Systems and devices for remotely operated unmanned aerial vehicle report-suppressing launcher with portable rf transparent launch tube

• US 9,187,184 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Miralles, Carlos Thomas, Su, Guan H., Andryukov, Oleksandr, McNeil, John
• Primary Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/234,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 244/62, 244/63, 244/49, 89/11.3, 89/13.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/06 using catapults
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/02 Composite barrels, i.e. barrels having multiple layers, e.g. of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 1/00 Launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles from barrels, e.g. cannons F41F3/00 takes precedence; Harpoon guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/14 Explosion or fire protection arrangements on packages or ammunition F42B39/20 and F42B39/24 take precedence; wall or panel structure of fireproof safes or storage containers E05G1/024

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube that comprises a tethered sabot configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall, and wherein the tethered sabot is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the sabot and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume or attach to the inner base wall. A system comprising a communication node and a launcher comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a pre-launch state configured to receive and respond to command inputs from the communication node.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a sabot engaged with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the sabot dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the structural element is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the structural element and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume.

3. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube comprising:

a tethered sabot configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall.

4. The UAV launch tube of claim 3 wherein the tethered sabot is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether attached within a hollow of the sabot and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume.

5. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising:

a communications node;

a launcher having a tube wall comprising a radio-frequency (RF) permeable material

a UAV seated in the launcher and configured to receive wirelessly through the tube wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state, one or more command inputs from the communications node; and

a sabot engaged with the UAV.

6. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein the UAV in a pre-launch state is further configured to transmit, to an external communications node, UAV status data responsive to a received query signal.

7. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein a radio frequency (RF) antenna of the UAV is contained within the launcher volume.

8. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises a launch propulsion system in an aft portion of the launcher and apart from the UAV, the launch propulsion system having an antenna configured to receive RF signals through the tube wall.

9. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the command inputs is a reconnaissance waypoint.

10. The UAV system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the command inputs is a surveillance optimizing trajectory.

11. The UAV system of claim 6 wherein the UAV status data is a result of a self-diagnosis.

12. The UAV system of claim 6 wherein the UAV status data is a battery level.

13. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system comprising,

an RF permeable launcher comprising a radio-frequency (RF) permeable material;

and

a tethered sabot seated in the RF permeable launcher and encompassed by the RF permeable material, the tethered sabot engaged with the UAV.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a UAV seated on the tethered sabot, the UAV having an RF antenna positioned to receive RF signals transmitted wirelessly through the RF permeable material.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a launch propulsion system disposed in an aft portion of the RF permeable launcher and apart from the UAV, the tethered sabot capable of forming a high-pressure volume between the tethered sabot and the launch propulsion system;

wherein the RF permeable launcher is RF permeable between the high-pressure volume and an external environment.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a tether coupled between the tethered sabot and an interior wall of the RF permeable launcher, the tether having a payout length that prevents the sabot from fully exiting the RF permeable launcher.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the RF permeable material is selected form the group consisting of balsawood and epoxy prepreg substrate.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the tethered sabot is hollow having an open end oriented toward the high pressure volume.