Helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A copter-mediated method for launching an aircraft into and retrieving an aircraft from wing-borne flight, said method comprising:
- attaching the aircraft to a rigid first connector of a copter;
releasing the aircraft into free flight by detaching the aircraft from the rigid first connector of the copter;
flying the copter above an anchor assembly such that a first portion of a tether attached to both the copter and the anchor assembly extends between the copter and the anchor assembly;
station-keeping the flying copter generally above the anchor assembly; and
contacting and capturing a part of the first portion of the tether extending between the tether and the anchor assembly with the aircraft, thereby causing the anchor assembly to pay out a second portion of the tether and impose a resistive force on the tether that opposes movement of the aircraft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft capable of long-distance efficient cruising flight from a small space without the use of a long runway.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A copter-mediated method for launching an aircraft into and retrieving an aircraft from wing-borne flight, said method comprising:
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attaching the aircraft to a rigid first connector of a copter; releasing the aircraft into free flight by detaching the aircraft from the rigid first connector of the copter; flying the copter above an anchor assembly such that a first portion of a tether attached to both the copter and the anchor assembly extends between the copter and the anchor assembly; station-keeping the flying copter generally above the anchor assembly; and contacting and capturing a part of the first portion of the tether extending between the tether and the anchor assembly with the aircraft, thereby causing the anchor assembly to pay out a second portion of the tether and impose a resistive force on the tether that opposes movement of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A copter-mediated method for launching an aircraft into and retrieving the aircraft from wing-borne flight, said method comprising:
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launching the aircraft into wing-borne flight by; (1) attaching a copter and the aircraft to one another; (2) hoisting the aircraft using the copter; (3) bringing the aircraft to a designated air speed using the flying copter; and (4) after bringing the aircraft to the designated air speed, detaching the aircraft from the flying copter, thereby releasing the aircraft into wing-borne flight; and retrieving the aircraft from wing-borne flight by; (1) flying the copter above an anchor assembly such that a first portion of a tether attached to both the flying copter and the anchor assembly extends between the flying copter and the anchor assembly; (2) station-keeping the flying copter generally above the anchor assembly; and (3) contacting and capturing a part of the first portion of the tether extending between the copter and the anchor assembly with the aircraft, thereby causing the anchor assembly to pay out a second portion of the tether and impose a resistive force on the tether that opposes movement of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A copter-mediated system for retrieving an aircraft, said system comprising:
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a copter including a rigid first connector to which the aircraft is attachable; a tether attachable to the copter; and an anchor assembly attachable to the tether such that a first portion of the tether extends between the copter and the anchor assembly, wherein the anchor assembly is configured such that, when the tether is attached to the anchor assembly, imposition of an extending force on the tether in a direction away from the anchor assembly causes the anchor assembly to pay out a second portion of the tether and impose a resistive force opposing the extending force. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification