公开(公告)号：US08231083B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-31

申请号：US12062861

申请日：2008-04-04

申请人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Zachary C. Hoisington

发明人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Zachary C. Hoisington

IPC分类号： B64D1/10

CPC分类号： B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/082 ,  B64C2201/182 ,  B64D3/00 ,  B64D5/00 ,  B65H75/425 ,  B65H75/44

摘要： A system and methods for airborne launch and recovery of aircraft. In one embodiment the system comprises a flexible tether configured to be towed behind an airborne mother ship. A drag device is secured to a distal end of the flexible tether to generate drag and maintain tension in the flexible tether. A reel associated with the mother ship anchors a proximal portion of the flexible tether and selectively lets out and takes up the flexible tether to adjust a length of the flexible tether. A capture mechanism associated with the aircraft engages the flexible tether to secure the aircraft to the flexible tether. In certain embodiments of the present methods, a flexible tether is deployed from an airborne mother ship. An aircraft translates forward and rearward along the flexible tether. Alternatively, the aircraft translates forward and rearward as the flexible tether taken up and let out from the mother ship. Prior to launch, the weight of the aircraft is transferred from the flexible tether to the wings. During recovery, the weight of the aircraft is transferred from the wings to the flexible tether.

摘要翻译： 飞机机载发射和恢复的系统和方法。 在一个实施例中，系统包括被配置为被拖到空中母舰后面的柔性系绳。 牵引装置固定到柔性系绳的远端以产生阻力并保持柔性系绳中的张力。 与母船相关联的卷轴锚定柔性系绳的近端部分，并且选择性地放出并吸收柔性系绳以调节柔性系绳的长度。 与飞行器相关联的捕获机构接合柔性系绳以将飞行器固定到柔性系绳。 在本方法的某些实施例中，柔性系绳从空中母舰部署。 飞机沿着柔性系绳向前和向后平移。 或者，飞机向前和向后平移，因为柔性系绳被从母船出来。 在发射之前，飞机的重量从柔性系绳转移到机翼。 在恢复期间，飞机的重量从翼转移到柔性系绳。

公开(公告)号：US20120287275A1

公开(公告)日：2012-11-15

申请号：US13105306

申请日：2011-05-11

申请人： Kevin R. Lutke

发明人： Kevin R. Lutke

IPC分类号： H04N7/18

CPC分类号： G01C21/206 ,  G05D1/0038

摘要： A method and apparatus for processing video information for a vehicle. A number of prior images is selected from images generated by the vehicle. An object is seen in the number of prior images. A model of the vehicle is displayed in the number of prior images in a current position of the vehicle and with a size that is based on the current position of the vehicle relative to the object in the number of prior images.

摘要翻译： 一种用于处理车辆的视频信息的方法和装置。 从车辆生成的图像中选择多个先前图像。 在现有图像的数量中可以看到一个对象。 以车辆的当前位置的现有图像的数量显示车辆的模型，并且以现有图像数量的基于车辆相对于对象的当前位置的大小显示车辆的模型。

公开(公告)号：US08162262B2

公开(公告)日：2012-04-24

申请号：US11831806

申请日：2007-07-31

申请人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Richard P. Ouellette

发明人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Richard P. Ouellette

IPC分类号： B64D9/00

CPC分类号： B64C39/024 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64D39/00

摘要： A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

摘要翻译： 可重构飞机及相关方法。 在一个实施例中，可重构飞机包括多个有效载荷保持器。 有效载荷保持器被配置为接收和保留有效载荷，包括燃料，武器和传感器。 该飞机被配置为与空中供应车辆在飞行中配合以从供应车辆接收有效载荷。

公开(公告)号：US08042772B2

公开(公告)日：2011-10-25

申请号：US12042443

申请日：2008-03-05

申请人： Kevin R. Lutke ,  Aaron J. Kutzmann

发明人： Kevin R. Lutke ,  Aaron J. Kutzmann

IPC分类号： B64C3/44

CPC分类号： B64C3/46

摘要： A flight control system for an airfoil comprises a control surface, a chamber connecting the control surface to the airfoil, and a pneumatic mechanism fluidly connected to the chamber. The chamber may be comprised of at least two cells that may be fluidly separated by a membrane. The pneumatic mechanism is configured to provide differential pressure to the cells in order to alternately increase volume/pressure of the cells to cause deflection of the control surface. The cells may have a stretchable outer surface to allow for changes in the length of the outer surface in response to inflation/deflation of the cells. The outer surface of the cells may be substantially continuous with outer mold lines of the airfoil and of the control surface.

摘要翻译： 用于翼型的飞行控制系统包括控制表面，将控制表面连接到翼型件的腔室以及与腔室流体连接的气动机构。 腔室可以由至少两个细胞构成，这些细胞可被膜流体地分离。 气动机构构造成为细胞提供差压以便交替地增加细胞的体积/压力以引起控制表面的偏转。 细胞可以具有可拉伸的外表面，以允许响应于细胞的充气/放气而改变外表面的长度。 电池的外表面可以与翼型件和控制表面的外部模具线基本上连续。

公开(公告)号：US20100025523A1

公开(公告)日：2010-02-04

申请号：US11831806

申请日：2007-07-31

申请人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Richard P. Ouellette

发明人： Aaron J. Kutzmann ,  Kevin R. Lutke ,  Richard P. Ouellette

IPC分类号： B64C37/02 ,  B64D7/00

CPC分类号： B64C39/024 ,  B64D1/22 ,  B64D39/00

摘要： A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

摘要翻译： 可重构飞机及相关方法。 在一个实施例中，可重构飞机包括多个有效载荷保持器。 有效载荷保持器被配置为接收和保留有效载荷，包括燃料，武器和传感器。 该飞机被配置为与空中供应车辆在飞行中配合以从供应车辆接收有效载荷。