Automated runway loop for aerial projectile
OwnerMichael Joseph Hicksinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated runway loop including a u-shaped runway, wherein the runway is configured to support an aerial projectile with the runway having a discharging end and a receiving end. The runway has a support attached to the runway and to a motor capable of extending and retracting the runway along an axis. At least one sensor is positioned along the runway and configured to provide at least one output indicative of at least one parameter of the aerial projectile. A computer is connected to the sensors and the motor, the computer controlling energization of the motor based at least in part on an indicated parameter of the aerial projectile, where the energization of the motor causes the aerial projectile to be discharged from one end of the runway and to be received at the other end of the runway.
Claims20
An automated runway loop for an aerial projectile, the automated runway loop comprising:
- a u-shaped runway, the runway having a bottom surface and a first end and a second end, the runway defining a path between the first end and the second end;
- the runway configured to support the aerial projectile, wherein the first end is configured for discharge of the aerial projectile and the second end is configured for receipt of the aerial projectile;
- a runway support attached to or integrally formed with the bottom surface of the runway;
- the runway support attached to or integrally formed with a motor, the motor capable of extending and retracting the runway support along an axis;
- at least one sensor positioned along the runway, the at least one sensor being configured to provide at least one output indicative of at least one parameter of the aerial projectile;
- a computer comprising a bus connected to a processor, an input device, a data storage device, an internal storage device, and an output device, wherein the computer is in operable communication with the motor and with the plurality of sensors;
- the computer being configured to control energization of the motor based at least in part on an indicated parameter of the aerial projectile;
- wherein the energization of the motor causes the aerial projectile to be discharged from the first end of the runway and to be received at the second end of the runway for continuous looping of the aerial projectile.
An automated runway loop for an aerial projectile, the automated runway loop comprising:
- a u-shaped runway, the runway having a bottom surface and a first end and a second end, the runway defining a path between the first end and the second end;
- the runway configured to support the aerial projectile, wherein the first end is configured for discharge of the aerial projectile and the second end is configured for receipt of the aerial projectile;
- a runway support attached to or integrally formed with the bottom surface of the runway;
- the runway support attached to or integrally formed with a motor, the motor capable of extending and retracting the runway support along an axis;
- at least one sensor positioned along the runway, the at least one sensor being configured to provide at least one output indicative of detection of the aerial projectile;
- a computer comprising a bus connected to a processor, an input device, a data storage device, an internal storage device, and an output device, wherein the computer is in operable communication with the motor and with the plurality of sensors;
- the computer being configured to control energization of the motor based on a time delay triggered by the detection of the aerial projectile, wherein the energization of the motor causes the aerial projectile to be discharged from the first end of the runway and to be received at the second end of the runway for continuous looping of the aerial projectile.
A method of looping an aerial projectile on a u-shaped automated runway loop, the runway loop having a first end and a second end and a bottom and sensors and configured for receiving the aerial projectile, the bottom mounted to a motor for applying force to the bottom, the method comprising:
- receiving the aerial projectile at the second end of the runway loop;
- sensing a parameter of the aerial projectile;
- driving the runway loop, with the motor, with a force sufficient to discharge the aerial projectile from the first end and to receive the aerial projectile at the second end in response to the sensed parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.