Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft, including extendable capture devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
- a support structure having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first and second portions being axially extendable relative to the other between a first position and a second position;
a flexible recovery line carried by the second portion of the support structure, wherein the recovery line is spaced apart from a point on the first portion of the support structure by a first distance when the at least one of the first and second portions is in the first position, and wherein the recovery line is spaced apart from the point on the first portion of the support structure by a second distance greater than the first distance when the at least one of the first and second portions is in the second position; and
an axially extendable resilient member coupled to the recovery line, the resilient member being positioned to extend when tension is applied to the recovery line and retract when the tension is reduced.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies. A tension device coupled to the recovery line can absorb forces associated with the impact of the aircraft and the recovery line.
156 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a support structure having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first and second portions being axially extendable relative to the other between a first position and a second position; a flexible recovery line carried by the second portion of the support structure, wherein the recovery line is spaced apart from a point on the first portion of the support structure by a first distance when the at least one of the first and second portions is in the first position, and wherein the recovery line is spaced apart from the point on the first portion of the support structure by a second distance greater than the first distance when the at least one of the first and second portions is in the second position; and an axially extendable resilient member coupled to the recovery line, the resilient member being positioned to extend when tension is applied to the recovery line and retract when the tension is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. The apparatus of claim wherein the support structure includes an extendable boom, with the at least one of the first and second portions being telescopically received in the other portion.
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12. An apparatus for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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an extendable boom, the boom having a proximal end and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, wherein the boom is extendable along a longitudinal axis from a retracted position to an extended position; a flexible recovery line suspendable from the boom when the boom is in the extended position, the recovery line being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the recovery line in the deployed position extends at least generally downward; and an axially extendable resilient member coupled to the recovery line, the resilient member being positioned to extend when tension is applied to the recovery line and retract when the tension is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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support means having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first and second portions being axially extendable relative to the other between a first position and a second position; recovery means for intercepting and capturing an unmanned aircraft in flight, wherein the recovery means is carried by the support means; and tension means operatively coupled to the recovery means, wherein the tension means is configured extend when tension is applied to the recovery line and retract when the tension is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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moving a first portion of a single boom relative to a second portion of the single boom to increase the length of the single boom; deploying a flexible recovery line from the single boom; flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept the flexible recovery line in flight; and releasably capturing the aircraft in flight with the recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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moving a first portion of a single extendable boom relative to a second portion of the single extendable boom to increase the length of the boom; deploying a flexible recovery line from the second portion of the single extendable boom, wherein the recovery line is suspended at least generally in a downward direction from the boom; flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept the flexible recovery line in flight; releasably capturing the aircraft in flight with the recovery line; and retrieving the aircraft from the flexible recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification