Systems and devices for remotely operated unmanned aerial vehicle report-suppressing launcher with portable RF transparent launch tube

• US 10,124,909 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Miralles, Carlos Thomas, Su, Guan H, Andryukov, Alexander, McNeil, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US14/887,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20160039536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 89 113, 89 114, 244 49, 244 62, 244 63
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/06 using catapults
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/02 Composite barrels, i.e. barrels having multiple layers, e.g. of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 1/00 Launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles from barrels, e.g. cannons F41F3/00 takes precedence; Harpoon guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/14 Explosion or fire protection arrangements on packages or ammunition F42B39/20 and F42B39/24 take precedence; wall or panel structure of fireproof safes or storage containers E05G1/024

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube (100) that comprises at least one inner layer of prepreg substrate (370) disposed about a right parallelepiped aperture (305), at least one outer layer of prepreg substrate (380) disposed about the right parallelepiped aperture, and one or more structural panels (341-344) disposed between the at least one inner layer of prepreg substrate (340) and the at least one outer layer of prepreg substrate (380). An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube (100) that comprises a tethered sabot (700,740) configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot (700,740) dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall, and wherein the tethered sabot (700,740) is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether (740) attached within a hollow (910) of the sabot (700) and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume or attach to the inner base wall (1013). A system comprising a communication node (1500-1505) and a launcher (1520) comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a pre-launch state configured to receive and respond to command inputs from the communication node (1500-1505).

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a launcher having a launcher volume defined by a launcher wall, the launcher wall comprising a continuous radio-frequency (RF) permeable material;

a receiver disposed within the launcher volume, the receiver receiving wireless communication via one or more RF signals received wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state.

2. The system of claim 1, the receiver further comprising an RF antenna disposed within the launcher volume.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external communications node;

wherein the receiver is in communication with the external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to receive wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher one or more RF signals from the external communications node.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the one or more RF signals are selected from the group consisting of:

a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.

5. The system of claim 1, the launcher wall comprising at least one of:

a prepreg substrate, a para-aramid synthetic fiber, a poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, and balsawood.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume.

7. The system of claim 6, the UAV comprising the receiver.

8. The system of claim 7, the UAV further comprising a transmitter, the transmitter positioned to transmit wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state, one or more RF signals.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter disposed within the launcher volume, the transmitter positioned to transmit wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state, one or more RF signals.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a launch propulsion unit;

wherein the launch propulsion unit is disposed within the launcher volume, the launch propulsion unit comprising the receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more gas generating canisters;

wherein gas generated by the one or more gas generating canisters during a launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume is retained within the launcher volume after the launch of the UAV.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a membrane seal disposed over an open end of the launcher.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the membrane seal is a frangible film preventing outside elements from entering the launcher volume prior to launch.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a cap disposed over the membrane seal.

15. An article comprising:

a launcher having a launcher volume defined by a continuous launcher wall, the launcher wall having radio-frequency (RF) permeability;

a receiver disposed within the launcher volume, the receiver receiving wireless communication via one or more RF signals received wirelessly through the launcher wall;

a transmitter disposed within the launcher volume, the transmitter transmitting wireless communication via one or more RF signals transmitted wirelessly through the launcher wall; and

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume.

16. The article of claim 15, the receiver further comprising an RF antenna disposed within the launcher volume.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein the receiver is in communication with an external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to wirelessly receive one or more RF signals from the external communications node.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the one or more RF signals are selected from the group consisting of:

a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.

19. The article of claim 15, wherein the transmitter is in communication with an external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to wirelessly transmit one or more RF signals selected from the group consisting of:

a status of the UAV and a status of the launcher.

20. The article of claim 15, the launcher further comprising:

a membrane seal disposed over an open end of the launcher preventing outside elements from entering the launcher volume prior to launch.