# US 11,111,019 B2 · System and method for capturing and releasing fixed-wing aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,019 B2 - Document ID: US11111019B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/780,582 - Filed: 2017-12-11 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-13 - Assignees: Ryan Evaristo Pinto - Applicants: Ryan Evaristo Pinto - Inventors: Ryan Evaristo Pinto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111019B2 ## CPC - B64D 5/00: Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight - B64D 9/00: Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like - B64U 10/13: Flying platforms - B64U 20/77: the body being formed integrally with wings or rotor supports - B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports - B64C 37/02: Flying units formed by separate aircraft (towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00) - B64D 39/00: Refuelling during flight - B64U 50/19: using electrically powered motors - B64U 70/20: for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - B64U 2201/104: using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract A capture-and-release aircraft for capturing and releasing fixed-wing aircraft is provided. The capture-and-release aircraft comprises a frame to which is secured a set of rotor units. Each rotor unit has a rotor with a rotation axis, the rotation axes of the rotors being generally parallel. A set of aircraft engagement members is also secured to the frame that can align with a set of anchors of a fixed-wing aircraft to releasably couple with the anchors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capture-and-release aircraft for capturing and releasing a fixed-wing aircraft, comprising: a frame; a set of at least three rotor units secured to the frame, each of the at least three rotor units being configured to generate vertical lift; and a set of at least three aircraft engagement members secured to the frame, each of the at least three aircraft engagement members comprising: an anchor-capture device configured to releasably couple to a corresponding one of a set of anchors of a fixed-wing aircraft, and an articulating arm coupled to the anchor-capture device and controllable to move the anchor-capture device relative to the frame through at least two dimensions to align the anchor-capture device with the corresponding one of the set of anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft, a first and a second of the at least three aircraft engagement members being spaced laterally to position the first of the at least three aircraft engagement members towards a first wing of the fixed-wing aircraft to engage the corresponding one of the set of anchors positioned on the first wing, and a second of the at least three aircraft engagement members towards a second wing of the fixed-wing aircraft on an opposite lateral side of the fixed-wing aircraft from the first wing to engage the corresponding one of the set of anchors positioned on the second wing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the capture-release aircraft further comprises a refueling hose extendable towards a fuel receptacle of the fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 1, wherein a third of the at least three aircraft engagement members is spaced longitudinally in a fore or aft direction from at least one of the first and the second of the at least three aircraft engagement members to engage the corresponding one of the set of anchors that is spaced longitudinally in a fore or aft direction from at least one of the corresponding ones of the set of anchors to which the first and the second aircraft engagement members releasably couple. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 3, wherein each of the aircraft engagement members comprises a proximity sensor for detecting an engageable position of the corresponding one of the set of anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 3, wherein the capture-and-release aircraft further comprises a cargo, battery, fuel cell, and/or passenger hold secured to the frame, and wherein each of the aircraft engagement members further comprises at least one motor that, when the anchor-capture devices are coupled to the anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft, can move the cargo, battery, fuel cell, and/or passenger hold between a first position in which the cargo, battery, fuel cell and/or passenger hold is spaced from the fixed-wing aircraft and a second position in which the cargo, battery, fuel cell, and/or passenger hold is adjacent or within the fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 3, wherein each of the anchor-capture devices comprises an anchor receptacle in which one of the anchors is received. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 3, wherein each of the aircraft engagement members further comprises at least one sensor for detecting an alignment of the anchor-capture device coupled to the articulating arm of the aircraft engagement member with the corresponding one of the set of anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft, and wherein the capture-and-release aircraft further comprises a guidance system coupled to the each of the articulating arm and the at least one sensor to align the anchor-capture device with the corresponding one of the set of anchors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 7, wherein each of the anchor-capture devices comprises an anchor receptacle in which one of the anchors is received. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one optical sensor positioned on an inner surface of the anchor receptacle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one optical sensor positioned on an outer surface of the anchor receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one optical sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 11, wherein the at least one optical sensor is positioned on the anchor-capture device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 11, wherein the guidance system processes data from the at least one sensor to detect an optical pattern one of on or adjacent to the corresponding one of the set of anchors to facilitate detection of the alignment of the anchor-capture devices with the anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 13, wherein the optical pattern comprises a light-emitting beacon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 13, wherein the optical pattern comprises a pattern of demarcations on a surface of the anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The capture-and-release aircraft according to claim 13, wherein the optical pattern comprises a pattern of demarcations on a surface of the fixed-wing aircraft adjacent the anchors of the fixed-wing aircraft.