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US 7,677,491 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for airborne systems
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsPaul A. Merems, Randy W. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various representative aspects, an airborne delivery system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a container and an autorotating rotor system. The container may contain contents, and the rotor system facilitates control of at least a portion of the flight of the airborne system and the descent. Exemplary features may include a guidance system, for example to guide and control the airborne system, and a wing for gliding.
Claims10
An airborne delivery system, comprising:
- an unmanned container;
- an extendable mast connected to the unmanned container comprising a first end and a second end, wherein:
- the extendable mast is configured to transition from an undeployed position to a deployed position;
- the first end is pivotally connected to an exterior upper surface of the unmanned container;
- the second end is held proximate to the exterior upper surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the undeployed position;
- and
- the second end extends away from the exterior upper surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the deployed position;
- an unpowered rotor connected to the second end of the extendable mast, wherein the unpowered rotor is:
- held above to the upper exterior surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the undeployed position;
- and
- adapted to control the rate of descent of the airborne delivery system when the extendable mast is in the deployed position without a forward thrust component generated by a propulsion system connected to the delivery system;
- and
- a guidance system connected to the unpowered rotor, wherein the guidance system is configured to control a flight path of the delivery system to a predetermined target.
10 more elements
An airborne delivery system for autonomously delivering an unmanned container to a predetermined delivery location, comprising:
- a fuselage having an exterior bay conforming substantially to an outer dimension of the unmanned container for detachably receiving the unmanned container into the fuselage;
- an extendable mast comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally connected to an exterior upper surface of the fuselage;
- an unpowered rotor system having deployable blades mounted on the second end of the extendable mast, wherein the deployable blades:
- are in a folded position above the exterior upper surface of the fuselage prior to deployment;
- include a set of control surfaces adapted to directionally guide the unmanned airborne delivery system during flight;
- and
- are adapted to control the rate of descent of the airborne delivery system without a forward thrust component generated by a propulsion system connected to the airborne delivery system;
- a deployment system engaging the fuselage, extendable mast, and unpowered rotor system, wherein the deployment system:
- extends the second end of the extendable mast away from the exterior upper surface of the fuselage to a deployed position;
- and
- repositions the deployable blades into a flight position;
- and
- a guidance system connected to the unpowered rotor system and configured to control the set of control surfaces to control a flight path of the delivery system to the predetermined target delivery location.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.