Insitu, Inc.

Rapidflight Holdings, LLC

Insitu, Inc. (a Subsidiary of the Boeing Company)

Jacob S Allen

Jesse Drake Kiewit

Brian D Dennis

John Richard Wong

Daniel Lewis Shaw

Kelly A Comstock

Benjamin T Brown

Alice E Fockele

John Gundlach

Jeff Alldredge

Andrew Royds Hayes

Peter J Kunz

Matthew Jacob Bartow

Jeffrey Paul Alldredge

David Wayne Goodrich

An additive manufactured airframe structure includes a first additive manufactured fuselage segment including a first outer wall that extends in a normal direction from a first end to a second end, and also includes a plurality of reinforcement elements extending from the second end of, and away from, the first outer wall in the normal direction. The airframe structure also includes a second additive manufactured fuselage segment formed separately from the first additive manufactured fuselage segment and including a second outer wall that extends in the normal direction from a first end to a second end, and a plurality of receiving channels extending along the second outer wall. The plurality of reinforcement elements are received in the plurality of receiving channels and link together the first and second additive manufactured fuselage segments.

Additive manufactured airframe structure having a plurality of reinforcement elements

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An example system includes a rocket, a carriage, a guide element, and a launch guide. The carriage is coupled to the rocket and is configured to releasably support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The guide element is coupled to the rocket. The launch guide is configured to be engaged by the guide element during a launch of the rocket while the carriage is supporting the UAV. The guide element is configured to move along the launch guide during the launch.

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods

Additive manufactured airframe structure having a plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments operable to be linked together in an assembled direction. Each of the plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments are separate from one another in an unassembled configuration. Plurality of reinforcement elements operable to be received in a receiving portion of the plurality of airframe segments and extending through the plurality of airframe segments in a normal direction. Receiving portion is located on the interior of a respective one of the plurality of airframe segments.

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.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover a UAV during flight includes a tether line, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for recovery of the UAV.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An example unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes a lift device, a parachute, and a capture line. The lift device includes a canister. The parachute is stowed in and deployable from the canister. The capture line is attached to the parachute and to a line control device. The capture line is configured to be engaged by a capture device located at an end of a wing of a UAV.

Methods and apparatus to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by kites are disclosed. An example apparatus to deploy a UAV includes a tether line to support the UAV, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for deployment of the UAV.

Methods and apparatus to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by kites

An aircraft includes a fuselage module and at least two vertical lift rotor modules supporting at least four rotor assemblies. Each rotor assembly is supported by a rotor boom having at least one boom free end and a boom mounting portion. Each rotor assembly has at least one vertical lift rotor mounted on the boom free end. Each boom mounting portion is removably couplable to the fuselage module. The vertical lift rotor modules are configured such that when coupled to the fuselage module, a pair of the rotor assemblies are located on each of laterally opposite sides of the fuselage module, and the rotor assemblies of each pair are respectively located forward of and aft of a wing center portion. A pair of wings are configured to be removably couplable to the wing center portion. The aircraft includes a forward thrust module removably couplable to the fuselage body.

Modular aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for lofting a payload includes directing a lifting device upward, releasing a parachute from the lifting device, with the parachute carrying a pulley and having a flexible line passing around the pulley. The flexible line is connected between a tension device (e.g., a winch) and the payload. The method further includes activating the tension device to reel in the flexible line and accelerate the payload upwardly.

Growing community of inventors

Hood River, OR, United States of America

Jacob S Allen