Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with multi-part foldable wings

• US 9,789,950 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bird Aerospace LLC
• Original Assignee: Bird Aerospace LLC
• Inventors: Most, Matthew I., Vita, Trevor G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R
• Application Number:
  US14/260,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/56 Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/16 Wrap-around fins

Abstract

The present invention is a canister-launched pyrotechnically actuated folding wing UAV. The invention features a method for reliable and irreversible locking of a foldable wing, while enabling compact storage, cost reduction, ease of deployment and aerodynamic performance unattainable in current folding-wing designs. In a specific embodiment, the UAV is pre-packaged in a deployment canister for single-button deployment. The UAV can be offered in a rental system in which part or the entirety of the device can be returned for refurbishing. Additionally, the device can be provided as a fully expendable unit.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a fuselage;

a multi-part foldable wing attached to the fuselage and configured to move between a folded stowed configuration and an unfolded flight configuration; and

a deployable irreversible locking mechanism with a locking cord running along the length of the wing and spanning adjacent wing sections configured to irreversibly lock the multi-part foldable wing in the unfolded flight configuration wherein the multi-part foldable wing comprises a plurality of components that each comprise an adhesive-coated surface to adhere the components together in the unfolded flight configuration.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the deployable locking mechanism is configured to be deployed by a pyrotechnic actuator.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle in the folded stowed configuration is contained in a launch canister.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the launch canister is configured to be opened by an electronic triggering mechanism.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the multi-part foldable wing is foam-filled or molded foam construction.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuselage or the multi-part foldable wing has a camera.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the adhesive in the adhesive-coated surface is a double-sided tape.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the adhesive in the adhesive-coated surface is a paint-on adhesive.

9. A ground launched unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a launch canister;

a fuselage;

a multi-part foldable wing attached to the fuselage and configured to move between a folded stowed configuration and an unfolded flight configuration;

wherein the multipart foldable wing and fuselage are configured to fit within the launch canister; and

a deployable irreversible locking mechanism configured to irreversibly lock the multi-part foldable wing in the unfolded flight configuration wherein the multi-part foldable wing comprises a plurality of components that each comprise an adhesive-coated surface to adhere the components together in the unfolded flight configuration.

10. The ground launched unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein the adhesive in the adhesive-coated surface is a double-sided tape.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein the adhesive in the adhesive-coated surface is a paint-on adhesive.