Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods
AssigneeInsitu, Inc.
InventorsBrian D. Dennis, Jacob Allen, Jeffrey Paul Alldredge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for lofting a payload includes directing a lifting device upward, releasing a parachute from the lifting device, with the parachute carrying a pulley and having a flexible line passing around the pulley. The flexible line is connected between a tension device (e.g., a winch) and the payload. The method further includes activating the tension device to reel in the flexible line and accelerate the payload upwardly.
Claims20
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, comprising:
- a first support configured to be carried by a first ground vehicle;
- a second support configured to be carried by a second ground vehicle;
- a carriage track couplable to the first and second supports;
- a carriage moveable along the carriage track;
- and
- a capture line attached to the carriage and configured to engage with a corresponding engagement element carried by a UAV.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, comprising:
- a first support configured to be carried by a first ground vehicle, the first support including a first upright portion and a first boom portion;
- a second support configured to be carried by a second ground vehicle, the second support including a second upright portion and a second boom portion;
- a carriage track couplable to the first and second boom portions;
- a carriage moveable along the carriage track;
- and
- a capture line attached to the carriage and configured to engage with a corresponding engagement element carried by a UAV.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.