Unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) recovery system
First Claim
1. A UAV recovery system comprising:
- a recovery cart;
a guide mechanism for defining the path of the cart;
a base station including an arresting member for capturing a UAV tailhook;
a momentum transfer system driven by the inertia of the UAV through said arresting member to move the recovery cart along the guide mechanism away from said base station in the same direction as the UAV;
an acceleration control device for converging the speeds and positions of the UAV and cart for enabling engagement of the cart and UAV as their relative speed approaches zero; and
a brake system for stopping the recovery cart when the cart and UAV are engaged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A UAV recovery system including a recovery cart; a guide mechanism for defining the path of the cart; a base station for capturing a UAV tailhook; a momentum transfer system driven by the inertia of the UAV through the arresting member to move the recovery cart along the guide mechanism away from the base station in the same direction as the UAV; an acceleration control device for converging the speeds and positions of the UAV and cart for enabling engagement of the cart and UAV as their relative speeds approach zero; and a brake system for stopping the recovery cart when the cart and UAV are engaged. Also disclosed is a UAV having a tailhook pivotably mounted on the UAV at the center of gravity of the UAV.
53 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A UAV recovery system comprising:
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a recovery cart; a guide mechanism for defining the path of the cart; a base station including an arresting member for capturing a UAV tailhook; a momentum transfer system driven by the inertia of the UAV through said arresting member to move the recovery cart along the guide mechanism away from said base station in the same direction as the UAV; an acceleration control device for converging the speeds and positions of the UAV and cart for enabling engagement of the cart and UAV as their relative speed approaches zero; and a brake system for stopping the recovery cart when the cart and UAV are engaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A UAV system including a UAV and a UAV recovery system comprising:
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a UAV having a tailhook pivotably mounted on said UAV at the center of gravity of said UAV; a recovery cart; a guide mechanism for defining the path of the cart; a base station including an arresting member for capturing a UAV tailhook; a momentum transfer system driven by the inertia of the UAV through said arresting member to move the recovery cart along the guide mechanism away from said base station in the same direction as the UAV; an acceleration control device for converging the speeds and positions of the UAV and cart for enabling engagement of the cart and UAV as their relative speeds approach zero; and a brake system for stopping the recovery cart when the cart and UAV are engaged.
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Specification