Device for launching and recovering a drone, and an associated aircraft

• US 8,857,754 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Inventors: Ferrari, Laurence, Malburet, Francois, Descombes, Georges
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): KREINER, MICHAEL B
• Application Number:
  US13/461,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.TD, 244/2, 244/110.R, 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/172.4, 244/137.4, 244/3, 244/135.A, 244/172.5
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0295 aerodynamically or aerostatically supported, e.g. parafoil or balloon
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• 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

A device for launching and recovering a drone for being fastened to an aircraft is provided. The device includes a docking plate for a drone provided with a securing/releasing mechanism for the drone. The docking plate being secured to a flared guide for guiding the drone towards the docking plate.

Claims

1. A rotor aircraft comprising:

a winch having an extendable cable, wherein the cable extends to an extended length being at least three times a rotor diameter of a main rotor of the aircraft; and

a device for launching and recovering a drone, the device including;

a fastener hook for fastening the device to the cable of the winch;

a docking plate for docking the drone; and

a flared guide basket secured to the docking plate for guiding the drone towards the docking plate,

wherein the cable is extended to the extended length for launching and recovering the drone in the device;

wherein the flared guide basket has a truncated cone shape and downward-facing opening for receiving the drone, and has the docking plate at the opposite end of the basket.

2. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the docking plate is connected to the fastener hook by slings.

3. The aircraft according to claim 1, including a drone suitable for being secured to the device, the drone including peripheral protection means to protect against impacts with the device.

4. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one reversible electromagnet secured to the docking plate to selectively magnetize the docking plate, wherein the electromagnet is powered to magnetize the docking plate in order secure the drone to the docking plate, and wherein the electromagnet is unpowered to demagnetize the docking plate in order to release the drone from the docking plate.

5. The aircraft according to claim 4 wherein the device includes at least one rechargeable battery arranged on the docking plate for electrically powering the at least one reversible electromagnet.

6. The aircraft according claim 4, including a drone suitable for being secured to the device and including at least one magnet for being reversibly fastened to magnetic docking plate of the device.

7. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the guide basket of the device includes a plurality of deformable tubes extending away from the aircraft and connecting the docking plate to a ring defining an inlet opening for the drone heading towards the docking plate.

8. The aircraft according to claim 7, wherein the deformable tubes are spaced apart by a separation distance being less than a circumscribed diameter of the drone, and wherein an opening diameter of the inlet is at least three times the circumscribed diameter of the drone.

9. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the docking plate is formed of a metal material.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein when the drone is secured to the docking plate, the drone is positioned entirely within a volume of the flared guide basket.