264 results about "Launch craft" patented technology

A process and system for detecting the presence of a person overboard including: setting the perimeter of an area to scan, scanning said area 180 degrees in azimuth utilizing a laser beam for receiving a reflection of said laser beam off said person, detecting said reflection and playing back a video recording of said trajectory of the person, wherein the area above and below the perimeter of an area to scan is continuously video recorded and wherein upon detecting the target, one or more of audio and visual alarms alert that crew, and wherein an alarm with location is sent to PDA system with GPS coordinates time and date. Additionally a launched deploys a device to track the person overboard, and allows persons on the ship or in a control center to ascertain the location of the person overboard.

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.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), supporting two operation modes local monitoring and remote monitoring. The apparatus includes a PLB that supports the present operation mode, as well as a local monitoring mode, employing the same transmitter, and automatically switching between modes. Upon activation, the PLB first tries to communicate with a local monitoring station, at a low transmission power, and at a high repetition rate, in purpose of dealing with the PLB call locally, without involving the remote monitoring station. Then, if not acknowledged by a local monitoring station, the PLB increases its transmission power, enabling access to a remote monitoring station. In a preferred embodiment, the PLB is carried by a person onboard a vessel, to alarm upon a Man Overboard (MOB) accident, the local monitoring station is installed onboard the same vessel, and the remote monitoring station is part of a satellite Search and Rescue (SAR) system, as Cospas-Sarsat.

Wireless transmitters are integrated with manual marine-propulsion implements associated with small watercraft (paddles, oars, poles, and the like). The transmitters are controlled by hand-operated actuators. The actuators are designed to be manipulated without looking and positioned within convenient reach of an operator's normal hand position on the implement. A corresponding wireless receiver on a target device enables the transmitter signal to control the device. Thus, an operator of a small watercraft can control a useful target device without first shipping or otherwise securing the manual implement, and may simultaneously continue to manually propel or steer the watercraft with the implement. Application examples include a propulsion-assist motor on a stand-up paddled (SUP) surfboard.

A ground-based ball launcher for inflated-ball sports practice provides an impulse that propels the ball upwardly in a trajectory of pre-adjustable angle and velocity so as to obtain a desired maximum height and landing distance offset from the launcher. An optional adjustable time delay gives a player time to move into place and get set for each launching. Launching energy may be provided by a compressed coil spring which can be reloaded by the user with foot-pump action.

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter / receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. A laser guidance system may provide coordinates for landing near a swimmer in distress. The search and rescue drone may also be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes pivoting motor mounts, so that it can take off and land vertically with propellers rotating in a horizontal plane, and then the propellers may pivot to rotate in a vertical plane for propulsion across water similar to a fan boat with rescued people aboard.

The present invention relates to a blowout preventer for being mounted on a well head, comprising a plurality of valves arranged in fluid communication with each other, connected and forming a tubular pipe. Furthermore, the invention relates to a launcher system, a well intervention module, a well intervention system and a well system.

The invention discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle landing guiding system based on multi-mode navigation and a method thereof, wherein the system and the method belong to the field of unmanned aerial vehicle flight navigation technology. The system and the method are suitable for a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle. The system comprises a parking space, a parking space reference point, a cooperation lamp array, a power supply unit, a radio beacon transmitter, a satellite positioning module I and a communication module I, wherein the cooperation lamp array, the power supply unit, the radio beacon transmitter, the satellite positioning module I and the communication module I are arranged next to the parking space. The system further comprises a landing guiding module and a satellite positioning module II which are arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle. According to the method of the invention, radio direction finding, visual guiding, satellite positioning and data fusion are utilized for guiding the unmanned aerial vehicle to automatically land on the preset parking space. The unmanned aerial vehicle landing guiding system has advantages of improving precision and reliability in autonomous landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle, reducing a blind landing risk, and realizing high interference resistance. The unmanned aerial vehicle landing guiding system can be used for unmanned aerial vehicle landing guiding on a fixed platform and a movable platform.

A technique for launching a missile that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses an electromagnetic catapult to throw the missile clear of the launch platform—with sufficient velocity to attain aerodynamic flight—before the missile's engine is ignited.

A marine vessel, typically a power boat, lifting system includes a remotely operated transmitter module, a receiver module, a level sensing module, a motor control module, and motors are integrated to automatically position a cradle to the desired position relative to the waterline of the marine vessel. The lifting system is initialized by a signal input, a button pushed and released, from either the remote transmitter or the motor control module to begin movement of the lifting cradle to a desired position. The received signal initiates the motors, and a light to indicate energized motors through a visual signal, to move in the desired direction, either lifting or lowering the cradle. The level sensing module returns a signal to the motor control module to terminate the motors, and thus the visual indicator, when the desired cradle position has been reached.

An aerial vehicle launcher including a rail having a first end and a longitudinal axis and a piston movable in a passageway formed in the rail, the piston connected to a carriage by at least two elongate flexible members. The carriage having a support device for releasably engaging the aerial vehicle. Upon the carriage and the aerial vehicle approaching one end of the rail, the support device controllably disengaging the aerial vehicle, permitting the aerial vehicle to be launched. A device is connected to a pressurized gas source, the device controllably providing pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source to the passageway for drivingly moving the piston, the carriage, and aerial vehicle along the rail for launching the aerial vehicle. The device includes a reservoir for holding pressurized gas, the reservoir being a conduit, the pressurized gas in the reservoir providing the driving force for launching the aerial vehicle.

A launching apparatus is adapted to provide a short runway surface which is used to launch a flying model aircraft. The launching apparatus is also provided with a cavity to store the model aircraft when the launching apparatus is not in use. Thus, the launching apparatus functions as a launcher, as a means of storage and transportation for the model aircraft.

A launcher system includes a launcher having a barrel adapted to receive a projectile and a charge of propellant and a velocity variator configured to shift relative to barrel to selectively vary a launch velocity of projectile from launcher. The velocity variator may be constituted by a collar selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of projectile and into barrel and / or a sliding breech face behind which is an energy-absorbing plug.

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter / receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. The search and rescue drone may be flown manually, or may have some autonomous flight and locator capabilities. For example, in one embodiment, the search and rescue drone may be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes a basket, harness, or other means for actually recovering a swimmer in distress, and flying that person back to safety on a ship or on shore.

A system for air-launching a liquid fueled rocket launch vehicle using a tubular rocket support structure for holding the launch vehicle and for supplying the launch vehicle with make-up cryogenics, electrical power, and control signals, and for providing coupling to a launch-assist aircraft. The tubular rocket support structure contains cryogenic fluids, in addition to fuel and oxidizer, to cool the fuel and oxidizer during the pre-launch phase. The tubular rocket support structure has features that keep the liquid fuel and oxidizer from sloshing away from the tank outlet ports to the launch vehicle's rocket engine after release from the aircraft but before rocket launch. In operation, the aircraft controllably releases the tubular rocket support structure containing the launch vehicle, and the launch vehicle then launches from the rocket support structure.

Embodiments of the present invention provide improvements to UAV launching systems. The disclosed launching system eliminates the use of hydraulic fluid and compressed nitrogen or air by providing an electric motor-driven tape that causes movement of a shuttle along a launcher rail. The shuttle is detachable from the motor-driven tape, such that stoppage of the tape can be separate from stoppage of the shuttle. Embodiments further provide a secondary arrestment strap. Further embodiments provide an anti-rollback latch system.

An arrow rest device for bows and similar equipment is provided. The arrow rest can include a y-shaped launcher, a shaft and a housing with an activator. The launcher and the activator can be fixedly connected to the shaft and rotate therewith. Within the housing can be a wall with an obstruction that can be shaped and designed to interact with a ball detent or similar component located on the end of the activator. The activator can be configured to rotate inside the housing wall and can be coupled to the housing with a biasing element that urges rotation of the activator and shaft in one direction. The activator can rotate in the housing between three positions, each corresponding to an orientation of the launcher. In one position, the activator is maintained by the wall so as to allow the launcher to have an upright orientation for supporting an arrow.

A system and method for launching non-vertical launch munitions with a non-vertical launch trajectory from a launcher that is operationally coupled to a vertical launching system (VLS). The inventors of the present invention recognized that munitions that are unsuitable for vertical launches were unavailable for use with vertical launching systems, thus foreclosing important defense, attack, and cost-savings opportunities for VLS-equipped platforms. A VLS could be substantially more versatile if it accommodated munitions such as torpedoes, counter-measures, direct-fire munitions, point-and-shoot munitions, and a variety of other missiles and equipment. The launcher according to the present invention is also stowable in an upward orientation within a cell of the host vertical launching system.

The present invention relates to multiple driving toy top with flywheel and its multiple driving launchers. The toy top has a flywheel driving device set on the top casing and comprising flywheel driving gear and slot on the casing, a flywheel connecting device extending beyond the top casing in the upper part of the flywheel shaft; and the launcher has a top casing driving device on the launcher casing and a flywheel driving device connected to the flywheel driving device in the top, so that the flywheel driving device of the top may be transferred from the top casing to the launcher to make the driving device possess simple and integral structure and use convenience. The multiple driving device structure makes the toy top capable of suiting several kinds of launcher and meeting the requirement of different players.

A glider toy has pivoting wings that may be locked in a retracted position prior to launch. Upon launching of the glider, the wings may be unlocked. During flight, the wings extend forward for an entertaining glide at the urging of one or more elastic members. A launcher includes an orientation-sensitive safety feature that limits the angles at which projectiles may be launched therefrom. The safety feature permits projectiles to be launched from the launcher only within approximately a generally upward, non-vertical angular range.

Disclosed is a satellite including a cylindrical main body, the main body having an inner wall defining an inner space and an outer wall, and extending along a main axis between a lower end surface and an upper end surface, at least one of the lower end surface and the upper end surface including an interface mechanism intended for engaging with a complementary interface mechanism of another satellite or of a launcher, the satellite also including at least one external device attached to the outer wall of the main body, the outer device extending to project transversely from the outer wall relative to the main axis.

A projectile for firing from a launcher includes a propulsion stage having non-axisymmetric boosters arranged about a longitudinal axis of the propulsion stage. The propulsion stage may further include a central booster about which the non-axisymmetric boosters are arranged.

A bird launcher for training dogs having a support frame, a pivot arm mounted on the support frame for pivotal movement between a bird loading position and a bird launching position, a magazine carried by the support frame for holding a plurality of birds to be launched by the pivot arm during successive movements of the pivot arm from the loading position to the launching position, a loader carried by the support frame for loading a bird from the magazine onto the pivot arm, and a power assembly such as a pressurized air supply carried by the support frame for pivoting the pivot arm with sufficient force to launch the bird by flinging it in an arc away from the pivot arm.

The invention provides a single-rope recovery method of an unarmored cable deep diving submersible. The method comprises following steps: (1), an emitter is mounted on a deep diving submersible; (2),one end of a throwing rope is fixed on the deep diving submersible, and the other end of the throwing rope winds around a bullet; (3), after the deep diving submersible returns to water surface near amother ship, an operator on the mother ship controls the emitter to start by a remote-control unit; (4), the bullet carrying the throwing rope flies and lands on the mother ship; (5), the operator onthe mother ship takes down the throwing rope from the bullet, and then one end of the throwing rope is fixed on a mushroom head; (6), a winch rolls up and hoists the mushroom head and the deep divingsubmersible through the throwing rope; and (7), a lifting arm is started to lift the deep diving submersible connected with the mushroom head onto the mother ship, and recovery is finished. A cable is thrown on the mother ship by the aid of the emitter, so that the operator is not required to perform underwater operation, risks of the operator are reduced, and working efficiency is increased.