Method and device for launching aerial vehicles

• US 7,530,527 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: Kelleher, Christopher Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Mansen; Michael R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanderson; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US10/558,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 244/31
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/02 Flying units formed by separate aircraft towing B64D3/00; aircraft transported by aircraft B64D5/00; air-refuelling B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/026 for use as personal propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/60 UAVs characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A heavier-than-air air vehicle, particularly a long endurance, solar powered, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended for “perpetual” flight within the stratosphere, is carried to its operational altitude suspended on a tether from a helium balloon. The tether is attached at or towards a tip of the UAV'"'"'s wing so that it is carried in effectively a 90° banked attitude. At the desired altitude the UAV'"'"'s powerplant is started and it flies on its tether in an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the balloon until a level or near level attitude is attained, when the tether is released and the UAV is permitted to assume free flight.

Claims

1. A method of launching a heavier-than-air air vehicle comprising at least an aerodynamic lifting surface and thrust-producing powerplant, the method comprising:

raising the heavier-than-air vehicle to a desired altitude by means of a lighter-than-air vehicle;

when said desired altitude has been reached, operating said powerplant to produce thrust with the heavier-than-air vehicle suspended at a high bank angle below the lighter-than-air vehicle by means of a tether attached to said lifting surface of the heavier-than-air vehicle at a substantially outboard position thereof, causing the tethered heavier-than-air vehicle to describe an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; and

releasing said tether to permit free flight of the heavier-than-air vehicle when the latter has reached a desired attitude;

wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle is initially supported by a pivotable structure in a substantially level attitude;

said structure is pivoted to place the heavier-than-air vehicle in a substantially 90°

banked attitude; and

the heavier-than-air vehicle is released from said structure while tethered to the lighter-than-air vehicle to be raised as aforesaid.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the lighter-than-air vehicle is attached to said structure to cause or assist the same to be pivoted as aforesaid.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the position of attachment of said tether to the heavier-than-air vehicle is aft of the centre of gravity of such vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein gas is caused to be vented from the lighter-than-air vehicle during the course of the heavier-than-air vehicle describing said upwardly-spiralling path, so as to correct for increasing development of lift by the heavier-than-air vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein a mass is incorporated within said tether to define a position about which the heavier-than-air vehicle describes said upwardly-spiralling path.

6. A method of launching a heavier-than-air air vehicle comprising at least an aerodynamic lifting surface and thrust-producing powerplant, the method comprising:

raising the heavier-than-air vehicle to a desired altitude by means of a lighter-than-air vehicle;

when said desired altitude has been reached, operating said powerplant to produce thrust with the heavier-than-air vehicle suspended at a high bank angle below the lighter-than-air vehicle by means of a tether attached to said lifting surface of the heavier-than-air vehicle at a substantially outboard position thereof, causing the tethered heavier-than-air vehicle to describe an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; and

releasing said tether to permit free flight of the heavier-than-air vehicle when the latter has reached a desired attitude;

wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle has pitch control means which are caused to be in a pitch down condition at the commencement of said operation of said powerplant.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the position of attachment of said tether to the heavier-than-air vehicle is aft of the centre of gravity of such vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein gas is caused to be vented from the lighter-than-air vehicle during the course of the heavier-than-air vehicle describing said upwardly-spiralling path, so as to correct for increasing development of lift by the heavier-than-air vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein a mass is incorporated within said tether to define a position about which the heavier-than-air vehicle describes said upwardly-spiralling path.

10. A method of launching a heavier-than-air air vehicle comprising at least an aerodynamic lifting surface and thrust-producing powerplant, the method comprising:

raising the heavier-than-air vehicle to a desired altitude by means of a lighter-than-air vehicle;

when said desired altitude has been reached, operating said powerplant to produce thrust with the heavier-than-air vehicle suspended at a high bank angle below the lighter-than-air vehicle by means of a tether attached to said lifting surface of the heavier-than-air vehicle at a substantially outboard position thereof, causing the tethered heavier-than-air vehicle to describe an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; and

releasing said tether to permit free flight of the heavier-than-air vehicle when the latter has reached a desired attitude;

wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle has yaw control means which are caused to be in a condition tending to yaw the vehicle opposite to its attachment to said tether during the course of it describing said upwardly-spiralling path.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the position of attachment of said tether to the heavier-than-air vehicle is aft of the centre of gravity of such vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein gas is caused to be vented from the lighter-than-air vehicle during the course of the heavier-than-air vehicle describing said upwardly-spiralling path, so as to correct for increasing development of lift by the heavier-than-air vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein a mass is incorporated within said tether to define a position about which the heavier-than-air vehicle describes said upwardly-spiralling path.

14. A method of launching a heavier-than-air air vehicle comprising at least an aerodynamic lifting surface and thrust-producing powerplant, the method comprising:

raising the heavier-than-air vehicle to a desired altitude by means of a lighter-than-air vehicle;

when said desired altitude has been reached, operating said powerplant to produce thrust with the heavier-than-air vehicle suspended at a high bank angle below the lighter-than-air vehicle by means of a tether attached to said lifting surface of the heavier-than-air vehicle at a substantially outboard position thereof, causing the tethered heavier-than-air vehicle to describe an upwardly-spiralling path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; and

releasing said tether to permit free flight of the heavier-than-air vehicle when the latter has reached a desired attitude;

wherein said tether includes a length of fusible material adjacent to its attachment to the heavier-than-air vehicle and the heavier-than-air vehicle includes heating means for melting the same to release the tether.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the position of attachment of said tether to the heavier-than-air vehicle is aft of the centre of gravity of such vehicle.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein gas is caused to be vented from the lighter-than-air vehicle during the course of the heavier-than-air vehicle describing said upwardly-spiralling path, so as to correct for increasing development of lift by the heavier-than-air vehicle.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein a mass is incorporated within said tether to define a position about which the heavier-than-air vehicle describes said upwardly-spiralling path.