Abstract:
The system comprises an outer container which is fixed, directly and fully, in the hold of the transport aeroplane (AC), and in which there is an inner container that can be moved longitudinally and brought from a first carrying position (AC) in which it is situated fully inside said outer container into a second off-loading position (P2), position (P2) in which it is longitudinally offset towards the rear of the aircraft (AC) so that a part of said inner container is then situated outside the transport aeroplane (AC).
Abstract:
Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.
Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided, that is cost effective to use and manufacture and that includes a low count of component parts, allowing mission planners to use the UAVs in a disposable manner. The UAV includes an airframe having a central body and wings extending from the central body, defining an interior cavity. The airframe includes an upper and a lower shell, each configured of a unitary piece of plastic. The upper and lower shells have walls among them that define a fuel tank and a payload bay in a stacked configuration. The airframe can further include a payload cover configured to enclose the payload bay and to contribute to the central body of the airframe. A launch assembly is also provided. In a first configuration, a launch assembly is provided, that includes a container for housing multiple UAVs and a deployment mechanism that initiates rapid ejection of the UAVs from the container. In a second configuration, a launch assembly is provided, that includes an elastic tether connecting a UAV to an accelerated mass for gentle acceleration to flight speed under a stable tow.
Abstract:
A method for refueling and reloading an unmanned aircraft for continuous flight is disclosed herein wherein the unmanned aircraft is maintained and supported by a support aircraft. Both aircraft maintain cargo bays and in-flight operable doors located on the underside of each aircraft for the purposes of docking and exchanging goods. Preferably the goods comprise loadable cartridges and may contain such items as weapons, cargo, or fuel for example. In one embodiment, when both aircraft are in a docked configuration for exchange of goods during flight, the in-flight operable doors open and the support aircraft is capable of loading such cartridges aboard the unmanned aircraft. When necessary the support aircraft may load gear for the purposes of landing the unmanned aircraft. Alternate methods of reloading an unmanned aircraft for continuous flight is disclosed wherein the unmanned aircraft does not have cargo bay doors and the aircraft is supported by a support aircraft.
Abstract:
A combined vertical takeoff and landing UAV having a large vertical takeoff and landing UAV, a connecting device, and a small vertical takeoff and landing UAV. The connecting device having a clamping component and an adsorption component. The clamping component includes a clamping part, and a clamping groove is arranged on the clamping part. The clamping component having a snap-fitting part, and a snap-fitting groove is arranged on the snap-fitting part. The clamping groove and the snap-fitting groove are correspondingly set. A first holding space is arranged on the clamping part, and a second holding space is arranged on the snap-fitting part. The adsorption component comprises a first magnetic element located in the first holding space, and the adsorption component also comprises a second magnetic element, which is located in the second holding space.
Abstract:
A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core, and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors with each rotor having a separate motor to drive the rotors about a common rotor axis of rotation. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.
Abstract:
In an example, a power source for an electric propulsion system of an aerial vehicle includes a body having an electrical energy storage device configured to store electrical energy. The power source also includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the electrical energy storage device for supplying the electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device to the electric propulsion system of the aerial vehicle. The power source further includes a plurality of flight control surfaces extending outwardly from the body. The flight control surfaces are actuatable to adjust a flight attitude of the power source. Additionally, the power source includes a flight control system including a processor and configured to actuate the plurality of flight control surfaces to fly the power source to a target location when the power source is jettisoned from the aerial vehicle.
Abstract:
An aircraft has a wing providing the main lifting surface for the aircraft. The wing has a structure supporting an aero-dynamic surface, and the wing has a weight, the wing structure being unable to support its own weight when the aircraft is stationary and under a load of 1 g so as to cause structural failure of the wing.
Abstract:
A system and method for controlling a swarm of UAVs that are stored on and released from an airborne platform, fly to and destroy a target, where the UAVs download target information from the airborne platform before being released therefrom, do not communicate with each other or the airborne platform while in flight, and do not depend of the presence of GPS. Each UAV includes a vision sensor that provides image data, a navigation module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to navigate and fly towards the target, and a target destruction module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to destroy the target.
Abstract:
Techniques are provided for automated determination of a rocket configuration based on acceleration during rocket motor burn-out and temperature. The rocket configuration is associated with a class of warhead affixed to the rocket. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes measuring the acceleration of the rocket over a period of time associated with the flight of the rocket. The method also includes calculating an acceleration difference between the measured acceleration associated with the start of rocket motor burn-out and the measured acceleration associated with the end of rocket motor burn-out. The method further includes measuring an internal temperature of the rocket and selecting a delta acceleration threshold based on the measured temperature. The method further includes comparing the calculated acceleration difference to the selected delta acceleration threshold, to estimate the rocket configuration. The estimated rocket configuration is used by guidance and control circuitry to select autopilot parameters.