Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track-borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods

• US 9,896,222 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Kunz, Peter, Jackson, Clifford, Thomasian, Craig Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/939,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• 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 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0297 adjustable to align with aircraft trajectory
• 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

Abstract

Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion, a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion, and a carriage carried by, and movable along, the carriage track. The system can further include a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the at least one boom portion, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage.

Claims

1. An aircraft system, comprising:

at least one support having an upright portion, a first boom portion, and a second boom portion;

a rigid carriage track extending between and carried by the first and second boom portions;

a carriage carried by and movable along the carriage track; and

a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from at least one of the boom portions, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a releasable restraint device coupled to the capture line and positioned to allow motion of the capture line in a first direction and prevent motion of the capture line in a second direction opposite the first direction.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an energy absorber operatively coupled to the capture line to absorb energy imparted to the capture line by an aircraft engaged with the capture line.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the capture line is carried by the carriage, and wherein the energy absorber includes:

an energy absorber line connected to the carriage;

a capstan around which the energy absorber line is positioned; and

a brake operatively coupled to the capstan to resist rotation of the capstan.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a releasable restraint device operatively coupled to the capture line to allow motion of the capture line in a first direction and prevent motion of the capture line in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the restraint device includes a ratchet coupled to the capstan.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the energy absorber includes an elastic member axially connected to the capture line.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the carriage includes a wheel and is rollable along the carriage track.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the carriage is slideable along the carriage track.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one support includes a first support having a first upright portion and a second support having a second upright portion spaced apart from the first upright portion;

the at least one boom portion includes a first boom portion extending outwardly from the first upright portion, and a second boom portion extending outwardly from the second upright portion; and

wherein

the carriage track is carried by the first and second boom portions.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the carriage track is pivotable relative to the first and second supports.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the carriage track is a first carriage track and the carriage includes a first portion carried by the first carriage track, and wherein the system further comprises:

a second carriage track positioned below the first carriage track and extending between the first and second supports, wherein the carriage includes a second carriage portion carried by and moveable along the second carriage track, and wherein the capture line extends between the first and second carriage portions.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the upright portion includes a scissors link, and wherein the scissors link includes a first scissors member pivotably coupled to a second scissors member.

13. An aircraft system, comprising:

at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion;

a first carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion;

a second carriage track positioned below the first carriage track;

a carriage having a first carriage portion carried by and movable along the first carriage track and a second carriage portion carried by and movable along the second carriage track; and

a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the first carriage portion and extending to the second carriage portion.

14. An aircraft system, comprising:

at least one support having an upright portion, and at least one boom portion carried by and extending outwardly from the upright portion, the upright portion being formed by a scissors link having a first scissors member pivotably coupled to a second scissors member;

a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion;

a carriage carried by and movable along the carriage track; and

a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the at least one boom portion, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage.

15. An aircraft system, comprising:

a collapsible base;

first and second upright portions carried by the base;

a first boom portion carried by the first upright portion;

a second boom portion carried by the second upright portion;

a carriage track carried by and extending between the first and second boom portions;

a carriage carried by and movable along the carriage track; and

a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the carriage.

16. An aircraft system, comprising:

at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion;

a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion;

a carriage carried by and movable along the carriage track;

a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the carriage; and

an energy absorber operatively coupled to the capture line to absorb energy imparted to the capture line by an aircraft engaged with the capture line, the energy absorber including;

an energy absorber line connected to the carriage;

a capstan around which the energy absorber line is positioned; and

a brake operatively coupled to the capstan to resist rotation of the capstan.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a releasable restraint device operatively coupled to the capture line to allow motion of the capture line in a first direction and prevent motion of the capture line in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the restraint device includes a ratchet coupled to the capstan.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the energy absorber includes an elastic member axially connected to the capture line.