CubePilot World, a number one proponent of open-source autopilot {hardware} and software program for the drone trade, right this moment introduced a major step in its mission to foster innovation and collaboration: the formal initiation of an ex parte reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 8,328,128, associated to coaxial drone expertise.This motion follows CubePilot World’s unsuccessful try to accumulate the patent to launch it to the general public area throughout Nordic Unmanned’s latest chapter proceedings.
The patent in query, US 8,328,128, originated from a global patent utility (PCT/DE2007/000592) filed on 31 March 2007 by Burkhard Wiggerich of AirRobot GmbH & Co. KG, protects multirotor drones utilizing a number of coaxial, counter-rotating propeller items for autonomous flight management.
Its possession lately transitioned to Nordic Unmanned Holding AS following the chapter of Nordic Unmanned ASA, which had beforehand acquired AirRobot in October 2021.
AirRobot and its property, excluding this patent, have been subsequently acquired by Quantum-Programs GmbH in March 2025.
“We firmly consider that foundational drone applied sciences ought to be accessible to all, driving collective progress somewhat than stifling it by way of proprietary management,” acknowledged Philip Rowse for CubePilot World.“Our preliminary bid to accumulate and open-source this patent throughout the chapter course of was a direct reflection of this philosophy. Whereas that try was unsuccessful, our dedication to open innovation stays unwavering.”
The formal reexamination request, filed with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on 12 Could 2025 by CubePilot, challenges the patent’s validity on grounds of obviousness. CubePilot contends that the claims of the patent weren’t novel in gentle of in depth prior artwork, together with however not restricted to:
•ES 2268941A1
•US 2006/0226281A1
•US 2006/016930A1
•US 7,712,701B1
•JP 2002370696A
•DE 102005010336A1
•DE 202005004698U1
•US 3,053,480•GB 617290
•KR 200414580Y1
•JP 1992060297U
•WO 2008/000203A1 (the unique PCT utility by Wiggerich)
Business commentators have beforehand questioned the novelty of AirRobot’s invention, pointing to the lengthy historical past of coaxial rotor expertise, together with Henry Brilliant’s 1859 patent and the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH drones from the Sixties. This reexamination seeks a proper overview of those historic precedents to find out if the patent claims have been certainly apparent in gentle of prior artwork.“
The precept of coaxial rotors has existed for nicely over a century, with vital theoretical and experimental analysis documented over the previous half-century, notably in NASA Technical Paper 3675 from 1997. Claiming a elementary invention of coaxial rotors right this moment is a major overstatement,” the spokesperson added.CubePilot World stays open to dialogue with the present controlling entity of the patent Knut Roar Wiig’s, Nordic Unmanned.
“Our provide to accumulate this patent to dedicate it to the general public area nonetheless stands. We urge Nordic Unmanned to think about the immense advantages of an open-source strategy for the broader drone neighborhood, which might undoubtedly speed up developments and increase the marketplace for everybody concerned, somewhat than pursuing restrictive enforcement methods that stifle innovation,” the spokesperson concluded.
CubePilot World’s ongoing efforts underscore the strain between proprietary mental property and the rising demand for open requirements and shared technological foundations throughout the quickly evolving unmanned techniques trade.
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