UAV recovery system

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system comprising:

• a capture net support assembly supportable by a support surface;
• a pneumatic capture net supported by the capture net support assembly, the pneumatic capture net comprising:
• a set of tubes;
• the tubes being flexible inflatable tubes placeable in deflated and inflated states;
• the tubes extending upwardly away from the support surface when in the inflated state;
• and
• the set of tubes having a width and a height, the width and height defining an impact area into which a UAV can be directed;
• and
• a plurality of decelerators, each decelerator comprising a supply of a restraint strap that can be pulled from the decelerator upon the application of a sufficient force, each restraint strap connected to the pneumatic net, whereby movement of the pneumatic net is resistible by forces exertable by the decelerators on the pneumatic net;
• whereby drag forces are exerted on a UAV by the set of tubes when the UAV flies into the impact area of the set of tubes.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system comprising:

• a capture net support assembly supportable by a support surface;
• a pneumatic capture net supported by the capture net support assembly, the pneumatic capture net comprising:
• a set of tubes;
• the tubes being flexible inflatable tubes placeable in deflated and inflated states;
• the tubes extending upwardly away from the support surface when in the inflated state;
• and
• the set of tubes having a width and a height, the width and height defining an impact area into which a UAV can be directed;
• and
• at least one decelerator comprising a supply of a restraint strap that can be pulled from the decelerator upon the application of a sufficient force, the restraint strap connected to the pneumatic net, whereby movement of the pneumatic net is resistible by forces exertable by the decelerator on the pneumatic net;
• a trigger assembly, the trigger assembly comprising a trigger net and a trigger line coupled to the trigger net, the trigger net positioned at the impact area;
• and
• said at least one decelerator placeable in a locked condition, at which the restraint strap for that decelerator is prevented from being pulled from the decelerator, and an unlocked, use condition, the at least one decelerator further comprising a releasable lock element operably connected to the trigger line so that engagement of the UAV with the trigger net causes the releasable lock element of said at least one decelerator to place the decelerator in the unlocked, use condition.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recovery system comprising:

• a base supportable by a support surface;
• a capture net support assembly;
• a pneumatic capture net supported by the capture net support assembly, the pneumatic capture net comprising:
• a row of tubes, the tubes having first, lower and second, for ends, the first ends of the tubes positioned towards the base;
• the tubes being flexible, compliant, inflatable tubes placeable in deflated and inflated states;
• the tubes extending upwardly away from the base when in the inflated state;
• and
• the first ends of the tubes being connected to one another by a lower connector and the second ends of the tubes being connected to one another by an upper connector;
• a source of pressurized gas coupleable to the pneumatic capture net to permit the pneumatic capture net to be placed in the inflated state;
• the pneumatic capture net having a width and a height, the width and height defining an impact area into which a UAV can be directed;
• a plurality of decelerators, each decelerator comprising a supply of the restraint strap that can be pulled from the decelerator upon the application of a sufficient force, each restraint strap connected to the pneumatic capture net, whereby movement of the pneumatic net is resistible by forces exertable by the decelerators on the pneumatic net;
• a trigger assembly, the trigger assembly comprising a trigger net and a trigger line coupled to the trigger net, the trigger net positioned at the impact area;
• and
• at least one of the decelerators placeable in a locked condition, at which the restraint strap for that decelerator is prevented from being pulled from the decelerator, and unlocked, use condition, the at least one decelerator comprising a releasable lock element operably connected to the trigger line so that engagement of the UAV with the trigger net causes the releasable lock element of said at least one decelerator to place the decelerator in the unlocked, use condition.