초록 ▼

The present invention's side-arm recovery system enables large Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) to operate from small vessels or from ground sites with a minimal footprint. The side-arm recovery system allows arresting an UAS independent of a runway. On the ground or on a ship, the system makes use

The present invention's side-arm recovery system enables large Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) to operate from small vessels or from ground sites with a minimal footprint. The side-arm recovery system allows arresting an UAS independent of a runway. On the ground or on a ship, the system makes use of a specialized crane system that includes capture and energy absorption devices. A fuselage-mounted top hook snags a horizontal cable and the arresting forces act in the plane of symmetry through the central structure of the UAS. After the capture energy is absorbed, the recovery system safely lowers the aerial vehicle to a ground handling cart. The same system can be combined into a launcher and retriever system which further reduces the footprint by eliminating the need for a separate launcher.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An aerial vehicle recovery system, comprising: an articulating crane;a rail positioned at a distal end of said articulating crane;a shuttle slideably coupled with said rail;a first set of two stanchions mounted to said shuttle;a second set of two stanchions mounted to said shuttle;a first capture

1. An aerial vehicle recovery system, comprising: an articulating crane;a rail positioned at a distal end of said articulating crane;a shuttle slideably coupled with said rail;a first set of two stanchions mounted to said shuttle;a second set of two stanchions mounted to said shuttle;a first capture cable stretched across said first set of two stanchions, the first capture cable capturing a first hook on an aerial vehicle; anda second capture cable stretched across said second set of two stanchions, the second capture cable capturing a second hook on the aerial vehicle, the second hook being spaced apart from the first hook, wherein the second capture cable reduces post-capture motion of the aerial vehicle caused by capture of the aerial vehicle by said first capture cable. 2. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein the articulating crane comprises a rotating base. 3. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein each of said first capture cable and said second capture cable is stretched horizontally across its corresponding set of two stanchions. 4. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein the first capture cable is coupled to a shock absorbing device. 5. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 4, wherein said second capture cable is disposed forward of said first capture cable. 6. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein the second a hook is positioned on a front end of the aerial vehicle. 7. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 6, wherein the second hook is engaged with the second capture cable through upward angular momentum of the aerial vehicle generated from initial deceleration of the aerial vehicle. 8. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein forces and moments imparted by the aerial vehicle are transferred to the articulating crane. 9. The aerial vehicle recovery system of claim 1, wherein the rail folds to facilitate stowage. 10. An aerial vehicle, comprising: a fixed wing;a fuselage;a propulsion device;a top hook assembly, the top hook assembly comprising a hook portion and a retractable arm portion, wherein the retractable arm portion is hingedly coupled to a top side of said fuselage;an extension mechanism configured to extend and retract the retractable arm portion; anda second top hook assembly disposed forward of said top hook assembly, and engaging a different capture cable than the top hook assembly's hook portion. 11. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein said top hook assembly acts as a spring-damper for capture loads. 12. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the retractable arm portion is coupled to the top side of said fuselage via a central bulkhead. 13. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the central bulkhead serves as a wing carry-through structure. 14. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the top hook assembly's hook portion and retractable arm portion are formed as a single element of a fixed length. 15. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the top hook assembly's retractable arm portion is formed from multiple elements and configured to fold. 16. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the top hook assembly's retractable arm portion is telescopic. 17. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the top hook assembly is positioned aft of the aerial vehicle's center of mass. 18. An aerial vehicle recovery apparatus, comprising: a rail;a shuttle slideably coupled with said rail, wherein the shuttle comprises a first set of two stanchions, a second set of two stanchions, and wherein the shuttle is coupled with said rail via a shuttle cable;a first capture cable stretched across said first set of two stanchions, the first capture cable capturing a first hook on an aerial vehicle; anda second capture cable stretched across said second set of two stanchions, the second capture cable capturing a second hook on the aerial vehicle, wherein the said second capture cable reduces post-capture motion of the aerial vehicle, wherein the first capture cable and second capture cable engage different portions of the aerial vehicle. 19. The aerial vehicle recovery apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said first capture cable and said second capture cable is stretched horizontally across its corresponding set of two stanchions. 20. The aerial vehicle recovery apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first capture cable is coupled to a shock absorbing device. 21. The aerial vehicle recovery apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second hook is positioned on a front end of the aerial vehicle. 22. The aerial vehicle recovery apparatus of claim 20, wherein second capture cable is disposed forward of said first capture cable. 23. The aerial vehicle recovery apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rail folds to facilitate stowage.