Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites

US11772815B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Insitu, Inc., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Benjamin T. Brown · Parkdale, US
• Alice Fockele · Portland, US
• Jesse D. Kiewit · Bingen, US
• Jacob Allen · Bingen, US
• John R. Wong · Klickitat, US
• Kelly A. Comstock · Carson, US
• Daniel L. Shaw · Roseville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 1, 2021
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 1, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2101/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.