Systems and methods for recovering and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft

• US 7,798,445 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Mack, Jaime, Heppe, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US12/020,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.E, 244/110.F, 244/110.R, 244/100.A, 244/107, 244/100.R, 114/261, 114/262
• US Class Current: 244/110.00E
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/025 using decelerating or arresting beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0299 characterized by the use of multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• 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

Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include an inflatable aircraft recovery system having an inflatable portion with a generally vertical orientation. The inflatable portion can also include a landing pocket extending at least partially therethrough. The landing pocket is sized to receive at least a portion of a fuselage of the aircraft. The aircraft recovery system can also include a guidance system at least proximate to the landing pocket and positioned to guide the aircraft toward the landing pocket.

Claims

1. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight, the system comprising:

an inflatable aircraft recovery system having an inflatable portion with a generally vertical orientation, wherein the inflatable portion has a landing pocket extending at least partially therethrough, and wherein the landing pocket is sized to receive at least a portion of a fuselage of the aircraft; and

a guidance system at least proximate to the landing pocket and positioned to guide the aircraft toward the landing pocket.

2. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein the inflatable portion is a second inflatable portion, and wherein the system further comprises:

a first inflatable portion operably coupled to the second inflatable portion, and wherein the first inflatable portion has a generally horizontal orientation and is positioned generally normal to the first inflatable portion; and

a support structure carrying at least one of the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion.

3. The aircraft recovery system of claim 2 wherein the support structure is an inflatable structure coupled to at least one of the first and second inflatable portions.

4. The aircraft recovery system of claim 3 wherein:

the first and second inflatable portions are filled with a gas to a first pressure and a second pressure, respectively; and

the support structure is filled with a gas to a third pressure, and wherein the third pressure is greater than the first and second pressures.

5. The aircraft recovery system of claim 2 wherein:

the first inflatable portion includes a plurality of inflatable bladders releasably coupled together; and

the second inflatable portion includes a plurality of inflatable bladders operably coupled together and coupled to at least one of the support structure and the first inflatable portion.

6. The aircraft recovery system of claim 2 wherein:

the first and second inflatable portions are positioned along a flight path of the aircraft such that the aircraft engages the second inflatable portion before passing over or contacting the first inflatable portion; and

the landing pocket of the second inflatable portion comprises a slot extending completely through the second inflatable portion, and wherein the slot has a width greater than a fuselage of the aircraft and less than a spanwise dimension of the aircraft.

7. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second inflatable portions are positioned along a flight path of the aircraft such that the aircraft passes over or contacts the first inflatable portion before the second inflatable portion; and

the landing pocket comprises a generally conical cavity that does not extend completely through the second inflatable portion.

8. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein the inflatable portion includes a one-way valve that allows a gas within the inflatable portion to actively discharge during aircraft contact with the inflatable portion.

9. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein the recovery system is a primary system for recovering the aircraft.

10. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein the guidance system includes a GPS antenna.

11. The aircraft recovery system of claim 10 wherein the GPS antenna is carried by the inflatable portion.

12. The aircraft recovery system of claim 10 wherein the GPS antenna is spaced apart from the inflatable portion.

13. The aircraft recovery system of claim 1 wherein the inflatable portion is a second inflatable portion, and wherein the system further comprises:

a first inflatable portion having a generally horizontal orientation operably coupled to the second inflatable portion;

an inflatable frame positioned to carry at least one of the first and second inflatable portions and support the first and second inflatable portions during landing operations; and

wherein the guidance system comprises a GPS antenna at least proximate to the first inflatable portion.

14. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

an inflatable aircraft recovery system having a first airbag and a second airbag positioned generally normal to the first airbag, wherein the second airbag is positioned to contact at least a portion of a wing of the aircraft, and wherein the individual airbags include one-way valves configured to release a gas in the respective airbags during aircraft contact with the recovery system; and

a GPS antenna positioned at least proximate to the recovery system, wherein the GPS antenna is positioned to guide the aircraft along a flight path to the recovery system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first airbag and the second airbag are composed of a polyester material.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a cover layer removably positioned over at least a portion of an upper surface of first airbag, wherein the cover layer is selected to provide a desired level of friction between the aircraft and the first airbag.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a frame operably coupled to the recovery system and positioned to support at least one of the first airbag and the second airbag.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first airbag and the second airbag are inflatable to a pressure of from about 1 psi to about 20 psi.

19. A method for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight, the method comprising:

inflating an aircraft recovery system to a desired pressure, the aircraft recovery system including a first inflatable portion and a second inflatable portion positioned generally normal to the first inflatable portion;

flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept the recovery system; and

releasably capturing the aircraft with the recovery system, wherein at least a portion of a wing of the aircraft contacts the second inflatable portion during capture.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the recovery system is a primary recovery system for the aircraft, and wherein releasably capturing the aircraft in flight with the recovery system comprises flying the aircraft to intercept the recovery system without contacting or engaging another structure.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the first inflatable portion has a generally horizontal orientation and the second inflatable portion has a generally vertical orientation, and wherein:

flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept the recovery system comprises flying the aircraft to intercept a landing pocket extending at least partially through the second inflatable portion.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein flying the aircraft to intercept the landing pocket comprises flying the aircraft to intercept a generally conical cavity that extends only partially through the second inflatable portion.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein flying the aircraft to intercept the landing pocket comprises flying the aircraft to intercept a slot extending completely through the second inflatable portion, and wherein the slot has a width less than a spanwise dimension of the aircraft.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein inflating an aircraft recovery system to a desired pressure comprises filling the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion with a gas to a pressure of from about 1 psi to about 20 psi.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the second inflatable portion is positioned generally normal to the first inflatable portion, and wherein;

inflating an aircraft recovery system to a desired pressure comprises inflating one or more bladders within the first and second inflatable portions to a desired pressure;

flying an unmanned aircraft to intercept the recovery system comprises at least partially guiding the aircraft along a flight path to the recovery system with a GPS antenna positioned at least proximate to the recovery system and toward a cavity extending at least partially through the second inflatable portion and positioned to receive a nose portion of the aircraft; and

releasably capturing the aircraft with the recovery system comprises actively discharging a gas from one-way valves in the first and second inflatable portions during aircraft contact with the recovery system.

26. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight, the system comprising:

an inflatable aircraft recovery system having

a first inflatable portion having a generally horizontal orientation;

a second inflatable portion having a generally vertical orientation operably coupled to the first inflatable portion, wherein the second inflatable portion has a landing pocket extending at least partially therethrough, and wherein the landing pocket is sized to receive at least a portion of a fuselage of the aircraft; and

an inflatable frame positioned to carry at least one of the first and second inflatable portions and support the first and second inflatable portions during landing operations; and

a guidance system positioned to guide the aircraft toward the landing pocket, wherein the guidance system comprises a GPS antenna at least proximate to the first inflatable portion.