Device for storing and remotely launching unmanned aerial vehicles
AssigneeFLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems AS
InventorsErik Falk-Petersen, Martin Krafft, Jan Tronsdal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.
Claims20
A system for storing and launching aerial vehicles comprising:
- a housing having a plurality of recesses formed in the housing;
- and
- a plurality of removable cassettes, each cassette adapted to fit securely into one of the plurality of recesses and comprising:
- a cassette housing having a top portion with an opening formed in the top portion;
- a cradle adapted to hold an aerial vehicle;
- and
- an arm having a first end attached to the cradle and a second end rotatably coupled to the cassette housing, the arm operable to move the cradle between a storage position wherein the cradle is positioned inside the cassette housing, and a launch position wherein the arm extends through the opening, positioning the cradle outside of the cassette housing and enabling the aerial vehicle to launch.
A system for storing and launching a plurality of aerial vehicles comprising:
- a launch device adapted for mounting on an exterior surface of a ground vehicle, the launch device comprising a launch mechanism operable to move an aerial vehicle between a storage position inside the launch device and a launch position outside the launch device;
- and
- an operator terminal communicably coupled to the launch device and operable to control the launch mechanism;
- wherein the launch device further comprises a plurality of launch mechanisms, each of the plurality of launch mechanisms independently operable to move a corresponding one of a plurality of aerial vehicles between the storage position inside the launch device and the launch position outside the launch device;
- and a plurality of cassettes, each of the plurality of cassettes adapted for insertion into the launch device;
- and wherein each of the plurality of cassettes houses a corresponding one of the plurality of launch mechanisms.
A method for storing and launching aerial vehicles comprising:
- storing a first aerial vehicle in a first storage position in a first enclosure of a launch device, wherein storing comprises:
- cradling the first aerial vehicle in a first cassette by positioning the first aerial vehicle on a first cradle, and activating release arms on the first cradle to hold the first aerial vehicle on the first cradle, wherein the first cradle is coupled to the first cassette at a first hinge point, and coupled to an actuator assembly at a second hinge point;
- inserting the first cassette into the first enclosure of the launch device;
- electrically coupling the first aerial vehicle to the launch device;
- and
- moving the first aerial vehicle into a first launch position by activating the actuator assembly to open a first lid of the first cassette and move the first aerial vehicle into the first launch position by pivoting the first cradle around the first hinge point, wherein the first aerial vehicle is positioned outside of the first enclosure of the launch device;
- and
- deactivating the release arms on the first cradle to release the first aerial vehicle for flight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.