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

• US 8,955,801 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovel Corporation (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Aerovel Corporation (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: McGeer, Brian T., von Flotow, Andreas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Badawi, Medhat
• Application Number:
  US14/247,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.F
• US Class Current: 244/110.F
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/68 Arrester hooks
• 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 flying object capturing apparatus, said flying object capturing apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a docking station supported by the base and configured to receive a portion of a flying object;

(c) a member holder supported by the base and configured to receive a member of the flying object;

(d) two arms supported by and extending from the base and defining an opening therebetween configured to admit the member of the flying aircraft, into the member holder; and

(e) a member mover supported by the base and configured to, after the member holder receives the member of the flying object, move the member relative to the docking station until the docking station receives the portion of the flying object.

2. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, which includes a sensor configured to detect when the docking station receives the portion of the flying object, and wherein the member mover is configured to stop moving the member relative to the docking station when the sensor detects that the docking station receives the portion of the flying object.

3. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, which includes at least one service connector supported by the base and configured to removably connect to the flying object.

4. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one service connector is configured to automatically add fuel to the flying object.

5. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a plurality of spaced-apart flying object receiving members extending therefrom, the flying object receiving members defining a flying object receiving slot therebetween.

6. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flying object receiving slot is configured to receive the portion of the flying object.

7. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes the member holder.

8. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking station, the member holder, and the arms are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

9. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the arms includes an aerodynamic member extending therefrom.

10. A flying object capturing apparatus, said flying object capturing apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a docking station supported by the base and including at least one flying object receiving member extending therefrom, the docking station configured to receive a portion of a flying object;

(c) a member holder supported by the base and configured to receive a member of the flying object;

(d) two arms supported by and extending from the base and defining an opening therebetween configured to admit the member of the flying aircraft into the member holder; and

(e) a member mover supported by the base and configured to, after the member holder receives the member of the flying object, move the member relative to the docking station until the docking station receives the portion of the flying object.

11. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 10, which includes a sensor configured to detect when the docking station receives the portion of the flying object, and wherein the member mover is configured to stop moving the member relative to the docking station when the sensor detects that the docking station receives the portion of the flying object.

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

13. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one service connector is configured to automatically add fuel to the flying object.

14. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the docking station includes a plurality of spaced-apart flying object receiving members extending therefrom, the flying object receiving members defining a flying object receiving slot therebetween.

15. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flying object receiving slot is configured to receive the portion of the flying object.

16. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the docking station includes the member holder.

17. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the docking station, the member holder, and the arms are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

18. The flying object capturing apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the arms includes an aerodynamic member extending therefrom.

19. A flying object capturing apparatus, said flying object capturing apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a docking station supported by the base and including a plurality of spaced-apart flying object receiving members extending therefrom, the flying object receiving members defining a flying object receiving slot therebetween, the flying object receiving slot configured to receive a portion of a flying object;

(c) a member holder supported by the base and configured to receive a member of the flying object;

(d) two arms supported by and extending from the base and defining an opening therebetween configured to admit the member of the flying aircraft into the member holder; and

(e) a member mover supported by the base and configured to, after the member holder receives the member of the flying object, move the member relative to the docking station until the docking station receives the portion of the flying object.