公开(公告)号：US10392109B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15341887

申请日：2016-11-02

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Scott Drennan ,  John William Lloyd ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D39/00 ,  B64C3/32

Abstract: An aircraft system includes a wing member and a plurality of unmanned aircraft systems selectively connectable to the wing member. The wing member has a generally airfoil cross-section, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The unmanned aircraft systems have a connected flight mode while coupled to the wing member and an independent flight mode when detached from the wing member. In the connected flight mode, the unmanned aircraft systems are operable to provide propulsion to the wing member to enable flight. The unmanned aircraft systems are operable to be launched from the wing member to perform aerial missions in the independent flight mode and are operable to be recovered by the wing member and returned to the connected flight mode. Thereafter, in the connected flight mode, the unmanned aircraft systems are operable to be resupplied by the wing member.

公开(公告)号：US20180118336A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-03

申请号：US15341887

申请日：2016-11-02

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Scott Drennan ,  John William Lloyd ,  Frank Bradley Stamps ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64C37/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D39/00 ,  B64C29/02 ,  B64C3/32

CPC classification number: B64C37/02 ,  B64C3/32 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/066 ,  B64D39/00 ,  B64D2211/00 ,  Y02T50/55

Abstract: An aircraft system includes a wing member and a plurality of unmanned aircraft systems selectively connectable to the wing member. The wing member has a generally airfoil cross-section, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The unmanned aircraft systems have a connected flight mode while coupled to the wing member and an independent flight mode when detached from the wing member. In the connected flight mode, the unmanned aircraft systems are operable to provide propulsion to the wing member to enable flight. The unmanned aircraft systems are operable to be launched from the wing member to perform aerial missions in the independent flight mode and are operable to be recovered by the wing member and returned to the connected flight mode. Thereafter, in the connected flight mode, the unmanned aircraft systems are operable to be resupplied by the wing member.