Method and apparatus for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft

• US 8,596,576 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Inventors: McGeer, Brian T., Von Flotow, Andreas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Badawi, Medhat
• Application Number:
  US13/743,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.F, 244/110.C, 244/63, 244/1.R, 244/116, 244/110.E
• US Class Current: 244/110.F
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/68 Arrester hooks
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• 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 1/06 using catapults
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/12 for anchoring aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/28 Liquid-handling installations specially adapted for fuelling stationary aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/00 Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/40 Maintaining or repairing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/17 Helicopters flying platforms B64U10/13
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/40 Empennages, e.g. V-tails foldable or collapsible UAVs B64U20/50
• 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 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus configured to automatically retrieve, service, and launch an aircraft. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a weighted cable, and pulls it at low relative speed into a broad aperture of the apparatus. In certain instances, the cable is dragged along guiding surfaces of the apparatus into and through a slot until its free end is captured. The aircraft becomes anchored to the apparatus, and is pulled downward by the cable into a receptacle. Guiding surfaces of the receptacle adjust the position and orientation of a probe on the aircraft, directing the probe to mate with a docking fixture of the apparatus. Once mated, the aircraft is automatically shut down and serviced. When desired, the aircraft is automatically started and tested in preparation for launch, and then released into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle is thus accomplished with a simple, economical apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retrieving a flying object from free flight, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) two spaced-apart upwardly extending members supported by the base and defining a slot therebetween configured to receive a member connected to a body of the flying object; and

(c) a docking station supported by the base and configured to receive part of the flying object after the member connected to the body of the flying object is received in the slot and the flying object is translated relative to the base toward the docking station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two upwardly extending members are configured to define the slot such that the slot is configured to receive the member in the form of a string.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes at least one locking device configured to secure the flying object.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes at least one connector configured to service the flying object.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, which is configured to automatically service the flying object using the at least one connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes at least one launch orienting device configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the members supported by the base is petal-shaped.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a measuring device configured to measure a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a measuring device configured to measure an orientation of the flying object relative to the apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a measuring device configured to measure an orientation of the flying object relative to the apparatus.

10. An apparatus for retrieving a flying object from free flight, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of spaced-apart upwardly extending members supported by the base and defining a plurality of different sets of slots, wherein each set of slots is configured to receive a wing connected to a body of the flying object; and

(c) a docking station supported by the base and configured to receive the flying object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the docking station includes at least one locking device configured to secure the flying object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, which includes at least one connector configured to service the flying object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, which is configured to automatically service the flying object using the at least one connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the docking station includes at least one launch orienting device configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the members is petal-shaped.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, which includes a measuring device configured to measure a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, which includes a measuring device configured to measure an orientation of the flying object relative to the apparatus.

18. An apparatus retrieving a flying object from free flight, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) two spaced-apart arcs extending transversely from the base and defining a slot therebetween configured to receive a member connected to a body of the flying object;

(c) two members extending transversely from the arms; and

(d) a docking station supported by the base and configured to receive part of the flying object after the member connected to the body of flying object is received in the slot and the flying object is translated relative to the base toward the docking station.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the two arms are configured to define the slot such that the slot is configured to receive the member in the form of a string.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the docking station includes at least one locking device configured to secure the flying object.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, which includes at least one connector configured to service the flying object.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, which is configured to automatically service the flying object using the at least one connector.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the docking station includes at least one launch orienting device configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, which includes a measuring device configured to measure a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the apparatus.