MULTICOPTER-ASSISTED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVING A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multicopter comprising:
- multiple arms each having a longitudinal axis;
a hub base to which the arms are attachable, wherein a first plane passes through the hub base and includes the longitudinal axes of the arms when the arms are attached to the hub base; and
a saddle attached to the hub base, wherein a second plane passes through the saddle, wherein part of the saddle is movable relative to the hub base to vary an angle formed between the second plane and the first plane.
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
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20 Claims
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1. A multicopter comprising:
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multiple arms each having a longitudinal axis; a hub base to which the arms are attachable, wherein a first plane passes through the hub base and includes the longitudinal axes of the arms when the arms are attached to the hub base; and a saddle attached to the hub base, wherein a second plane passes through the saddle, wherein part of the saddle is movable relative to the hub base to vary an angle formed between the second plane and the first plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multicopter comprising:
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a hub base; multiple arms each having a longitudinal axis and each being removably attachable to the hub base, wherein a first plane passes through the hub base and generally includes the longitudinal axes of the arms when the arms are attached to the hub base; and a saddle having a first portion attached to the hub base and a second portion pivotably attached to the first portion, wherein a second plane passes through the second portion of the saddle, the second portion being pivotable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position to vary an angle formed between the second plane and the first plane. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for preparing a multicopter for flight, the method comprising:
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attaching multiple arms to a hub base of the multicopter; pivoting part of a saddle relative to the hub base to establish a desired angle between a plane passing through the hub base and a plane passing through the saddle, wherein the plane passing through the hub base generally includes longitudinal axes of the arms; and locking the part of the saddle relative to the hub base. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification