초록 ▼

A towed sensor array maneuvering system and methods are disclosed. A towed airborne vehicle comprising a sensor array is actively maneuvered via a plurality of surfaces coupled thereto. The surfaces are controlled such that a desired path is tracked based on and as a function of desired tracking par

A towed sensor array maneuvering system and methods are disclosed. A towed airborne vehicle comprising a sensor array is actively maneuvered via a plurality of surfaces coupled thereto. The surfaces are controlled such that a desired path is tracked based on and as a function of desired tracking parameters.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A towed sensor array maneuvering system comprising: a towed airborne vehicle operable to be pulled by a towing airborne vehicle via a tow cable, and follow a path independently of the towing airborne vehicle;a controller coupled to the towed airborne vehicle and operable to actively control the t

1. A towed sensor array maneuvering system comprising: a towed airborne vehicle operable to be pulled by a towing airborne vehicle via a tow cable, and follow a path independently of the towing airborne vehicle;a controller coupled to the towed airborne vehicle and operable to actively control the towed airborne vehicle based on and as a function of sensed signals; anda sensor array coupled to the towed airborne vehicle and operable to receive sensed signals during flight, from a desired ground path to be followed by the towed airborne vehicle, the sensor array operably controlled by the controller so that the towed airborne vehicle actively tracks the desired ground path independent of a path of the towing airborne vehicle and is actively maneuvered in response to the sensed signals. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising aerodynamic surfaces operable to provide an aerodynamic configuration such that the towed airborne vehicle is operable to aggressively maneuver while the towed airborne vehicle is being towed by the towing airborne vehicle. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are further operable to provide stable lateral maneuverability via using direct lift and a large side force generated therefrom so as to actively maintain an orientation of the sensor array and a substantially constant altitude above the desired ground path while tracking the desired ground path. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are sized to accommodate the large side force on the towed airborne vehicle, and the aerodynamic surfaces comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: vertical surfaces, and horizontal wings. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the aerodynamic surfaces comprise upper wing panels and lower wing panels each comprising a rear panel and a forward panel hinged together in tandem to form a wing, and a tail surface attached to the rear panel. 6. The system of claim 2, wherein the aerodynamic surfaces comprise at least one flap comprising three or more segments, at least one stabilizer, at least one fixed horizontal surface coupled to at least one stabilizer, and at least one vertical surface coupled to the at least one flap. 7. The system of claim 2, wherein the aerodynamic surfaces comprise an array of vertical surfaces in a multi-plane configuration end-plated by horizontal wings in a biplane configuration, a tail boom, a tail coupled to the tail boom and one of the horizontal wings. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the towed airborne vehicle comprises an X-wing configuration. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the towed airborne vehicle comprises a box-wing configuration. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the towed airborne vehicle comprises a biplane configuration. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tow cable is operable to be removably coupled to the towing airborne vehicle and operable to engage with a winch cable. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tow cable comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: an in-line load cell operable to detect a tension load on the tow cable, a power line operable to transmit power to the towed airborne vehicle, and a communication link operable to communicate data between the towed airborne vehicle and the towing airborne vehicle. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to actively control the towed airborne vehicle based on and as a function of desired tracking parameters. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the towing airborne vehicle is an aircraft. 15. A method for maneuvering a sensor array on a towed airborne vehicle independently of a towing airborne vehicle, the method comprising: sensing by a sensor array on a towed airborne vehicle during flight, sensed signals from a desired ground path via the sensor array so that the towed airborne vehicle actively tracks the desired ground path, wherein the desired ground path taken by the towed airborne vehicle is independent of a path taken by a towing aircraft;actively maneuvering the towed airborne vehicle comprising the sensor array via a plurality of surfaces coupled thereto; andcontrolling the surfaces based on the sensed signals such that the desired ground path is tracked by the towed airborne vehicle. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: pulling the towed airborne vehicle by a tow cable coupled to the towing aircraft; andproviding a stable lateral maneuverability of the towed airborne vehicle via using a direct lift and a side force generated from the surfaces so as to maintain an orientation of the sensor array at a substantially constant altitude above the desired ground path. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the desired ground path is tracked by the towed vehicle based on and as a function of desired tracking parameters comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of: an orientation of the sensor array, an altitude of the sensor array above the desired ground path, a control authority, a control bandwidth, handling characteristics to allow proper tracking from a remote operator for mitigating a coupled dynamic interaction effect between the towed airborne vehicle and the towing airborne vehicle, a towed vehicle airspeed, a towed vehicle weight, a tow cable weight, an actuator rate, and a system latency. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the towed airborne vehicle comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: an X-wing configuration, a box-wing configuration, and a bi-plane configuration. 19. A method for towing a towed airborne vehicle independently of a towing airborne vehicle, the method comprising: pulling a towed sensor array maneuvering system by the towing airborne vehicle, the sensor array maneuvering system comprising: the towed airborne vehicle operable to be pulled by the towing airborne vehicle via a tow cable, and follow a path independently of the towing airborne vehicle;a controller coupled to the towed airborne vehicle and operable to actively control the towed airborne vehicle based on and as a function of sensed signals; anda sensor array coupled to the towed airborne vehicle and operable to receive sensed signals during flight, from a desired ground path to be followed by the towed airborne vehicle, the sensor array operably controlled by the controller so that the towed airborne vehicle actively tracks the desired ground path independent of a path of the towing airborne vehicle and is actively maneuvered in response to the sensed signals. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the towing airborne vehicle is an aircraft.