AIRBORNE RECOVERY OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

    公开(公告)号:US20230150691A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-05-18

    申请号:US17455376

    申请日:2021-11-17

    IPC分类号: B64F1/02 B64C39/02

    摘要: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

    DRONE CAPTURE AERIAL VEHICLES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

    公开(公告)号:US20190112045A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-04-18

    申请号:US15851672

    申请日:2017-12-21

    申请人: Hanhui ZHANG

    发明人: Hanhui ZHANG

    IPC分类号: B64C39/02

    摘要: A drone capture aerial vehicle includes a fuselage and a drone capture device. The drone capture device includes a middle post and a plurality of foldable frame arms; the middle post includes a first end and a second end; and each foldable frame arm includes a plurality of ribs and a plurality of links. A method of capturing a drone includes providing a drone capture aerial vehicle, the drone capture aerial vehicle having a drone capture device and the drone capture device having a foldable capture net; flying the drone capture aerial vehicle toward the drone; activating the drone capture device to deploy the foldable capture net; and capturing the drone with the capture net.

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IN-FLIGHT RETRIEVAL OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

    公开(公告)号:US20180273176A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-09-27

    申请号:US15994769

    申请日:2018-05-31

    IPC分类号: B64D5/00 B64C39/02

    摘要: Presently disclosed systems and methods are configured for in-flight retrieval of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Such systems generally include a retrieval ramp, a tether system including a tether, and a capture connector. The retrieval ramp is configured to be moved between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, in which at least a portion of the retrieval ramp is positioned outside the aircraft for retrieval of the UAV. The tether system is moveable to a capture configuration, in which a terminal tether end of the tether is positioned beyond a terminal end of the retrieval ramp, typically outside of turbulence generated by the aircraft. The system is configured to position the retrieval ramp, the tether system, and the capture connector in order to engage the UAV with the capture connector. Once captured, the system may move the UAV into the aircraft as the tether is retracted towards a retracted configuration.