# US 11,299,264 B2 · Multicopter-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a 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 11,299,264 B2 - Document ID: US11299264B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/906,339 - Filed: 2020-06-19 - Published: 2020-10-22 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-02 - Assignees: Hood Technology Corporation - Applicants: Hood Technology Corporation - Inventors: Corydon C. Roeseler; Daniel Pepin Reiss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299264B2 ## CPC - B64F 1/029: {using a cable or tether} - B64C 11/48: Units of two or more coaxial propellers - B64C 25/10: retractable, foldable, or the like - B64C 27/26: characterised by provision of fixed wings - B64C 27/32: Rotors - B64D 3/00: Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed - B64D 5/00: Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight - B64F 1/0295: {aerodynamically or aerostatically supported, e.g. parafoil or balloon} - B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters - B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) - B64U 20/70: Constructional aspects of the UAV body - B64U 30/24: Coaxial rotors - B64U 30/29: Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof - B64U 50/23: with each propulsion means having an individual motor - B64U 60/40: foldable or retractable - B64U 60/50: with landing legs - B64U 70/20: for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft - B64U 70/30: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net - B64U 80/50: the UAVs being disassembled - B64D 2221/00: Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft - B64U 20/94: of rotors or rotor motors - B64U 80/70: in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence) - B64U 80/82: Airborne vehicles - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - 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 ## Abstract The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multicopter comprising: a hub; a fixed-wing aircraft engager extending from the hub; multiple arms attachable to the hub, each arm including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor; and one or more vertical stabilizers configured to orient the multicopter into airflow about the yaw axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers include a fin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers include a plurality of spaced apart fins. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers also function as rear landing gear of the multicopter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft engager is configured to releasably engage a fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft engager is configured to releasably engage a fixed-wing aircraft, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers are configured to provide yaw stability to the multicopter during forward movement at a predetermined altitude, and wherein the fixed-wing aircraft engager is configured to release the fixed-wing aircraft into free wingborne flight with a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft aligned with airflow in the direction of forward movement of the multicopter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The multicopter of claim 6, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers are fin-shaped rear landing gear of the multicopter. ### Claim 8 A method of launching a fixed-wing aircraft comprising: releasably engaging a fixed-wing aircraft to a fixed-wing aircraft engager of a multicopter; ascending the combined multicopter and fixed-wing aircraft to a predetermined height; achieving, by the combined multicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, forward airspeed with yaw stability provided by one or more vertical stabilizers of the multicopter; and releasing the fixed-wing aircraft into free wingborne flight, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft is aligned with airflow around the combined multicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers include a fin, and which includes achieving the forward airspeed with yaw stability provided by the fin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers include a plurality of spaced apart fins, and which includes achieving the forward airspeed with yaw stability provided by the plurality of spaced apart fins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers function as rear landing gear of the multicopter, and which includes achieving the forward airspeed with yaw stability provided by the rear landing gear of the multicopter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more vertical stabilizers are fin-shaped rear landing gear of the multicopter, and which includes achieving the forward airspeed with yaw stability provided by the fin-shaped rear landing gear of the multicopter. ### Claim 13 A multicopter comprising: a hub; a fixed-wing aircraft engager extending from the hub; four arms attachable to the hub, each arm including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor; a first vertical stabilizer attached to a first arm of the four arms; and a second vertical stabilizer attached to a second arm of the four arms, wherein the first and second vertical stabilizers are configured to orient the multicopter into airflow about the yaw axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multicopter of claim 13, wherein: a first end of the first arm is attached to the hub, and a second end of the first arm is attached to the first vertical stabilizer, and a first end of the second arm is attached to the hub, and a second end of the second arm is attached to the second vertical stabilizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The multicopter of claim 13, which includes a first leg attached to a third arm of the four arms; and a second leg attached to the fourth arm of the four arms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The multicopter of claim 15, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth arms are positioned relative to the hub such that during forward movement of the multicopter, the first and second vertical stabilizers are configured to orient the multicopter into airflow such that the first and second vertical stabilizers are at a rear of the multicopter, and the first and second legs are at a front of the multicopter.