Cubic remote-pilot patent was maintained through March 2014
US6641087B1: 4-year fee 4 May 2007, 8-year fee 4 May 2011, expired 4 Nov 2015 for later non-payment. Continuation US10/684,316 abandoned 18 Jan 2007. IP interest retained; prototype/certification still OPEN.
Correction of an earlier over-read that treated continuation abandonment as Cubic walking away from the technology. Correct formulation: Cubic possessed and maintained a granted commercial-aircraft remote-piloting patent through the MH370 period. That still does not establish a prototype, FAA/DoD evaluation, airline installation, or 777 compatibility. Inventor Douglas G. Nelson. Cubic had separately demonstrated airborne Common Data Link on UAVs by 2009 — company competence, not this patent.
Sources
- USPTO legal events, US6641087B1
- US20040079837A1 / US10/684,316
Related
Cubic US6641087B1 — anti-hijack remote pilot
Commercial retrofit · satellite relay · cockpit exclusion
Cubic Defense anti-hijack remote-pilot patent granted
US6641087B1 · filed 9 Oct 2001 · granted 4 Nov 2003
External / uninterruptible autopilot on 9M-MRO
Engineering precedent exists. Installation on this airframe is not established.