DCT

1:26-cv-22128

Asylon Inc v. Hextronics LLC

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I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information

  • Parties & Counsel:
  • Case Identification: 1:26-cv-22128, S.D. Fla., 06/30/2026
  • Venue Allegations: Venue is alleged to be proper in the Southern District of Florida because the defendant, Hextronics, has its principal place of business in the district and has allegedly committed acts of infringement there.
  • Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges that Defendant's automated drone-in-a-box docking stations infringe two patents related to methods for autonomously swapping power supplies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
  • Technical Context: The technology addresses a key limitation in commercial drone operations-limited flight time due to battery capacity-by automating the battery exchange process within a self-contained ground station.
  • Key Procedural History: The complaint details pre-suit interactions, including a notice letter sent by Asylon to Hextronics on January 23, 2024, identifying the '859 Patent. Following Hextronics' acknowledgment, a second notice letter was sent on August 18, 2025, identifying both asserted patents. The parties held a claims-focused meeting on October 9, 2025, after which licensing discussions were allegedly unsuccessful. This history forms the basis for the complaint's allegations of willful and induced infringement.

Case Timeline

Date Event
2015-10-05 Priority Date for '859 and '403 Patents
2022-05-03 '859 Patent Issued
2024-01-23 Asylon sent first notice letter to Hextronics regarding patent portfolio
2024-01-31 Hextronics acknowledged receipt of notice letter
2024-07-09 '403 Patent Issued
2025-08-18 Asylon sent second notice letter to Hextronics identifying both Asserted Patents
2025-10-09 Parties held claims-focused meeting
2026-06-30 Complaint Filed

II. Technology and Patent(s)-in-Suit Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 11,318,859 - Methods for Reconfigurable Power Exchange for Multiple UAV Types

  • Issued: May 3, 2022 Compl. ¶11

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent's background section identifies that the primary limitation for commercial UAVs is battery life, which necessitates manual power system exchanges and requires a "man in the loop for every flight," thereby hindering widespread autonomous deployment '859 Patent, col. 1:22-33
  • The Patented Solution: The invention describes a "Reconfigurable Power Station" (RPS) that automates the entire power-swapping process. The system uses markers on a landing pad to guide a UAV to a precise landing, after which a mechanical swapping mechanism, often involving a vertical elevator, removes the depleted power cartridge, retrieves a fully charged one from a storage bay, and inserts it into the UAV, which is then cleared for takeoff '859 Patent, abstract '859 Patent, col. 2:18-30
  • Technical Importance: By automating the battery swap, the invention enables persistent, long-range, and truly autonomous UAV operations, which is critical for commercial applications like infrastructure inspection and security monitoring '859 Patent, col. 1:15-19

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint asserts independent claims 1 and 11 Compl. ¶22 Compl. ¶31
  • Independent Claim 1 is a method claim comprising the key steps of:
    • transmitting signals to a UAV via markers on a landing zone;
    • determining the orientation of the UAV after it has landed;
    • removing a first "swap cartridge" from the UAV using a "swapping adaptor" on a "vertical elevator system";
    • obtaining a second swap cartridge from "symmetrically aligned" receiving bays and lifting it into alignment with the UAV;
    • advancing the second cartridge into the UAV; and
    • transmitting a take-off clearance signal after a preflight check.
  • Independent Claim 11 is a similar method claim that begins with "receiving a UAV upon a landing zone" and includes steps for removing, obtaining, and advancing cartridges using a vertical elevator system before "clearing the UAV for take-off."
  • The complaint reserves the right to assert additional claims Compl. ¶22

U.S. Patent No. 12,030,403 - Methods for Reconfigurable Power Exchange for Multiple UAV Types

  • Issued: July 9, 2024 Compl. ¶8

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: As a continuation of the application leading to the '859 Patent, the '403 Patent addresses the same problem: limited UAV operational range due to battery life and the inefficiency of manual battery swaps '403 Patent, col. 1:24-33
  • The Patented Solution: The patent describes a nearly identical Reconfigurable Power Station (RPS) that automates the UAV landing, power cartridge exchange, and relaunch process. The solution centers on a ground station with a guided landing system, modular power bays, and a mechanical transfer system to perform the swap without human intervention '403 Patent, abstract '403 Patent, col. 2:18-30
  • Technical Importance: The technology is presented as a key enabler for the commercial realization and widespread use of autonomous UAVs by solving the battery-life bottleneck '403 Patent, col. 1:30-33

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint asserts independent claims 1 and 11 Compl. ¶38 Compl. ¶47
  • Independent Claim 1 is a method claim that is highly similar to Claim 1 of the '859 Patent, but notably omits the "determining an orientation" step. Its key steps include:
    • transmitting signals to a UAV via markers;
    • receiving the UAV upon the landing zone;
    • removing a first swap cartridge via a swapping adaptor on a vertical elevator system;
    • obtaining and lifting a second swap cartridge from symmetrically aligned receiving bays;
    • advancing the second cartridge into the UAV; and
    • transmitting a clearance signal for take-off.
  • Independent Claim 11 is another method claim that recites steps for receiving the UAV, removing a first cartridge, obtaining a second from symmetrically aligned bays, and advancing it into the UAV's housing.
  • The complaint reserves the right to assert additional claims Compl. ¶38

III. The Accused Instrumentality

Product Identification

  • The accused instrumentalities are Defendant's "Universal CS" and "Atlas" products, which are described as "drone-in-a-box" or "RPS products" Compl. ¶22

Functionality and Market Context

  • The complaint alleges that the Accused Products are automated drone stations that provide a landing zone enabling precise, autonomous landing for UAVs Compl. ¶25 The complaint includes a screenshot from a promotional video showing a UAV landing on a pad with a distinct visual marker, which is alleged to facilitate this landing Compl. ¶25
  • Functionally, the products are alleged to perform a sequence that mirrors the patented methods: they conduct "post-flight checks" after landing, use a "battery swapping mechanism with a vertical elevator system" to exchange batteries, store multiple batteries in internal bays, and run "preflight checks" before clearing the UAV for its next mission Compl. ¶26 Compl. ¶27 Compl. ¶30
  • The complaint positions these products as direct competitors in the market for autonomous drone infrastructure, using Asylon's patented technology Compl. ¶15

IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations

'859 Patent Infringement Allegations

Claim Element (from Independent Claim 1) Alleged Infringing Functionality Complaint Citation Patent Citation
transmitting one or more signals to a UAV via one or more markers or emitters when the UAV is in proximity to a landing zone located on a reconfigurable power station (RPS); The Hextronics Universal CS product provides a landing zone with a visual marker that enables a drone to "precisely land." A screenshot shows a QR-code-like marker on the landing pad. ¶25 col. 2:34-42
determining an orientation of the UAV relative to the landing zone after the UAV has landed; The accused system performs "post flight checks to ensure that the drone has arrived safely on the landing zone." ¶26 col. 2:42-44
removing a first swap cartridge from the UAV via a swapping adaptor which is positionable upon a vertical elevator system from within the RPS and lowering the first swap cartridge into the RPS; The system includes a "battery-swapping mechanism with a vertical elevator system" that removes the depleted battery. An annotated video screenshot depicts this mechanical action. ¶27 col. 2:44-48
obtaining a second swap cartridge via the swapping adaptor from one or more receiving bays...and lifting the second swap cartridge...into alignment with a swap cartridge receptacle...wherein each of the one or more receiving bays are aligned symmetrically relative to one another in a fixed position...; The system comprises up to four batteries in receiving bays that are swapped via the elevator system. An image from a user guide shows the symmetrically aligned battery bays. ¶28 col. 12:41-47
advancing the second swap cartridge along the swapping adaptor such that the second swap cartridge is transferred into the housing on the UAV; and The system uses its battery swapping mechanism and vertical elevator to install the new battery into the UAV. ¶29 col. 12:51-54
transmitting a clearance signal for take-off to the UAV via the RPS upon completion of a preflight check of the UAV. The system runs a preflight check (e.g., cameras, propellers, battery) before UAV deployment and then transmits a clearance signal. ¶30 col. 12:55-58
  • Identified Points of Contention:
    • Scope Question: A potential dispute may arise over the claim term "determining an orientation of the UAV." The complaint alleges this is met by "post-flight checks" Compl. ¶26 A court may need to decide if a general safety or status check satisfies this limitation, or if the patent requires a more specific measurement of the UAV's physical orientation (e.g., yaw, roll) to ensure precise alignment for the mechanical swap.
    • Technical Question: The complaint provides a screenshot of the accused system's user interface showing four battery slots Compl. ¶28 The infringement analysis will likely require evidence beyond this image to determine if the receiving bays are "aligned symmetrically relative to one another in a fixed position relative to the RPS" in the specific manner required by the claim.

'403 Patent Infringement Allegations

Claim Element (from Independent Claim 1) Alleged Infringing Functionality Complaint Citation Patent Citation
transmitting one or more signals to a UAV via one or more markers or emitters when the UAV is in proximity to a landing zone... The Hextronics product uses an "autonomous landing algorithm" and provides a landing zone for precise landing, supported by a screenshot of a visual marker on the landing pad. ¶41 col. 2:40-43
receiving the UAV upon the landing zone; The accused product receives the UAV on its landing zone. This is supported by a screenshot captioned "Monitor precision landing routine." ¶42 col. 2:22-24
removing a first swap cartridge from the UAV via a swapping adaptor which is positionable upon a vertical elevator system... The system's "battery-swapping mechanism" on a vertical elevator removes the first battery cartridge from the UAV and lowers it into the station. ¶43 col. 2:45-48
obtaining a second swap cartridge via the swapping adaptor from one or more receiving bays...lifting the second swap cartridge...into alignment with a swap cartridge receptacle...wherein each of the one or more receiving bays are aligned symmetrically relative to one another... The product obtains a new battery from its symmetrically aligned receiving bays using the vertical elevator system. An image from a quick start guide depicts the aligned bays. ¶44 col. 11:36-41
advancing the second swap cartridge along the swapping adaptor such that the second swap cartridge is transferred into the housing on the UAV; and The system's vertical elevator and swapping mechanism transfers the second battery into the UAV housing. A screenshot shows a "Swap Battery" command in the user interface. ¶45 col. 11:42-45
transmitting a clearance signal for take-off to the UAV via the RPS upon completion of a preflight check of the UAV. The product performs preflight checks (cameras, propellers, etc.) before deployment and transmits a clearance signal for take-off. ¶46 col. 11:46-50
  • Identified Points of Contention:
    • Scope Question: Unlike Claim 1 of the '859 Patent, this claim does not include the "determining an orientation" step. This omission may simplify the plaintiff's burden of proof, as the potential dispute over that term's meaning is not present for this claim.
    • Technical Question: The complaint re-uses the same evidentiary screenshots for both patents Compl. ¶¶41-46 A key question for the court will be whether the high-level marketing videos and user guide images provide sufficient technical detail to establish that the accused system's operational sequence and mechanical components practice every step of the claimed method.

V. Key Claim Terms for Construction

  • The Term: "swapping adaptor" '859 Patent, claim 1(c) '403 Patent, claim 1(c)

    • Context and Importance: This term defines the core mechanical component that physically manipulates the battery cartridges. The infringement case hinges on whether the accused "battery-swapping mechanism" Compl. ¶27 falls within the scope of this term. Practitioners may focus on this term because its definition will determine if a broad range of mechanical manipulators are covered or only a more specific structure.
    • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
      • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The specification refers to the component generally as part of a "universal swap cartridge swapping mechanism" configured for manipulating SCs '859 Patent, col. 3:58-61 This language could support construing "swapping adaptor" to mean any mechanism that performs the function of moving the cartridges.
      • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: Figure 3B of the patents depicts a specific "SC swapping adapter 302" as a distinct cradle-like component that holds the cartridge and is moved by the larger system. A defendant may argue that the term should be limited to a structure resembling this specific embodiment, rather than the entire elevator and arm assembly.

  • The Term: "determining an orientation of the UAV" '859 Patent, claim 1(b)

    • Context and Importance: This step occurs after landing and before the battery swap. Its interpretation is critical because the complaint alleges it is met by the accused product's general "post-flight checks" Compl. ¶26, an assertion that may be contested.
    • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
      • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The claim language is broad, simply requiring the "orientation" to be determined "after the UAV has landed." Plaintiff may argue this covers any process that confirms the UAV is positioned correctly for a safe swap, which could include the accused system's post-flight safety checks.
      • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: The patent specification suggests a more precise function. The system block diagram includes a "UIS Location System" (272 in FIG. 2B), and the method flowchart shows a step to "RPS positions PC into a nominal position" '859 Patent, FIG. 4A, box 424 This suggests the step involves actively locating the UAV's swap port for precise mechanical engagement, a potentially narrower function than a general "post-flight check."

VI. Other Allegations

  • Indirect Infringement: The complaint alleges induced infringement for both patents, asserting that Hextronics had knowledge of the patents via notice letters and intended for its customers to infringe by providing them with the Accused Products along with instructional materials (Compl. ¶59; Compl. ¶60; Compl. ¶61; Compl. ¶62). The evidence cited for intent includes Hextronics' "Quick Start Guides," user manuals, and training videos that allegedly instruct users to perform the patented methods Compl. ¶61 Compl. ¶76
  • Willful Infringement: Willfulness is alleged based on Hextronics' purported knowledge of the patents as of at least January 2024 for the '859 Patent and August 2025 for the '403 Patent Compl. ¶17 Compl. ¶70 The complaint alleges that despite this notice and subsequent licensing discussions, Hextronics continued its infringing activities, characterizing the actions as "deliberate and malicious" Compl. ¶55 Compl. ¶70

VII. Analyst's Conclusion: Key Questions for the Case

  • A core issue will be one of definitional scope: can the term "determining an orientation of the UAV," as required in the '859 patent, be construed to cover the accused product's general "post-flight checks," or does the patent's intrinsic evidence limit the term to a more precise, active measurement of the drone's position for mechanical alignment?
  • A key evidentiary question will be one of functional correspondence: does the evidence presented-primarily marketing videos and user guide screenshots-provide sufficient technical detail to prove that the accused system's "vertical elevator system" and "battery swapping mechanism" perform the multi-step process of removing, lowering, lifting, and advancing battery cartridges in the specific sequence and manner required by the asserted claims?
  • The case will also turn on questions of knowledge and intent: given the detailed pre-suit notice and subsequent communications alleged in the complaint, did Hextronics' continued commercialization of its "Universal CS" and "Atlas" products rise to the level of willful infringement, potentially justifying an award of enhanced damages?
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