Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for releasably gripping aircraft during launch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for carrying an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
- a support member;
a launch carriage movably carried by the support member; and
a gripper movably coupled to the launch carriage, the gripper including at least one grip portion positioned to releasably engage a fuselage of the aircraft, the gripper being movable relative to the launch carriage between a first position with the at least one grip portion positioned to contact the fuselage and a second position with the at least one grip portion positioned to be out of contact with the fuselage.
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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 belaunched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch axis. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the fuselage of the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff.
161 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for carrying an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a support member; a launch carriage movably carried by the support member; and a gripper movably coupled to the launch carriage, the gripper including at least one grip portion positioned to releasably engage a fuselage of the aircraft, the gripper being movable relative to the launch carriage between a first position with the at least one grip portion positioned to contact the fuselage and a second position with the at least one grip portion positioned to be out of contact with the fuselage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for carrying an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a launch guide structure having a launch axis; a launch carriage carried by the launch guide structure and movable along the launch axis; and a gripper supported by the launch carriage, the gripper including at least two gripper arms pivotally coupled to the launch carriage, the individual gripper arms including at least one grip portion positioned to releasably engage a fuselage of an unmanned aircraft, the at least two gripper arms being pivotally movable relative to the launch carriage between a first position with the at least one grip portion of the individual gripper arms positioned to contact the fuselage and a second position with the at least one grip portion of the individual gripper arms positioned to be out of contact with the fuselage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for carrying an 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 takeoff; and gripper means for releasably carrying an unmanned aircraft, the gripper means being movably coupled to the carriage means, the gripper means including at least one grip portion movable relative to the carriage means between a first position with the at least one grip portion positioned to contact a fuselage of the aircraft and a second position with the at least one grip portion positioned to be out of contact with the fuselage of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably supporting an unmanned aircraft with a launch carriage; releasably engaging the aircraft with a gripper carried by the launch carriage, wherein releasably engaging the aircraft with the gripper includes releasably engaging a fuselage of the aircraft with the gripper; accelerating the launch carriage along a launch axis; disengaging the gripper from the aircraft by moving the gripper relative to the launch carriage from a first position to a second position; and releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for launching an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably supporting a fuselage of an unmanned aircraft with a launch carriage; releasably engaging the fuselage of the aircraft with a gripper carried by the launch carriage, the gripper having at least one grip portion positioned to contact the fuselage of the aircraft; accelerating the launch carriage along the launch axis; decelerating the launch carriage to move the gripper relative to the launch carriage from a first position to a second position, with at least one grip portion out of contact with the fuselage when the gripper is in the second position; and releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification