SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR REMOTELY OPERATED UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE REPORT-SUPPRESSING LAUNCHER WITH PORTABLE RF TRANSPARENT LAUNCH TUBE

• US 20120001020A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Miralles, Carlos Thomas, Su, Guan H., Andryukov, Oleksandr, McNeil, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,187,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 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 that comprises a tethered sabot configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall, and wherein the tethered sabot is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the sabot and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume or attach to the inner base wall. A system comprising a communication node and a launcher comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a pre-launch state configured to receive and respond to command inputs from the communication node.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a structural element configured to engage an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the article dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the structural element is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the article and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume.

3. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube comprising:

a tethered sabot configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall.

4. The UAV launch tube of claim 3 wherein the tethered sabot is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the sabot and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume.

5. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:

a communications node; and

a launcher comprising a UAV configured to receive, in a pre-launch state, one or more command inputs from the communications node.

6. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein the UAV in a pre-launch state is further configured to transmit, to a communications node, UAV status data responsive to a received query signal.

7. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein an radio frequency (RF) antenna of the UAV is contained within the launcher volume.

8. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises a launch propulsion system configured to receive RF signals.