IP Library Granted Patent US 12,593,128
Granted Patent B2
US 12,593,128 · App. 18/600,021 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Vibration damping gimbal sleeve for an aerial vehicle

Inventors: Noriaki Saika (Foster City, CA); Christopher Bramley Fruhauf (San Anselmo, CA); Daniel Francis Kennedy (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
H04N23/685B64U20/87F16C11/0695F16F13/007F16F15/022F16F15/067F16M11/06F16M11/10F16M11/123F16M11/18F16M11/2071F16M13/02F16M13/022G03B15/006G03B17/561H04N23/60B64U10/14B64U2101/30F16M2200/041F16M2200/044H04N5/77H04N7/185
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,593,128
App. No.
18/600,021
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aerial vehicle with a chassis; one or more dampers coupled to chassis; and a gimbal sleeve configured to couple to a gimbal of the aerial vehicle, the gimbal sleeve at least partially extending into the chassis, the gimbal sleeve comprising: a tube structured to couple with a gimbal connector of the gimbal, and an attachment mechanism configured to couple the tube to the chassis.

Claims (34)

1 . An aerial vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

a damping mechanism coupled to chassis, the damping mechanism comprising:

a gimbal sleeve configured to couple a gimbal to the aerial vehicle, the gimbal sleeve being connected to the chassis at connection points; and

springs connected to the gimbal sleeve that permit movement of the gimbal sleeve and the gimbal during movement of the aerial vehicle.

2 . The aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the springs permit movement of the damping mechanism and the gimbal relative to the chassis.

3 . The aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the gimbal sleeve comprises flanges that extend outward relative to the gimbal sleeve.

4 . The aerial vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the springs are in direct contact with the flanges.

5 . The aerial vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the chassis includes a ceiling surface and the flanges extend parallel to the ceiling surface.

6 . The aerial vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the flanges are free of direct contact with the chassis.

7 . The aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the damping mechanism includes a first side with two of the springs and a second side with two more of the springs.

8 . The aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the gimbal sleeve extends away from the chassis and connects with the gimbal.

9 . An aerial vehicle comprising:

a gimbal;

a chassis; and

a damping mechanism movably coupled to the chassis, the damping mechanism comprising:

a gimbal sleeve in communication with the gimbal to support the gimbal relative to the chassis; and

springs movably connected to the gimbal sleeve that permit movement of the gimbal sleeve and the gimbal relative to the chassis.

10 . The aerial vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the gimbal sleeve extends cantilever from the chassis.

11 . The aerial vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the gimbal sleeve has a first side and a second side with the springs in contact with the first side and the springs in contact with the second side.

12 . The aerial vehicle of claim 9 , wherein a first end of the damping mechanism is located adjacent to the chassis and a second end of the damping mechanism is spaced apart from the chassis relative to the first end.

13 . The aerial vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the gimbal is connected to the damping mechanism at the second end.

14 . The aerial vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the springs compress when the damping mechanism moves relative to the chassis.

15 . An aerial vehicle comprising:

a gimbal;

a chassis located at a forward end of the aerial vehicle and the gimbal being located forward of the chassis; and

a damping mechanism coupled to chassis to support the gimbal, the damping mechanism comprising:

a gimbal sleeve in communication with the chassis; and

springs movably connected to the gimbal sleeve so that the gimbal sleeve and the gimbal are movable relative to the chassis.

16 . The aerial vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the gimbal sleeve comprises flanges that extend outward relative to the gimbal sleeve.

17 . The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the springs are in direct contact with the flanges.

18 . The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the chassis includes a ceiling surface and the flanges extend parallel to the ceiling surface.

19 . The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the flanges are free of direct contact with the chassis.

20 . The aerial vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the gimbal sleeve extends cantilever from the chassis.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: GOPRO, INC.
To: SKYDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 069083/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2024
From: SAIKA, NORIAKI
To: GOPRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 068542/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2024
From: ALLOY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: GOPRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 068542/0975 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2024
From: FRUHAUF, CHRISTOPHER BRAMLEY; KENNEDY, DANIEL FRANCIS
To: ALLOY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 068920/0784 →