IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,155,982
Granted Patent B2
US 12,155,982 · App. 18/233,952 · Granted Nov 26, 2024

Acoustic probe array for aircraft

Inventors: Keenan A. Wyrobek (Half Moon Bay, CA); Gavin K. Ananda Krishnan (San Carlos, CA); Brendan J. D. Wade (San Francisco, CA); Philip M. Green (Sunnyvale, CA); Thomas O. Teisberg (Menlo Park, CA); Rohit H. Sant (San Mateo, CA)
Assignee: Zipline International Inc.
H04R1/086H04R1/026H04R1/028H04R2410/07H04R2499/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,155,982
App. No.
18/233,952
Granted
Nov 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein is a sensor probe for association with a portion of an aircraft. The sensor probe includes a microphone assembly having a portion configured to receive audio signals. The sensor probe further includes a nosecone associated with the microphone assembly. The nosecone assembly is configured to shield the portion of the microphone assembly from noise generated by direct impact of an airflow for a plurality of local flow angles. In some examples, the nosecone includes a tip and a body portion, wherein a diameter of the body portion of the nosecone is smaller than a length of the nosecone and the nosecone is configured to mitigate drag of the sensor probe in an airflow. In some examples, the nosecone further includes a mount assembly downstream of the nosecone and positioned rearward of the tip and including a mount aperture in fluid communication within an external environment of the sensor probe and configured to direct airflow from the external environment rearward, the microphone positioned downstream of the mount assembly and secured in a perpendicular orientation relative to a direction of airflow exiting the mount aperture, and an acoustic corridor to transmit the audio signal extending from an opening at an external environment of the sensor probe to the microphone via the mount aperture, wherein the opening is defined by a side of the nosecone.

Claims (55)

1. An aerial vehicle comprising:

an aircraft sensor probe to detect an audio signal, the aircraft sensor probe comprising:

a nosecone including a tip and a body portion, wherein a diameter of the body portion of the nosecone is smaller than a length of the nosecone and the nosecone is configured to mitigate drag of the sensor probe in an airflow;

a mount assembly downstream of the nosecone and positioned rearward of the tip and including a mount aperture in fluid communication within an external environment of the sensor probe and configured to direct airflow from the external environment rearward;

a microphone positioned downstream of the mount assembly and secured in a perpendicular orientation relative to a direction of airflow exiting the mount aperture; and

an acoustic corridor to transmit the audio signal extending from an opening at an external environment of the sensor probe to the microphone via the mount aperture, wherein the opening is defined by a side of the nosecone.

2. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediary filtering media arranged between the external environment and the microphone.

3. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 2 , wherein the intermediary filtering media is a fabric.

4. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 2 , wherein the intermediary filtering media is porous.

5. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the nosecone comprises a hydrophobic material.

6. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible wiring harness electrically coupled to the microphone, wherein the flexible wiring harness electrically couples the microphone to the aerial vehicle.

7. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the microphone assembly mount is defined by a cylindrical and hollow body that is at least partially closed at one end, the mount aperture extending through the one end.

8. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 1 , further comprising:

an elongated member having a hollow interior extending from the aerial vehicle and coupled to the aircraft sensor probe;

wherein the elongated member dampens oscillation of the aircraft sensor probe relative to the aircraft.

9. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 8 , further comprising:

a nosecone mount coupled to a distal end of the nosecone, wherein a sealing element is positioned between the nosecone mount and the nosecone; and

wherein the nosecone mount is coupled to an end of the elongated member opposite the aerial vehicle.

10. An aircraft sensor probe to detect an audio signal comprising:

a nosecone including a tip and a body portion, wherein a diameter of the body portion of the nosecone is smaller than a length of the nosecone and the nosecone is configured to mitigate drag of the sensor probe in an airflow;

a mount assembly downstream of the nosecone defining a mount aperture extending therethrough;

an audio sensor coupled to the mount assembly and positioned rearward of the tip and downstream of the nosecone;

an acoustic corridor to transmit the audio signal extending from an external environment of the sensor probe to the audio sensor;

an opening defined by the nosecone and fluidly coupled with the acoustic corridor;

an intermediary media positioned at the acoustic corridor arranged between the nosecone and the audio sensor; and

wherein the sensor probe receives the airflow for a plurality of local flow angles and reduces noise from direct flow for the audio signal.

11. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 10 , wherein the mount assembly positions the audio sensor in a perpendicular orientation to a direction of the airflow encountered by the nosecone.

12. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 10 , wherein the opening is defined along an exterior of the nosecone.

13. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 10 , wherein the opening is configured reduce an impact of airflow to assist with noise reduction.

14. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 10 , wherein:

the intermediary media is a fabric; and

the intermediary media at least one of filters the airflow or selectively attenuates the audio signal.

15. The aircraft sensor probe of claim 10 , wherein the nosecone may guide the airflow along the nosecone to limit direct entry of the airflow into the acoustic corridor.

16. The aircraft sensor of claim 10 , wherein a direction or shape of the opening is configured to reduce an impact of airflow in certain directions to assist with noise reduction.

17. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage;

a first wing extending from the fuselage;

a second wing extending from the fuselage opposite the first wing;

a propeller; and

one or more sensor probes to detect an audio signal comprising:

a nosecone including a tip and a body portion, wherein the nosecone is configured to mitigate drag of the sensor probes in an airflow,

an audio sensor positioned rearward of the tip and downstream of the nosecone,

an acoustic corridor to transmit the audio signal extending from an opening at an external environment of the sensor probes to the audio sensor, and

a mount assembly downstream of the nosecone and defining a mount aperture extending therethrough, the microphone assembly mount coupled with the audio sensor.

18. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the one or more sensor probes further comprise:

an intermediary filtering media positioned at the acoustic corridor and arranged between the nosecone and the audio sensor, and

wherein the intermediary media is a fabric.

19. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein:

the one or more sensor probes include a first sensor probe and a second sensor probe;

the first sensor probe extends from a leading edge of the first wing; and

the second sensor probe extends from a leading edge of the second wing.

20. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein:

the audio sensor is positioned distal to the microphone mount; and

the mount aperture at least partially defines the acoustic corridor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071463/0888 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2023
From: WYROBEK, KEENAN A.; ANANDA KRISHNAN, GAVIN K.; WADE, BRENDAN J.D.; GREEN, PHILIP M.; TEISBERG, THOMAS O.; SANT, ROHIT H.
To: ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 064588/0363 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17138526 · Dec 30, 2020
Provisional Application 63082869 · Sep 24, 2020
Provisional Application 63021633 · May 7, 2020
Provisional Application 62984266 · Mar 2, 2020
Provisional Application 62955946 · Dec 31, 2019
Related Publication 20230396909A1 · Dec 7, 2023