Remote controlled aerial reconnaissance vehicle

• US 9,738,383 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Adams
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Adams
• Inventors: Adams, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Xavier, Valentina
• Application Number:
  US15/391,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20170101180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31, 244 314, 244147, 244152, 244138 R, 244142, 2441371, 244139, 244145, 244190
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/025 for gliding chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/50 Glider-type UAVs, e.g. with parachute, parasail or kite for landing B64U70/83
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• 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 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like

Abstract

A remotely controlled or autonomously controlled UAV is disclosed. The UAV has both wings and a deployable parachute to enable both fixed wing flight and paraglider flight. The UAV can fly at a higher speed to a mission area as a fixed wing craft, and loiter over the area as a powered paraglider. In some embodiments, the wings are jettisoned over the mission area and the UAV configured as a powered paraglider completes its mission. In other embodiments the UAV flies to the mission area as a fixed wing craft, deploys the parachute to loiter as a powered paraglider and then jettisons the parachute to fly under a fixed wing back to a base. The former embodiment cannot fly back to a base, they may be used to carry and deploy bombs or grenades, while the latter may be used for surveillance, deliver supplies or the like.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

an elongated fuselage,

one or more wings coupled to an upper portion of said fuselage, suspending said fuselage in a vertical orientation for powered fixed wing flight,

a control arm extending from both sides of said upper portion of said fuselage, said control arm attached to a pivot point at said upper portion of said fuselage, said control arm responsive to commands to move ends of said control arm in vertical directions,

a parachute deployable from said fuselage,

at least a pair of control lines extending from said parachute for supporting said fuselage in said vertical orientation and steering said parachute, one control line of said pair of control lines extending from said parachute to one end of said control arm and the other control line of said pair of control lines extending to the other end of said control arm,

a controllable wing release configured to release at least said one or more wings from said fuselage,

a parachute release for deploying said parachute from said fuselage after said one or more wings are released,

a source of thrust mounted at said upper portion of said fuselage, for powering said unmanned aerial vehicle,

whereby said unmanned aerial vehicle is able to fly at a higher speed to a destination as a fixed wing vehicle, release said one or more wings and deploy said parachute and fly over said destination as a powered paraglider.