Multicopter-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft

• US 10,183,741 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hood Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hood Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Roeseler, Corydon C., Woodruff, Caleb Andrew, Reiss, Daniel Pepin
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US15/431,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20170327211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/003 mounted on rotor hub, e.g. a rotary force generator
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/08 non-fixed, e.g. jettisonable
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/001 Vibration damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/26 characterised by provision of fixed wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/32 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/48 Root attachment to rotor head
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/00 Dropping, ejecting, releasing, or receiving articles, liquids, or the like, in flight with respect to weapon sights devices F41G takes precedence, parachutes per se B64D17/00; ejectable seats B64D25/10; ejectable capsules B64D25/12; refuelling during flight B64D39/00; launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles F41F1/00, F41F7/00; rocket or torpedo launchers F41F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 35/02 specially adapted for specific power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0295 aerodynamically or aerostatically supported, e.g. parafoil or balloon
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 : UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/67 : the UAVs comprising tethers for lowering the goods
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 : Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 : Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 : using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 : for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 : for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 : in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 : Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/687 : aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/68 : for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form

Abstract

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

Claims

1. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component;

a first power circuit including an operator actuatable switch switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect a power source to the component to power the component in an idle power mode to enable one or more pre-flight checks to be performed, wherein the first power circuit does not power the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit closable by an operator to electrically connect the power source to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.

2. The multicopter of claim 1, which includes the power source.

3. The multicopter of claim 2, wherein the power source includes two batteries.

4. The multicopter of claim 3, wherein the batteries are electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to enable a single charger electrically connectable to one of the batteries to charge both batteries.

5. The multicopter of claim 1, which includes the power source, wherein the power source includes two batteries, wherein the batteries are electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to enable a single charger electrically connectable to one of the batteries to charge both batteries, and wherein the gang circuit includes an automatically resetting circuit breaker.

6. The multicopter of claim 1, which includes one or more sensors, and wherein the component is communicatively connected to the one or more sensors to perform one or more multicopter status checks based on data received from the one or more sensors.

7. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component configured to perform a multicopter status check;

a first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the rotor motor, at least one of the first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the component;

a first power circuit including an operator actuatable switch switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the at least one of the first pair of batteries to the component to power the component in an idle power mode that enables one or more pre-flight checks to be performed, wherein the first power circuit does not power the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit closable by an operator to electrically connect the first pair of batteries to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.

8. The multicopter of claim 7, which includes a second pair of batteries.

9. The multicopter of claim 8, wherein the first pair of batteries is electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to the second pair of batteries to enable a single charger electrically connected to at least one of the batteries to charge all four batteries.

10. The multicopter of claim 7, which includes a second pair of batteries, wherein the first pair of batteries is electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to the second pair of batteries to enable a single charger electrically connected to at least one of the batteries to charge all four batteries, and wherein the gang circuit includes an automatically resetting circuit breaker.

11. The multicopter of claim 7, which includes one or more sensors, and wherein the component is communicatively connected to the one or more sensors to perform the multicopter status check based on data received from the one or more sensors.

12. A method of preparing a multicopter for launch, the method comprising:

responsive to an operator actuation of a switch, switching a first power circuit from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect a power source of the multicopter to an electrically powered component of the multicopter to power the component in an idle power mode that enables one or more pre-flight checks to be performed, wherein the first power circuit does not power a rotor motor of the multicopter; and

afterwards, responsive to the operator electrically connecting the power source to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor, enabling the rotor motor to operate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the multicopter includes a hub and multiple arms attachable to the hub, each arm including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein switching the first power circuit from the open state to the closed state electrically connects the power source to the component without electrically connecting the power source to the rotor motors.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the multicopter includes a hub and multiple arms attachable to the hub, each arm including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor, wherein switching the first power circuit from the open state to the closed state electrically connects the power source to the component without electrically connecting the power source to the rotor motors.

16. The method of claim 15, which includes, before the power source is electrically connected to the rotor motor, attaching the arms to the hub to electrically connect the arms to the hub so the rotor motors of the arms are electrically connectable to the power source.

17. The method of claim 16, which includes, before attaching the arms to the hub, mounting the hub to a fixed-wing aircraft.

18. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component;

a power source including two batteries, wherein the batteries are electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to enable a single charger electrically connectable to one of the batteries to charge both batteries;

a first power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the power source to the component to power the component without electrically connecting the power source to the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the power source to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.

19. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component;

a power source, wherein the power source includes two batteries electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to enable a single charger electrically connectable to one of the batteries to charge both batteries, and wherein the gang circuit includes an automatically resetting circuit breaker;

a first power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect a power source to the component to power the component without electrically connecting the power source to the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the power source to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.

20. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component configured to perform a multicopter status check;

a first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the rotor motor, at least one of the first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the component;

a second pair of batteries electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to the first pair of batteries to enable a single charger electrically connected to at least one of the batteries to charge all four batteries;

a first power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the at least one of the first pair of batteries to the component to power the component without powering the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the first pair of batteries to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.

21. A multicopter comprising:

multiple arms each including a rotor and a rotor motor drivingly engaged to the rotor;

an electrically powered component configured to perform a multicopter status check;

a first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the rotor motor, at least one of the first pair of batteries electrically connectable to the component;

a second pair of batteries, wherein the first pair of batteries is electrically connected in parallel via a gang circuit to the second pair of batteries to enable a single charger electrically connected to at least one of the batteries to charge all four batteries, and wherein the gang circuit includes an automatically resetting circuit breaker;

a first power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the at least one of the first pair of batteries to the component to power the component without powering the rotor motor; and

a second power circuit switchable from an open state to a closed state to electrically connect the first pair of batteries to the rotor motor to power the rotor motor.