UAV recovery system II

• US 7,510,145 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Snediker, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tien
• Application Number:
  US11/327,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.E, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/110.R, 244/110.C, 294/2.1, 294/82.1, 294/82.14
• US Class Current: 244/110.00F
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0297 adjustable to align with aircraft trajectory
• 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

Abstract

A UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The UAV-based elements include a mass, such as ball, that is coupled to cord, which is in turn coupled to the tail of a UAV. The ship-based elements include a capture plate and a boom, wherein the boom is pivotably coupled to the deck of a ship. For use in recovery operations, the boom is rotated so that it extends over the side of the ship. A UAV is flown over the boom toward the capture plate at an altitude such that the mass that is attached to the tail of the UAV hangs lower than the capture plate. With continued forward motion, the cord that hangs from the UAV is captured by a grooves in the capture plate. The capture plate geometrically constrains the mass, thereby assuring positive capture of the UAV.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a boom, wherein said boom has a fixed end and a free end;

a capture plate, wherein said capture plate depends from said boom proximal to said free end, wherein said capture plate comprises a plurality of spaced-apart teeth, and wherein said spaced-apart teeth define a plurality of grooves; and

a support structure, wherein said support structure supports said boom proximal to said fixed end and above an underlying surface, and wherein, in conjunction with said support structure, said boom possesses;

a first rotational degree of freedom, wherein said first rotational degree of freedom enables said free end of said boom to pivot in a plane that is substantially parallel to said underlying surface; and

a second rotational degree of freedom, wherein said second degree of freedom enables said boom to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said underlying surface is a deck of a ship.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein by virtue of said first rotational degree of freedom, said boom pivots between a first position in which its long axis is aligned with a long axis of said ship and a second position in which its long axis is orthogonal to said long axis of said ship.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said capture plate is disposed on said boom.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said capture plate is coupled to said free end of said boom.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a UAV recovery system, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a mass, wherein said mass is physically adapted to be geometrically constrained by one of said grooves in said capture plate;

a coupling, wherein said coupling couples said mass to a UAV, and wherein said coupling is physically adapted to absorb energy from said UAV when said coupling is placed in tension, and further wherein a portion of said coupling is physically adapted to be captured by said one groove in said capture plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mass has a spherical shape.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said coupling comprises a cord.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cord comprises a material having at least one property selected from the group consisting of elastic, resilient, and shock absorbing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said coupling further comprises a lanyard, wherein said cord is coupled to said lanyard and said lanyard is coupled to said UAV.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said cord and said lanyard comprises a material having at least one property selected form the group consisting of elastic, resilient, and shock absorbing.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a mass,

a coupling, wherein said coupling couples said mass to a tail of a UAV, wherein

said coupling is physically adapted to absorb energy from said UAV when said coupling is placed in tension; and

a capture plate, wherein said capture plate depends from a boom, wherein said capture plate comprises a plurality of spaced-apart teeth that define a plurality of grooves, wherein

said mass has a size and a shape that enables it to be geometrically constrained by the capture plate and wherein a portion of said coupling is physically adapted to be received by one of said grooves.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said mass has a spherical shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said coupling comprises a cord.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said cord comprises a material having at least one property selected from the group consisting of elastic, resilient, and shock absorbing.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said coupling further comprises a lanyard, wherein said cord is coupled to said lanyard and said lanyard is coupled to said UAV.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein at least one of said cord and said lanyard comprises a material having at least one property selected form the group consisting of elastic, resilient, and shock absorbing.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said apparatus is a UAV recovery system, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a support structure, wherein said support structure supports said boom above an underlying surface, and wherein, in conjunction with said support structure, said boom possesses;

a first rotational degree of freedom, wherein said first rotational degree of freedom enables said a free end of said boom to pivot in a plane that is substantially parallel to said underlying surface; and

a second rotational degree of freedom, wherein said second degree of freedom enables said boom to rotate about its longitudinal axis.