Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 8,567,718 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Aerospace Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Aerospace Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: McDonnell, William Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanderson, Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US13/783,575
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/110.R, 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/137.4, 258/1.2, 258/1.4, 258/1.6, 258/1.8
• US Class Current: 244/110.G
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/68 Arrester hooks
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/10 using self-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles

Abstract

A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).

Claims

1. An unmanned aircraft comprising a fixed hook located more than half way outboard on a main wing of said aircraft, said hook including a portion that extends outboard relative to the aircraft then forward relative to the aircraft and then extends inboard relative to the aircraft to form an inboardly-facing mouth of a passageway adjacent a leading edge of the wing, said hook being positioned such that a portion of the hook that extends inboard relative to the aircraft is in front of a line described by the forward edge of the wing just inboard of the mouth of the hook.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 where an outboard leading edge of said hook angles forward and inboard relative to the aircraft.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 where the hook includes a latch.

4. The aircraft of claim 3 where said latch is located on the portion of said hook that extends inboard relative to the aircraft after first extending forward.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said hook forms a slot that extends outboard and aft of said mouth.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 where the portion of the hook that extends in front of a line described by the forward edge of the wing just inboard of the mouth of the hook includes an inboard forward edge that angles aft and inboard.