Unmanned aerial vehicle and launch assembly
US7556219B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U70/70
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.