Methods and apparatus for airborne systems

• US 20070029439A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Merems, Paul, Hill, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/7.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 19/02 Rotary-wing parachutes

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.

Claims

1. An airborne delivery system, comprising:

an unmanned container;

an unpowered rotor connected to the container;

a guidance system connected to the rotor, wherein the guidance system is configured to control a flight path of the delivery system.

2. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the guidance system is configured to control the flight path without significant forward thrust.

3. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a collapsible rotor.

4. An airborne delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the collapsible rotor is deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.

5. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a wing connected to the container.

6. An airborne delivery system according to claim 5, wherein the wing is deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.

7. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the container is detachable from the rotor.

8. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a fuselage, wherein rotor is connected to the container via the fuselage.

9. An airborne delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the fuselage comprises an aft section comprising a rudder and a stabilizing/elevator system.

10. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1, wherein:

the rotor comprises a control surface; and

the guidance system is connected to the control surface and controls the control surface.

11. An airborne delivery system for delivering an unmanned container, comprising:

a fuselage having a receptacle for receiving the unmanned container;

an unpowered rotor mounted on the fuselage, wherein the rotor includes a control surface; and

a guidance system connected to the rotor and configured to control the control surface to control a flight path of the delivery system.

12. An airborne delivery system according to claim 11, wherein the guidance system is configured to control the flight path without significant forward thrust.

13. An airborne delivery system according to claim 11, wherein the rotor comprises a collapsible rotor.

14. An airborne delivery system according to claim 13, wherein the collapsible rotor is deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.

15. An airborne delivery system according to claim 11, further comprising a wing connected to the fuselage.

16. An airborne delivery system according to claim 15, wherein the wing is deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.

17. An airborne delivery system according to claim 11, wherein the fuselage comprises an aft section comprising a rudder and a stabilizing elevator system.

18. A method for delivering a payload in an unmanned airborne delivery system, comprising:

launching the unmanned airborne delivery system into flight;

controlling a descent of the unmanned airborne delivery system using an unpowered rotor; and

guiding a flight path of the unmanned airborne delivery system using a guidance system connected to the rotor.

19. A method for delivering a payload according to claim 18, further comprising deploying the rotor from a stowable configuration to a deployed configuration.

20. A method for delivering a payload according to claim 19, wherein deploying the rotor from a stowable configuration to a deployed configuration occurs after launching the unmanned airborne delivery system into flight.

21. A method for delivering a payload according to claim 18, further comprising gliding the unmanned airborne delivery system along the flight path.

22. A method for delivering a payload according to claim 21, further comprising deploying a wing for gliding.