SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOVERING AND CONTROLLING POST-RECOVERY MOTION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft, the system comprising:
- a base portion;
an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end, wherein the aircraft capture member has a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is generally flexible; and
an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft, the system comprising:
-
a base portion; an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end, wherein the aircraft capture member has a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is generally flexible; and an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight, the system comprising:
-
a base portion; means for capturing an aircraft attached to and extending away from the base portion, wherein the means for capturing an aircraft includes— a first end pivotably coupled to the base portion via a joint and a second, free end opposite the first end; and a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion, wherein the second portion is positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is generally flexible; and means for capturing and dissipating energy from the aircraft operably coupled to the means for capturing the aircraft, wherein the means for capturing and dissipating energy is positioned to receive at least a portion of the aircraft'"'"'s kinetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight, the method comprising:
-
flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept an elongated flexible rod having a first end movably coupled to a base portion in contact with a local support surface, and a second, free end opposite the first end, wherein the flexible rod has a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept the unmanned aircraft, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is generally flexible; and releasably capturing the aircraft with the flexible rod, wherein at least a portion of the flexible rod is configured to flex during capture in response to the landing forces from the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification