Insitu, Inc.

Aerovel Corporation

John Stafford

Brian Theodore McGeer

Robert W Hughes

Allen L Smith

Brian D Dennis

Steven M Sliwa

Bradley Louis Schrick

Jaime Mack

Robert Gilchrist, Iii

Robert Joseph Heavey, Iii

Damon Lucas McMillan

Bradley Schrick

Robert Gilchrist

Robert Iii Gilchrist

Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.

Systems and methods for recovering and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft

An aircraft capable of thrust-borne flight can be automatically retrieved, serviced, and launched. In one embodiment, for retrieval, the aircraft drops a tether and pulls the tether at low relative speed into contact with a horizontal guide. The tether is pulled across the guide until the guide is captured b an end effector. The tether length is adjusted as necessary, and the aircraft swings on the guide to hang in an inverted position. Translation of the tether along the guide then brings the aircraft to a docking carriage, in which the aircraft parks for servicing. For launch, the carriage is swung upright, the end effector is released from the guide, and the aircraft thrusts into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle can thus be accomplished automatically with a simple, economical apparatus. It can be used with low risk of damage and requires moderate accuracy in manual or automatic flight control.

Method and apparatus for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft

An aircraft capable of thrust-borne flight can be automatically retrieved, serviced, and launched using equipment suitable for use on a small vessel, or at a base with similarly limited space or irregular motion. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a tether, and pulls the tether at low relative speed into contact with a horizontal guide. The tether is pulled across the guide until the guide is captured by a hook or other end effector. The tether length is then adjusted as necessary, and the aircraft swings on the guide to hang in an inverted position. Translation of the tether along the guide then brings the aircraft to a docking carriage, in which the aircraft parks for servicing. For launch the carriage is swung upright, the end effector is released from the guide, and the aircraft thrusts into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle can thus be accomplished automatically with simple and economical apparatus. It can be used with low risk of damage, and requires only moderate accuracy in manual or automatic flight control.

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Lyle, WA, United States of America

John Stafford