Kevin A Jenkins

US Patent:

20140371956, Dec 18, 2014

Filed:

Jun 13, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/916901

Inventors:

- Irvine CA, US
Kevin M. Jenkins - Huntington Beach CA, US

International Classification:

B64D 3/00
B63B 21/56
B60P 3/00

US Classification:

701 3, 701 1

Abstract:

An actual position of a load tethered with a tether to a vehicle is determined using a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle. A required tether tension and required tether angle of the tether is determined to move the load from the actual position to a commanded position. An actual tether tension and actual tether angle of the tether is determined using the plurality of sensors. A determination is made as to a thrust vector to be applied by the vehicle to change the actual tether tension and the actual tether angle of the tether to the required tether tension and the required tether angle. The thrust vector is applied with the vehicle to reposition the vehicle to achieve the required tether angle and to create the required tether tension of the tether to move the load to the commanded position.