Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles
AssigneeAdvanced Aerospace Technologies, Inc.
InventorWilliam R. McDonnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).
Claims17
A method of recovering an aircraft, said method comprising
- flying said aircraft in wing-borne flight into contact with an arrestment line;
- the arrestment line being more nearly vertical than horizontal, the arrestment line being supported by support structure, the support structure being supported by the earth or by a boat or ship,
- said aircraft having a capturing device for capturing an arrestment line, said capturing device comprising a hook portion positioned laterally of a longitudinal axis of said aircraft, said hook portion being adapted to secure said arrestment line to said aircraft during recovery and enable release thereof, said aircraft containing structure suitable for deflecting said line laterally into engagement with said hook, said structure comprising a leading edge of a wing of said aircraft,
- mechanically securing said arrestment line with said hook part during recovery;
- and
- thereafter releasing said arrestment line from said hook;
- said method further comprising reducing vertical motion of the arrestment line relative to said aircraft following contact between said aircraft and said line.
(canceled)
A method of recovering an aircraft, said method comprising
- providing an arrestment line;
- providing said aircraft with a capturing device for capturing said arrestment line, said capturing device comprising a hook positioned laterally of a longitudinal axis of said aircraft, said hook being adapted to releasably secure said line to said aircraft, said aircraft containing structure suitable for deflecting said line laterally into engagement with said hook, said structure comprising a wing of said aircraft,
- said method further comprising reducing the vertical motion of the arrestment line relative to said aircraft during arrestment, wherein reducing the vertical motion of said arrestment line during arrestment comprises placing balanced shock absorbing mechanisms above and below the point of capture of said aircraft.
A method of recovering an aircraft, said method comprising
- flying said aircraft in wing-borne flight into contact with an arrestment line,
- the arrestment line being more nearly vertical than horizontal, the arrestment line being supported by a support structure, the support structure being supported by the earth or by a boat or ship,
- said aircraft having a capturing device for capturing said arrestment line, said capturing device comprising a hook portion positioned laterally of a longitudinal axis of said aircraft, said hook portion being adapted to secure said line to said aircraft during recovery and enable release thereof,
- said aircraft containing structure suitable for deflecting said line laterally into engagement with said hook, said structure comprising a leading edge of a wing of said aircraft, the capture device and structure being configured to cooperate to deflect the arrestment line laterally into engagement with the hook portion;
- and
- reducing the vertical motion of the arrestment line relative to said aircraft following contact between said aircraft with said line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.