraft and has an inwardly sloping side; and

the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the first aircraft using the docking station.

8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the second, removable battery includes two shoulder straps.

9. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the second, removable battery includes a telescoping handle and a plurality of wheels.

10. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the second, removable battery includes a male electrical plug with a retractable cord which is covered by a cap.

11. A method, comprising:

detachably coupling a first aircraft and a second aircraft, wherein the first aircraft is configured to:

perform a vertical landing of the first aircraft using a first battery, wherein:

the first aircraft is unoccupied when the vertical landing is performed;

the unoccupied first aircraft includes the first battery; and

the unoccupied first aircraft excludes a second, removable battery;

detect the second, removable battery being detachably coupled to the first aircraft;

in response to detecting the second, removable battery being detachably coupled to the first aircraft, the first aircraft switches from drawing power from the first battery to drawing power from the second, removable battery; and

after switching from drawing power from the first battery to drawing power from the second, removable battery, the first aircraft performs a vertical takeoff using the second, removable battery, wherein the first aircraft is occupied when the vertical takeoff is performed;

towing the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft using the second aircraft, such that power to keep the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft airborne comes exclusively from the second aircraft and not the first aircraft; and

decoupling the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

12. A system, comprising:

a first battery in a first aircraft; and

a connector in the first aircraft which is configured to:

detachably couple the first aircraft and a second aircraft, wherein the first aircraft is configured to:

perform a vertical landing of the first aircraft using a second, removable battery, wherein:

the first aircraft is occupied when the vertical landing is performed; and

the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the occupied first aircraft;

detect the second, removable battery being decoupled from the first aircraft;

in response to detecting the second, removable battery being decoupled from the first aircraft, the first aircraft switches from drawing power from the second, removable battery to drawing power from the first battery; and

after switching from drawing power from the second, removable battery to drawing power from the first battery, the first aircraft performs a vertical takeoff using the first battery, wherein:

the first aircraft is unoccupied when the vertical takeoff is performed;

the unoccupied first aircraft includes the first battery; and

the unoccupied first aircraft excludes the second, removable battery;

tow the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft using the second aircraft, such that power to keep the detachably coupled first aircraft and second aircraft airborne comes exclusively from the second aircraft and not the first aircraft; and

decouple the first aircraft and the second aircraft.

13. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein:

while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are detachably coupled, the second aircraft is flown in a manner which causes the first aircraft to swing; and

while the first aircraft is swinging, the second aircraft is flown in a manner which deposits the first aircraft on the ground.

14. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the first aircraft further includes one or more of the following: a seat, a compartment for an occupant to stand in, a cockpit, a bicycle-style seat, a backless seat, or a saddle.

15. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the first aircraft further includes a seat and the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the first aircraft beneath the seat.

16. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the first aircraft further includes a compartment for an occupant to stand in and the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the aircraft above the compartment.

17. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein:

the first aircraft performs the vertical landing onto a docking station that enforces a single proper landing position for the first aircraft; and

the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the first aircraft using the docking station.

18. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein:

the first aircraft performs the vertical landing onto a docking station that enforces a single proper landing position for the first aircraft and has an inwardly sloping side; and

the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the first aircraft using the docking station.

19. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the second, removable battery includes two shoulder straps.

20. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the second, removable battery includes a telescoping handle and a plurality of wheels.

21. The system recited in claim 12 , wherein the second, removable battery includes a male electrical plug with a retractable cord which is covered by a cap.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2023
From: ONE AERO, LLC
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063713/0367 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 059503/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058029/0610 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 054206/0714 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2019
From: THRUN, SEBASTIAN; VANDER LIND, DAMON
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050056/0633 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62684906 · Jun 14, 2018
Cited By (4)
US 12,211,391 US 12,420,921 US 12,492,549 US 12,589,861