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

• US 8,708,277 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• 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:
  US13/899,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20140124619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 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. A method for retrieving a flying object from free flight, said method comprising:

(a) causing a member connected to a body of the flying object to be received in a slot defined by two spaced-apart upwardly extending members supported by a base;

(b) thereafter, translating the flying object relative to the base toward a docking station supported by the base; and

(c) receiving a portion of the flying object in the docking station.

2. The method 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 method of claim 1, which includes securing the flying object using at least one locking device of the docking station.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes servicing the flying object using at least one connector.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said servicing is performed automatically.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes facilitating launch of the flying object using at least one launch orienting device.

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

8. The method of claim 1, which includes measuring a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the base.

9. The method of claim 1, which includes measuring an orientation of the flying object relative to the base.

10. A method for retrieving a flying object from free flight, said method comprising:

(a) causing a wing connected to a body of the flying object to be received in one of a plurality of different sets of slots defined by a plurality of spaced-apart upwardly extending members supported by the base; and

(b) receiving the flying object in a docking station supported by the base.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes securing the flying object using at least one locking device of the docking station.

12. The method of claim 10, which includes servicing the flying object using at least one connector.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said servicing is performed automatically.

14. The method of claim 10, which includes facilitating launch of the flying object using at least one launch orienting device.

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

16. The method of claim 10, which includes measuring a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the base.

17. The method of claim 10, which includes measuring an orientation of the flying object relative to the base.

18. A method for retrieving a flying object from free flight, said method comprising:

(a) causing a member connected to a body of the flying object to be received in a slot defined by two spaced-apart arms extending transversely from a base, each arm including a member extending transversely therefrom;

(b) thereafter, translating the flying object relative to the base toward a docking station supported by the base; and

(c) receiving a portion of the flying object in the docking station.

19. The method of claim 18, 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.

20. The method of claim 18, which includes securing the flying object using at least one locking device of the docking station.

21. The method of claim 18, which includes servicing the flying object using at least one connector.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said servicing is performed automatically.

23. The method of claim 18, which includes facilitating launch of the flying object using at least one launch orienting device.

24. The method of claim 18, which includes measuring a three-dimensional position of the flying object relative to the base.

25. The method of claim 18, which includes measuring an orientation of the flying object relative to the base.