Sanmina Corporation

Max Edward Klein

Walter T Castleberry

David R Porter

Nathan Trey McFerrin

Ben McAllister

Aspects of the present disclosure are related unmanned aerial vehicles tethered to ground stations with an expendable airborne fiber-optic link. The tethers may be fiber-optic cables that can be used as a communications conduit between a ground station and a UAV for providing vehicle positioning/control information to the UAV as well as transmitting a large amount of information/data to the UAV. As the information being transmitted between to the UAV the ground station is critical, fiber-optic cables provide the bandwidth and transmission capabilities required with the added benefit of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI) immunity, making this an ideal solution for these applications.

Expendable airborne fiber optic link

Containment vessels are adapted to facilitate blast and dispersion mitigation. According to one example, a containment vessel may include at least one containment layer. At least one expansion member may be coupled to the at least one containment layer to apply a force sufficient to expand a perimeter of the containment layer(s) laterally outward. A closure system may be coupled with the containment layer(s), where the closure system is configured to cinch the perimeter of the containment layer(s) around a target object without manual intervention. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a containment vessel, as well as methods of making a containment vessel are also disclosed. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Devices and methods for facilitating blast and dispersion mitigation

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capture devices and methods of operation are disclosed. A UAV capture device may include a netting system including a net launch device and a net, a propulsion system including a plurality of propellers coupled to one or more motors, a positioning system, a camera system, and a processing system coupled to the netting system, the propulsion system, the positioning system, and the camera system. The processing system may include logic to operate the propulsion system to autonomously navigate to a general location of a target UAV, to operate the propulsion system to pursue the target UAV, to deploy the netting system to propel the net at the target UAV, and to confirm if the target UAV is captured in the net. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Devices and methods for facilitating capture of unmanned aerial vehicles

Aircraft are configured to facilitate propeller blade pitch adjustability. According to one example, an aircraft can include a plurality of propellers, where each propeller includes plurality of blades. At least one pitch adjust mechanism may be associated with at least on propeller, where the pitch adjust mechanism is configured to adjust a pitch of the plurality of blades for at least one propeller in response to airflow from at least one other propeller influencing an airflow at the at least one propeller. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Tilt-rotor multicopters with variable pitch propellers

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capture nets, netting systems, UAVs, and methods of making netting systems are disclosed. A UAV capture net may include an open-mesh material, and a plurality of streamers coupled to the open-mesh material, where each of the plurality of streamers includes a free longitudinal end. Netting systems may include a container, a propellant disposed within the container, and a net disposed with in the container, where the net includes an open-mesh structure and a plurality of streamers coupled to the open-mesh structure. UAVs may include an airframe coupled with a propulsion system and a netting system. Methods of making netting systems may include disposing a propellant and a net into a container, where the net includes an open-meshed fabric and a plurality of streamers connected to a portion of the open-mesh fabric. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Max Edward Klein