Aerovel Corporation

Electric Guard Dog, LLC

Michael Baxter

Brian Theodore McGeer

Rutger Engbersen

Mark Roberts

Jack DeMao

Steve Batti

Kristoffer Gauksheim

Andrew Crafts

An apparatus and method for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft is provided. The apparatus includes a line which is elevatable while maintaining a principally horizontal axis. For retrieval, the aircraft translates principally spanwise over the line, following a path which is principally horizontal and normal to the line. At an appropriate moment, the line is elevated and contacts the aircraft's wing. As the aircraft continues translating, the line slides along the wing until captured in a cleat. The aircraft is then stably tethered in hover, and its position can be manipulated by articulating the line, such as to guide the aircraft into a docking station. For launch the aircraft lifts itself into hover while tethered to the line. Articulation of the line guides the aircraft into a launch position, at which point the line is disconnected from the cleat, thereby releasing the aircraft.

Apparatus and method for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tail-sitter aircraft having a leg assembly convertible from landing gear into a rear fuselage and empennage (or a tail assembly) of the aircraft. Generally, the leg assembly includes multiple legs movable from a closed configuration in which the legs form the tail assembly of the tail-sitter aircraft to an open configuration in which the legs form the landing gear of the tail-sitter aircraft (and vice-versa).

Tail-sitter aircraft with legged undercarriage foldable to form rear fuselage

An electric fence control unit includes a signal generator, a first signal receiver, a second signal receiver, a signal processing and control unit, and a communications interface. The signal generator generates and transmits an adjustable power signal along a conduction path of the electric fence. The signal receivers sample signal outputs at a driven end and at an open end of the fence line. The signal processing and control unit receives and analyzes the first signal output and the second signal output. The communications interface transmits results from processing the first signal output and the second signal output to a service center. The power signal is adjustable to any capacity power level between a maximum power level and a minimum power level to match a load of the electric fence. Methods of monitoring the electric fence, including adjusting a power level of the adjustable power signal, are also disclosed.

Systems and methods of providing enhanced electric fence diagonstics

An electric fence energizer provides automated reporting of faults and other events as well as fault location to reduce effort in diagnosing faults and intrusion events in electric fences by measuring impedance changes using a time-domain reflectometer. In some embodiments, methods determine the location of a fault in distance from the energizer and provide timely and appropriate condition information.

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Hood River, OR, United States of America

Michael Baxter