APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED LAUNCH, RETRIEVAL, AND SERVICING OF A HOVERING AIRCRAFT

• US 20160114906A1
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Inventors: McGeer, Brian T., Gauksheim, Kristoffer, Engbersen, Rutger, Crafts, Andrew, Baxter, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,414,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/10 with means for moving the UAV to a supply or launch location, e.g. robotic arms or carousels
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft is provided. The apparatus includes a line which is elevatable while maintaining a principally horizontal axis. For retrieval, the aircraft translates principally spanwise over the line, following a path which is principally horizontal and normal to the line. At an appropriate moment, the line is elevated and contacts the aircraft'"'"'s wing. As the aircraft continues translating, the line slides along the wing until captured in a cleat. The aircraft is then stably tethered in hover, and its position can be manipulated by articulating the line, such as to guide the aircraft into a docking station. For launch the aircraft lifts itself into hover while tethered to the line. Articulation of the line guides the aircraft into a launch position, at which point the line is disconnected from the cleat, thereby releasing the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:

(a) flying the aircraft along a path that crosses above a line of an aircraft retrieval apparatus, wherein said path is principally horizontal, principally parallel to a spanwise fixture of the aircraft, and principally normal to a longitudinal axis of the line;

(b) elevating the line as the aircraft crosses above the line such that the line contacts the spanwise fixture;

(c) capturing the line with a capture device of the aircraft, the line being movable relative to a base of the aircraft retrieval apparatus such that, after the capture device of the aircraft captures the line, movement of the line relative to the base moves the aircraft relative to the base; and

(d) thereafter, moving the line such that the aircraft is guided to a landing position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the line includes moving the line in azimuth, elevation, or radius relative to the base.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the line such that said aircraft is guided to the landing position includes moving the line such that the aircraft is guided into a docking station in which the aircraft can be parked.

4. The method of claim 3, which includes servicing the aircraft after the aircraft has been received in the docking station by at least one selected from the group consisting of:

starting an engine of the aircraft, fueling the aircraft, and connecting the aircraft to an electrical supply.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the line is supported by a boom, and which includes elevating the line by pivoting the boom upward.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the line is a pole.

7. The method of claim 1, which is performed automatically.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spanwise fixture is a wing and which includes elevating the line as the aircraft crosses above the line such that the line contacts a trailing edge of the wing.

9. A method for launching an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:

(a) lifting-off the aircraft into hovering flight while a capture device of the aircraft is engaged to a line of an aircraft launch apparatus;

(b) moving the line such that the aircraft is guided into a launch position; and

(c) disengaging the capture device of the aircraft from the line such that the aircraft is released into free thrust-borne flight.

10. The method of claim 9, which is performed automatically.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes estimating, by a controller, power required for free thrust-borne flight from measurements made while the capture device of the aircraft is engaged to the line.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein disengaging the capture device of the aircraft from the line includes translating the line normal to a longitudinal axis of the line with acceleration greater than said aircraft can follow.

13. A method for retrieving an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight and for launching the aircraft into free thrust-borne flight, the method comprising:

(a) retrieving the aircraft from free thrust-borne flight by;

(1) elevating a line of an aircraft retrieval and launch apparatus such that the line contacts a spanwise fixture of the aircraft as the aircraft crosses over the line;

(2) capturing the line with a capture device of the aircraft; and

(3) moving the line such that the aircraft is guided to a landing position; and

(b) launching the aircraft into free thrust-borne flight by;

(1) moving the line such that the aircraft is guided to a launch position; and

(2) disengaging the capture device of the aircraft from the line such that the aircraft is released into free thrust-borne flight.

14. An apparatus for retrieving an aircraft from free thrust-borne flight and for launching the aircraft into free thrust-borne flight, said apparatus comprising:

a base; and

a line elevatable relative to the base such that the line can contact a spanwise fixture of the aircraft from below as the aircraft crosses over the line, and can slide along the spanwise fixture until captured by a capture device on the spanwise fixture.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said spanwise fixture is a wing of the aircraft.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the capture device is a cleat into which the line is configured to slide.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the line is movable relative to the base such that when said aircraft is attached to the line by the capture device, a position of the aircraft relative to the base can be manipulated by moving the line in azimuth, elevation, or radius relative to the base.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, which includes a docking fixture in which said aircraft can be parked and serviced.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the docking fixture is configured to service the aircraft by at least one selected from the group consisting of:

staring an engine of the aircraft, fueling the aircraft, and connecting the aircraft to an electrical supply.