Method and apparatus for retrieving a hovering aircraft

• US 8,708,278 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• 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:
  US13/900,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 244/63, 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/114.R
• 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. A method for capturing a flying object, said method comprising:

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

(b) thereafter, translating the flying object relative to the fixture toward a docking fixture;

(c) receiving the flying object in the docking fixture; and

(d) engaging a portion of the flying object with an arm of the docking fixture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the member to contact the fixture includes causing the member to contact the fixture such that the member removably attaches to the fixture.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes stowing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes servicing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

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 after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

7. The method of claim 1, which includes holding said portion of the flying object with the arm.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes guiding the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

9. The method of claim 8, which includes detecting that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

10. The method of claim 1, which includes orienting the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

11. A method for capturing a flying object, said method comprising:

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

(b) receiving the flying object in the docking fixture; and

(c) engaging a portion of the flying object with an arm of the docking fixture.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes stowing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes servicing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

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

15. The method of claim 11, which includes facilitating launch of the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

16. The method of claim 11, which includes holding said portion of the flying object with the arm.

17. The method of claim 11, which includes guiding the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

18. The method of claim 17, which includes detecting that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

19. The method of claim 11, which includes orienting the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

20. A method for capturing a flying object, said method comprising:

(a) receiving the flying object in a docking fixture after;

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

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

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

(b) engaging said portion of the flying object with an arm of the docking fixture.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes stowing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes servicing the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

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

24. The method of claim 20, which includes facilitating launch of the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.

25. The method of claim 20, which includes holding said portion of the flying object with the arm.

26. The method of claim 20, which includes guiding the flying object into a desired resting position as the flying object translates relative to the fixture toward the docking fixture.

27. The method of claim 26, which includes detecting that the flying object has been guided into said desired resting position.

28. The method of claim 20, which includes orienting the flying object after the docking fixture receives the flying object.