Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft, including a combined launch and recovery system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
- a support structure having a longitudinal axis;
a launch guide structure carried by the support structure, the launch guide structure including an elongated launch path positioned along the longitudinal axis of the support structure to guide an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; and
a flexible recovery line carried by the support structure, the flexible recovery line being suspendable from the support structure to intercept and releasably capture the unmanned aircraft in flight.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The aircraft can then be retrieved from the recovery line. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies.
147 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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a support structure having a longitudinal axis; a launch guide structure carried by the support structure, the launch guide structure including an elongated launch path positioned along the longitudinal axis of the support structure to guide an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; and a flexible recovery line carried by the support structure, the flexible recovery line being suspendable from the support structure to intercept and releasably capture the unmanned aircraft in flight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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an extendable boom having a first portion and a second portion, with at least one of the first and second portions being movable relative to the other along a longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an extended position; at least one launch rail positioned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the extendable boom to guide an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; a launch carriage having an aircraft support positioned to releasably carry the aircraft, the launch carriage being movably supported by the at least one launch rail to move along the at least one launch rail during takeoff; and a flexible recovery line carried by the extendable boom, the flexible recovery line being suspendable from the extendable boom to intercept and releasably capture the unmanned aircraft in flight. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for handling unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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support means having a longitudinal axis; launching means carried by the support means, wherein the launching means is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the support means to guide an unmanned aircraft during takeoff; and recovery means for intercepting and releasably capturing the unmanned aircraft in flight, the recovery means being carried by the support means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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launching an unmanned aircraft from a support structure; deploying a flexible recovery line from the support structure; flying the unmanned aircraft to intercept the flexible recovery line in flight; and releasably capturing the aircraft in flight with the recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for handling an unmanned aircraft, comprising:
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releasably positioning an unmanned aircraft on a launch carriage movably carried on an elongated launch path extending along a longitudinal axis of an extendable boom; accelerating the launch carriage along the elongated launch path; decelerating the launch carriage; releasing the aircraft from the launch carriage for flight; moving at least a first portion of the boom relative to a second portion of the boom to extend the length of the boom after takeoff; deploying a flexible recovery line from the boom; flying the unmanned aircraft to intercept the flexible recovery line in flight; releasably capturing the aircraft in flight with the recovery line; and retrieving the aircraft from the flexible recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification