Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for transmitting forces to the aircraft during launch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
- a launch guide structure having a launch axis;
a launch carriage movably carried by the launch guide structure for movement along the launch axis, the launch carriage being configured to releasably carry an unmanned aircraft during takeoff;
an energy reservoir configured to provide energy to the launch carriage to accelerate the launch carriage with a generally constant force and receive energy from the launch carriage to decelerate the launch carriage; and
a transmission coupled between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage to transmit energy between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. A launch carriage is positioned on a launch guide structure of the boom and carries the aircraft during takeoff. An energy reservoir is configured to provide energy to the launch carriage during takeoff of the aircraft, and can absorb energy from the launch carriage to decelerate the launch carriage after takeoff. The apparatus can further include a transmission that smoothly and rapidly accelerates and/or decelerates the launch carriage.
139 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a launch guide structure having a launch axis; a launch carriage movably carried by the launch guide structure for movement along the launch axis, the launch carriage being configured to releasably carry an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; an energy reservoir configured to provide energy to the launch carriage to accelerate the launch carriage with a generally constant force and receive energy from the launch carriage to decelerate the launch carriage; and a transmission coupled between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage to transmit energy between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a launch guide structure having a launch axis; a launch carriage movably carried by the launch guide structure for movement along the launch axis, the launch carriage being configured to directly engage at least one of a fuselage and a lifting surface of an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; an energy reservoir configured to provide energy to the launch carriage to accelerate the launch carriage with a generally constant force; and a transmission coupled between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage to transmit energy between the energy reservoir and the launch carriage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a launch guide structure having a launch axis; a launch carriage movably carried by the launch guide structure for movement along the launch axis, the launch carriage being configured to directly engage at least one of a fuselage and a lifting surface of an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; an energy reservoir configured to provide energy to the launch carriage to accelerate the launch carriage with a generally constant force; and a transmission having a first portion coupled to the energy reservoir and a second portion coupled to the launch carriage, the first portion being configured to accelerate at a first acceleration when receiving a first force from the energy reservoir, the second portion being configured to impart a second force and a second acceleration to the launch carriage, wherein the second force is different than the first force and the second acceleration is different than the first acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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an extendable boom having a first portion and a second portion, with at least one of the first and second portions being movable relative to the other along a longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an extended position; a launch guide structure having a launch axis extending at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom; a launch carriage having an aircraft support positioned to releasably carry at least one of a lifting surface and a fuselage of an unmanned aircraft, the launch carriage being movably carried by the launch guide structure for movement along the launch axis during takeoff of the unmanned aircraft; an energy reservoir configured to provide energy to the launch carriage during acceleration of the launch carriage and receive energy from the launch carriage during deceleration of the launch carriage, the launch carriage being accelerate with a generally constant force; and a transmission having a first portion coupled to the energy reservoir and a second portion coupled to the launch carriage, the first portion being configured to accelerate at a first acceleration when receiving a first force from the energy reservoir, the second portion being configured to impart a second force and a second acceleration to the launch carriage, wherein the second force is different than the first force and the second acceleration is different than the first acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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carriage means for carrying an unmanned aircraft during launch; support means for supporting and guiding the carriage means along a launch axis during launch; energy reservoir means for (a) transferring energy to the carriage means to accelerate the carriage means with a generally constant force, and (b) receiving energy from the carriage means; and transmission means coupled between the energy reservoir means and the launching means to impart energy to the carriage means during acceleration of the carriage means and return energy from the carriage means to the energy reservoir means during deceleration of the carriage means. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably carrying an unmanned aircraft with a launch carriage; accelerating the aircraft along a launch axis with a generally constant force by transferring energy from an energy reservoir to the launch carriage; decelerating the launch carriage by transferring energy from the launch carriage to the energy reservoir; and releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably carrying an unmanned aircraft by directly engaging at least one of a fuselage and a lifting surface of the aircraft with a launch carriage; activating an energy reservoir to produce a first force and a first acceleration; converting the first force to a second force different than the first force and converting the first acceleration to a second acceleration different than the first acceleration; accelerating the aircraft with a generally constant force along a launch axis at the second acceleration by imparting the second force to the launch carriage; and releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably carrying an unmanned aircraft by supporting at least one of a fuselage and a lifting surface of the aircraft with a launch carriage; activating an energy reservoir to produce a first force and a first acceleration; converting the first force to a second force different than the first force and converting the first acceleration to a second acceleration different than the first acceleration; accelerating the aircraft with a generally constant force along a launch axis at the second acceleration by imparting the second force to the launch carriage; decelerating the launch carriage by transferring energy from the launch carriage to the energy reservoir; and releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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Specification