Method and apparatus for retrieving a hovering aircraft

• US 8,672,264 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerovel Corporation
• Inventors: McGeer, Brian T., Von Flotow, Andreas H., Roeseler, Corydon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanderson, Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US13/717,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/114.R, 244/63
• US Class Current: 244/110.C
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching 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: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• 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

For retrieval of a hovering aircraft, a cable, bar, or similar fixture is suspended in an approximately horizontal orientation across the retrieval area between two well-separated supports. The aircraft slowly flies into this fixture, which then slides along the aircraft in a direction approximately parallel with the aircraft'"'"'s thrust line. This leads to the aircraft becoming fastened to the fixture by an interceptor or aircraft capturer, which in alternative embodiments are respectively on the aircraft or the fixture or both. Thrust is then reduced, and the aircraft comes to rest hanging from the fixture for subsequent removal. Retrieval is thus accomplished with simple and economical apparatus, light and unobtrusive elements on the aircraft, low risk of damage, and only moderate piloting accuracy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing a flying object, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a fixture;

(b) a suspension support configured to suspend the fixture; and

(c) a docking fixture attached to the suspension support, the docking fixture including an arm configured to engage a portion of the flying object,

wherein the suspension support is configured to suspend the fixture such that;

(i) a member connected to a body of the flying object may contact the fixture by motion of the flying object relative to the fixture,

(ii) the flying object may translate relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture, and

(iii) the docking fixture receives the flying object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suspension support is configured to suspend the fixture such that the member may contact the fixture such that the member removably attaches to the fixture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be stowed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be serviced.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, which is configured to automatically service the flying object.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking fixture is configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to hold said portion of the flying object.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking fixture is configured to guide the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, which is configured to detect that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking fixture is configured to orient the flying object.

11. An apparatus for capturing a flying object, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a fixture;

(b) a suspension support configured to suspend the fixture; and

(c) a docking fixture attached to the suspension support, the docking fixture including an arm configured to engage a portion of the flying object,

wherein the suspension support is configured to suspend the fixture such that;

(i) after a member connected to a body of the flying object contacts and removably attaches to the fixture, the flying object may translate relative to the fixture toward a docking fixture;

(ii) the docking fixture receives the flying object; and

(iii) the arm engages the portion of the flying object.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be stowed.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be serviced.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, which is configured to automatically service the flying object.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the docking fixture is configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the arm is configured to hold said portion of the flying object.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the docking fixture is configured to guide the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, which is configured to detect that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the docking fixture is configured to orient the flying object.

20. An apparatus for capturing a flying object, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a fixture;

(b) a suspension support configured to suspend the fixture; and

(c) a docking fixture attached to the suspension support, the docking fixture including an arm configured to engage a portion of the flying object,

wherein the suspension support is configured to suspend the fixture such that;

(i) the docking fixture receives the flying object after;

(A) a member connected to a body of the flying object contacts the fixture by motion of the flying object relative to the fixture;

(B) the member removably attaches to the fixture; and

(C) the flying object is translated relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture; and

(ii) the arm engages said portion of the flying object.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be stowed.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the docking fixture is configured to enable the flying object to be serviced.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, which is configured to automatically service the flying object.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the docking fixture is configured to facilitate launch of the flying object.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the arm is configured to hold said portion of the flying object.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the docking fixture is configured to guide the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, which is configured to detect that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the docking fixture is configured to orient the flying object.