733results about "Arresting gear" 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.

A UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The UAV-based elements include a mass, such as ball, that is coupled to cord, which is in turn coupled to the tail of a UAV. The ship-based elements include a capture plate and a boom, wherein the boom is pivotably coupled to the deck of a ship. For use in recovery operations, the boom is rotated so that it extends over the side of the ship. A UAV is flown over the boom toward the capture plate at an altitude such that the mass that is attached to the tail of the UAV hangs lower than the capture plate. With continued forward motion, the cord that hangs from the UAV is captured by a grooves in the capture plate. The capture plate geometrically constrains the mass, thereby assuring positive capture of the UAV.

A stabilized UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The ship-based elements include a robot arm that holds a capture mechanism over the side of the ship while compensating for wave-induced ship motion. The UAV-based elements include a hook mounted to the top of the UAV fuselage. With the capture mechanism held stable from the perspective of a UAV approaching from behind or in front of the mechanism, the UAV is flown under it, snagging an arresting line with the hook. With continued forward motion of the UAV, the arresting line pulls out of a winch drum that is coupled to a brake, bringing the UAV to rest.

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.