Systems and Methods for Autonomous Operations of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
First Claim
1. A system for launching and recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
- a boom having a first end and a second end, wherein;
the boom comprises a plurality of faces, each face being disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boom, andthe boom is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof to orient each face to an operational orientation in accordance with a corresponding operation of the boom, and wherein the operation comprises at least one of launching, snagging, and securing the unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomous or remote-controlled operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”). An integrated mechanical and electrical system is capable of launching, controlling, snagging, recovering, securing, parking, and servicing UAVs without human intervention at the site of the system. The illustrative embodiment comprises a boom and a container that houses the boom and UAV(s). The boom rotates about its longitudinal axis to operationally orient a plurality of faces thereof. Each face is associated with certain system operations, including but not limited to: launching a UAV, snagging a UAV from the air, and securing a UAV to the boom.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system for launching and recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
a boom having a first end and a second end, wherein; the boom comprises a plurality of faces, each face being disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boom, and the boom is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof to orient each face to an operational orientation in accordance with a corresponding operation of the boom, and wherein the operation comprises at least one of launching, snagging, and securing the unmanned aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for launching and recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising:
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a boom having a first end and a second end, wherein; the boom comprises a plurality of faces, each face being disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boom, and the boom is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof; and a container that is dimensioned and arranged to receive the boom and the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein; the first end of the boom is pivotably coupled to the interior of the container, and the boom is operable to pivot about the first end, and the container comprises a hatchway that is dimensioned and arranged to enable the second end of the boom and the unmanned aerial vehicle to egress from and ingress into the container. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
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pivoting a boom about a first end thereof, causing the boom to move between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the deployed position, the boom performs at least two operations related to the unmanned aerial vehicle; partially rotating the boom about a longitudinal axis thereof to move one face of a plurality of faces of the boom to an operational orientation, wherein one operation of the at least two operations is performed when the one face is in the operational orientation; and conducting the one operation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification