UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE LAUNCHING AND LANDING SYSTEM

• US 20090224097A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Inventors: Kariv, Amnon
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/63
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/027 using net or mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/06 using catapults
• 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 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for landing UAV'"'"'s. The system comprises a slingshot structure that includes arm based structure and an axis means installed along the arm of the structure and wherein it enables the arm to move around it in addition, the system comprises base means connecting the axis means to a platform at which the system is installable. The system also include a controlled pulling and braking means that connects between the arm of the structure and the platform upon which the system is installable and a stretchable elastic means installed in a stretched manner at a gap formed between two arms and set to connect with a landing UAV. At the landing phase, the controlled pulling and braking means of the system, essentially breaks the motion of the arm based structure that is propelled to revolve around the system'"'"'s axis means, from a time that the UAV forms contact with the elastic means and with it propels the structure to move around the axis means.

Claims

1. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, that comprises:

a slingshot structure that includes a pair of rotatable arms; and

an axis means installed at the end of each of said arms of said structure and wherein it enables said rotatable arms to move around it; and

base means connecting said axis means to a platform at which said system is installable; and

a controlled pulling and braking means that connects between lower end of said arms of said structure and said platform upon which said system is installable; and

a stretchable elastic means installed in a stretched manner at a gap between said pair of arms and set to connect with a landing UAV; and

wherein

at said landing phase, said controlled pulling and braking means essentially brakes the motion of said arms of said structure that is propelled to revolve around said system'"'"'s axis means, from a time that said UAV forms contact with said elastic means and with it propels said structure to move around said axis means.

2. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said platform is a vessel and said slingshot structure is deployable across the vessel deck.

3. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said system comprises in addition:

a cushion means to be served as the landing UAV final arresting means.

4. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, that comprises:

a slingshot structure that includes a central arm; and

an axis means installed along said central arm of said structure and wherein it enables said central arm to move around it; and

base means connecting said axis means to a platform at which said system is installable; and

a controlled pulling and braking means that connects between lower end of said central arm of said structure and said platform upon which said system is installable; and

an assembly, essentially formed as a substantially Y shape part that is installable unto said top end of said central arm of said structure; and

a stretchable elastic means installed in a stretched manner at a gap between the two arms of said assembly and set to connect with a landing UAV; and

wherein;

at said landing phase, said controlled pulling and braking means essentially brakes the motion of said central arm of said structure that is propelled to revolve around said system'"'"'s axis means, from a time that said UAV forms contact with said elastic means and with it propels said structure to move around said axis means.

5. A system for landing UAV'"'"'S, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said system is a dual use system—

a single (one) same system, with only minor changes that can be performed at the launching site, serves both for landing said UAV'"'"'s and for landing them;

said Y shape assembly is installable in a detachable manner unto said top end of said central arm of said structure and is detached from said top end of said central arm of said structure before operating the system in its landing UAV'"'"'s mode; and

wherein;

in the course of operating the system in its landing UAV'"'"'s mode, the system includes in addition;

a carriage means that is installed in a dismountable manner on an upper end of said central arm of said structure and to said carriage means the UAV intended to be launched is detachably connected; and

whereby;

in said course of launching, said controlled pulling and braking means pulls said central arm of said structure and propels the structure into a rotational movement around said axis means, in a manner such that said carriage means imparts a velocity to the UAV that is coupled to it, in a direction that is tangential to the rotational movement of the structure and of such a magnitude that it enables at least severing the UAV from the carriage means and it takes off to the air.

6. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said arms of said assembly, wherein between its arms said stretchable elastic means is installed, include—

each one of them, a bendable elastic sector upon stretching said elastic means that is connected to it.

7. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein its include in addition:

a damping and braking means coupled to said elastic means.

8. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said structure includes at least one component that is telescopic in its design, in a manner that enables to reduce the dimensions of said structure at instances that said system is found neither at its launching nor at its landing enabling modes.

9. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said base means includes a telescopic component in a manner that enables to reduce the dimensions of said system at instances that said system is found neither at its launching nor at its landing enabling modes.

10. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said stretchable elastic means constitutes an arresting cable.

11. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said connecting act of said arresting cable with said UAV is executed at times of said landing, through using a hook device that protrudes from said UAV and its opening is essentially directed towards its flight'"'"'s direction and is suited by its dimensions to lead said arresting cable into it, and a springy lockable arrangement in said hook device insures that from an instant said arresting cable was caught in said hook device, it cannot be set free from it, except subject to releasing said springy lock.

12. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said stretchable elastic means constitutes an arresting net.

13. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said system includes in addition;

braking and damping means that is integrative with said axis means in a manner that during said landing mode it breaks and damps said movement of said structure around said axis means.

14. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said braking and damping means is a viscous type of a damper.

15. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said controlled pulling and braking means comprises;

a propelled winch means; and

a cable that is connected on its one end to said winch means and on its second end to said lower end of said central arm of said structure, in such a manner that during said landing mode operation, said cable brakes said motion of said central arm of said structure.

16. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said winch means is propelled by action of an electrical engine or pneumatic or hydraulic power or by a spring loaded mechanism.

17. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said system comprises in addition;

a balancing means installed at said lower end of said central arm of said structure, so that

at instances that said system is not found at its landing enabling mode, said structure can be balanced manually, in a manner that enables to reduce the height dimensions of said system and provides easy access to said top end of said central arm of said structure.

18. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said base means comprises;

a stage that enables to stabilize said system relative to movements of said platform on which it is installed, at least in one degree of freedom.

19. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said base means is positioned over an axis that can be subjected to a controlled driven motion that enables driving said base means in a plane opposing the movement plane of said axial means; and

wherein;

said axial means is also subjectable to a controlled driven motion, so that

said system is stabilizeable in two degrees of freedom.

20. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said system includes in addition;

a homing means in order to lead said UAV towards said elastic means.

21. A system for landing UAV'"'"'s, in accordance with claim 20, wherein:

said homing means includes an aerial installable opposite facing said gap between said arms of said assembly.