公开(公告)号：US10416684B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-17

申请号：US15492161

申请日：2017-04-20

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Richard T. Eberheim ,  Nicholas F. Hassan ,  Joshua C. O'Connor

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64B1/46 ,  B64C31/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  G05D1/06 ,  B64C19/00

Abstract: The airborne vehicle recovery method and apparatus enables radiosonde users to reliably recover launched radiosondes and provides new and unique opportunities for research and data acquisition with balloon launched radiosondes. Airborne vehicles such as radiosondes are disposed in a flight body adapted for propulsionless, gliding navigation for returning to one of several designated landing sites for recovery. Onboard electronics including a navigation computer, flight computer, and lightweight battery are employed for selecting a landing site, computing a heading and direction, and actuating flaps for pursuing a propulsionless, gliding path to the landing site. Gliding is directed only by right and left flaps responsive to respective actuators, such that the inclusion of only the actuators, navigation and flight electronics, and without active propulsion, enables sufficient gliding range from the lightweight construction and arrangement to reach one of several landing sites for effecting substantial recovery rates of the radiosondes.

公开(公告)号：US20170308104A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15492161

申请日：2017-04-20

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Richard T. Eberheim ,  Nicholas F. Hassan ,  Joshua C. O'Connor

IPC: G05D1/10 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C31/02 ,  B64D45/04 ,  B64B1/46

Abstract: The airborne vehicle recovery method and apparatus enables radiosonde users to reliably recover launched radiosondes and provides new and unique opportunities for research and data acquisition with balloon launched radiosondes. Airborne vehicles such as radiosondes are disposed in a flight body adapted for propulsionless, gliding navigation for returning to one of several designated landing sites for recovery. Onboard electronics including a navigation computer, flight computer, and lightweight battery are employed for selecting a landing site, computing a heading and direction, and actuating flaps for pursuing a propulsionless, gliding path to the landing site. Gliding is directed only by right and left flaps responsive to respective actuators, such that the inclusion of only the actuators, navigation and flight electronics, and without active propulsion, enables sufficient gliding range from the lightweight construction and arrangement to reach one of several landing sites for effecting substantial recovery rates of the radiosondes.