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 cassette apparatus comprising:
- a cassette housing having a top portion with an opening formed in the top portion;
- a cradle adapted to hold an aerial vehicle;
- 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;
- and
- a lid adapted to cover the opening in the storage position, wherein movement of the cradle from the storage position to the launch position causes the cradle to engage the lid to either separate the lid from the cassette housing or causes the lid to rotate while being attached to the lid housing as the cradle is slidably engaged with the lid along cradle slides.
A method comprising:
- moving an arm coupled to a cradle and to a cassette housing of a cassette apparatus, the cradle holding an aerial vehicle, the arm being moved between a storage position wherein the cradle is positioned inside the cassette housing, and a launch position wherein the arm extends through an opening of the cassette housing, the cradle being positioned outside of the cassette housing in the launch position and inside the cassette housing in the storage position;
- wherein the cradle is engaged with a lid that covers the opening in the storage position but not in the launch position, such that the lid is either spaced from the cassette housing in the launch position or is rotatably coupled to the cassette housing and slidably engaged with the lid via cradle slides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.