AIRCRAFT DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
First Claim
1. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) deployment and retrieval system comprising:
- an aircraft havinga grappling device, anda carousel adapted to receive and store a plurality of UAVs and positionable for deployment of a selected UAV,each UAV in said plurality of UAVs havinga hooking device adapted for engagement by the grappling device;
a mission controller receiving a mission requirement and selecting a respective one of said plurality of UAVs;
a carousel controller responsive to the mission controller for aligning the respective one UAV for deployment; and
,a grappling device controller responsive to the mission controller for retrieving a UAV with the grappling device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft system incorporates a first aircraft having a grappling device including a first gripper with a first actuator and a second gripper with a second actuator. The first gripper and the second gripper are movable between an open and a closed position to engage a hooking device and pivot together to change a capture angle. A first controller receives a command and operates the actuators in response to open and close the first and second grippers of the grappling device. The controller also receives a second command and operates the first and second actuators to pivot the grippers and provide grappling at a range of capture angles. A second aircraft, which may be a UAV, incorporates the hooking device. The hooking device includes a ring rotatable from the surface and a third actuator to rotate the ring between a stowed and an extended position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) deployment and retrieval system comprising:
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an aircraft having a grappling device, and a carousel adapted to receive and store a plurality of UAVs and positionable for deployment of a selected UAV, each UAV in said plurality of UAVs having a hooking device adapted for engagement by the grappling device; a mission controller receiving a mission requirement and selecting a respective one of said plurality of UAVs; a carousel controller responsive to the mission controller for aligning the respective one UAV for deployment; and
,a grappling device controller responsive to the mission controller for retrieving a UAV with the grappling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of deploying a selected UAV, the method comprising:
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receiving a command to deploy a UAV having a particular capability; selecting a UAV from a plurality of UAVs having the particular capability; and deploying the selected UAV. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification