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US 10,518,902 B2Granted
UAV capture system
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDavid C. Briggs, Corey A. Fleischer, Greg W. Klein, Adam M. Knabe, George Gregory Miller, Michael W. Poppek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A UAV capture system including a cable array comprising at least two laterally-spaced cables carried by a first cable support structure. Catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV are positioned to engage the cables when the UAV flies into them. A payout device pays out the engaged cables after they have been engaged by the UAV and a brake decelerates the UAV by resisting the pay out of the cables.
Claims13
A UAV capture system comprising:
- a first cable support structure;
- a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart;
- port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions;
- a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV;
- and
- a cable catch bar positioned for the cables of the first cable array to drape over the cable catch bar and suspend a captured UAV following UAV engagement.
3 more elements
A UAV capture system comprising:
- a first cable support structure;
- a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart, mid portions of the cables of the first cable array being supported between vertically-spaced upper and lower cable support arms of the first cable support structure such that the mid-portions of the cables of the first cable array are disposed in linear, vertical, parallel, spaced-apart orientations;
- port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions, the port and starboard catches being covered by frangible fairings shaped to a curvature of the UAV wing leading edges where the catches are located;
- and
- a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV.
2 more elements
A UAV capture system comprising:
- a first cable support structure;
- a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart;
- port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions;
- a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV;
- a landing pad positioned to receive and support the UAV as the cables of the first cable array pay out and diminish forward motion of the UAV;
- a second cable array that comprises a plurality of cables disposed below and in alignment with a flight path of the UAV to be captured and that are laterally spaced-apart from one another;
- a second cable array payout apparatus comprising a cable payout rod supported on the first cable support structure for rotation about a longitudinal rod axis and cables including windings that are wound around the payout rod prior to UAV engagement, and unwound from the payout rod as the cables of the second cable array pay out following UAV engagement of two or more cables of the second cable array.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.