Lockheed Martin Corporation

Scott E Morgan

Robert J Monson

Todd M Colten

Christopher A Launer

An unmanned aerial system (UAS) is described that is operable on or in water, in addition to being able to fly in the air. The UAS can float in a body of water, or submerge itself underneath the water, and then later launch from the water without human intervention to perform a flying mission. The UAS can then return back to the water. The UAS incorporates an electric ducted fan acting as the propulsion engine for the UAS in the water as well as in the air.

Unmanned aerial system launch from water

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed for low-speed, low altitude, long endurance missions typical to UAVs of this size and class. The UAV structure is configured to be substantially impervious to small arms fire and to have a very small representative radar cross-section. The UAV is modular such that the main wings and tail wing assembly are quickly and easily, detached from the fuselage for ease of transport and to provide an airframe that is quickly and easily adapted to any particular mission.

Small unmanned airborne vehicle airframe

The airborne imaging system of the present invention includes a blister housing attached to a host vehicle. At the appropriate time in flight, a sensor suite is deployed from the blister housing. The sensor suite is eccentrically weighted to induce a pendular motion as it is suspended from a paradevice. To increase the imaging footprint of the system, the paradevice is designed for angular motion and the look down angle of the imaging system can be adjusted from the vertical. The data is broadcast to a receiving station that processes individual frames to create a continuously updated mosaic of the area of interest.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Scott E Morgan