Methods and apparatuses for capturing and storing unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for securing the aircraft after capture
US7121507B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 16, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/20
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for capturing, recovering, disassembling, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having retainers in accordance with further aspects of the invention. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft, for example, by capturing a first wing of the aircraft and securing a second wing before releasing the first.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.