113results about "Arrester hooks" patented technology

A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a platform for launching and / or capturing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), particularly a small UAV. The launch / capture platform includes a frame, a floor attached to the frame that is capable of supporting the UAV, means for acquiring and tracking the UAV in flight, a connector and a connector controller, connecting the platform to an external support structure, providing a controllable, adaptive motion of the platform in response to approaching UAV position and attitude, means for launching the UAV from the platform and for capturing an in-flight UAV to the platform, and means for locking down the UAV between the capture and launch of the UAV. Another embodiment of the invention directed to a method for capturing a small, in-flight UAV involves providing a UAV capture platform, providing a UAV capturing means as an integrated component of the platform, providing means for determining in real-time the relative location of an engaging portion of the capturing means with respect to an approaching in-flight UAV, providing means for automatically maneuvering the engaging portion of the capturing means with respect to at least one of a position and an attitude of the approaching in-flight UAV, capturing the UAV, and securing the captured UAV to the capture platform.

The invention relates to a system for landing UAV's. The system comprises a slingshot structure that includes arm based structure and an axis installed along the arm of the structure and enabling the arm to move around it. The system comprises a base connecting the axis to a platform at which the system is installable. The system also includes a controlled pulling and braking means that connects the arm of the structure and the platform upon which the system is installable and stretchable elastic installed in a stretched manner at a gap formed between two arms and set to connect with a landing UAV. At the landing phase, the controlled pulling and braking of the system essentially breaks the motion of the arm based structure that is propelled to revolve around the system's axis, and propels the structure to move around the axis.

A UAV recovery system including a recovery cart; a guide mechanism for defining the path of the cart; a base station for capturing a UAV tailhook; a momentum transfer system driven by the inertia of the UAV through the arresting member to move the recovery cart along the guide mechanism away from the base station in the same direction as the UAV; an acceleration control device for converging the speeds and positions of the UAV and cart for enabling engagement of the cart and UAV as their relative speeds approach zero; and a brake system for stopping the recovery cart when the cart and UAV are engaged. Also disclosed is a UAV having a tailhook pivotably mounted on the UAV at the center of gravity of the UAV.

The inventive aircraft with off-aerodrome landing consists of a body (1), a lifting wing (2) and the onboard part of a rope arresting and landing device comprising an arresting hook (5) which is provided with a grip (6). In the preferred embodiment, said aircraft is provided with a propeller (3) arranged in an annular empennage (4). Said arresting hook is arranged in such a way that it is rotatable around the transversal axis (8) of the aircraft situated in a longitudinal spacing of the aerodynamic mean chord of the wing. The aircraft leads for landing with the upwardly deployed arresting hook in such a way that the trajectory (12) of a top pickup point (6) is higher than the trajectory (13) of the highest top point of the aircraft and higher than a cable or rope (14) tensed on a landing area. The trajectory (13′) of the highest point of the aircraft located ahead of the arresting hook passes at a lower level than the cable (14). In said conditions, the grip of the arresting hook holds the cable which has a required effort for drawing it from a stationary arresting device. By overcoming said effort, the aircraft spends a flight kinetic energy and stops being suspended on the cable.

The present invention's side-arm recovery system enables large Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) to operate from small vessels or from ground sites with a minimal footprint. The side-arm recovery system allows arresting an UAS independent of a runway. On the ground or on a ship, the system makes use of a specialized crane system that includes capture and energy absorption devices. A fuselage-mounted top hook snags a horizontal cable and the arresting forces act in the plane of symmetry through the central structure of the UAS. After the capture energy is absorbed, the recovery system safely lowers the aerial vehicle to a ground handling cart. The same system can be combined into a launcher and retriever system which further reduces the footprint by eliminating the need for a separate launcher.

An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus will collapse in a controlled manner to avoid any damage to ammunition and / or fuel storage areas of the aircraft.

An apparatus for retrieving an airborne object has a first hook having an inner area, wherein the first hook is connected to a forward end of the object. A biased member is connected to an open end of the first hook and is biased in a position that substantially closes off the inner area of the first hook. A second hook having an inner area is connected to the first hook. A biased member is connected to the open end of the second hook and is biased in a position that substantially closes off the inner area of the second hook. The first and second hooks are configured to receive one or more grid elements of a flexible grid through a retraction of the biased members when the airborne object is flown into the flexible grid.

A device for launching and recovering a drone for being fastened to an aircraft is provided. The device includes a docking plate for a drone provided with a securing / releasing mechanism for the drone. The docking plate being secured to a flared guide for guiding the drone towards the docking plate.