UAV capture system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518902-B2
Application number	US-201615554934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2015
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A UAV capture system including a cable array comprising at least two laterally-spaced cables carried by a first cable support structure. Catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV are positioned to engage the cables when the UAV flies into them. A payout device pays out the engaged cables after they have been engaged by the UAV and a brake decelerates the UAV by resisting the pay out of the cables.

First claim

We claim:

1. A UAV capture system comprising:
a first cable support structure;
a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart;
port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions;
a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV; and
a cable catch bar positioned for the cables of the first cable array to drape over the cable catch bar and suspend a captured UAV following UAV engagement.

2. The UAV capture system of claim 1 in which the first cable array pay out apparatus includes a brake operable to decelerate the UAV by resisting pay out of the cables of the first cable array following UAV engagement.

3. The UAV capture system of claim 1 in which the first cable array pay out apparatus includes cable guides carried by the first cable support structure and arranged to guide the cables of the first cable array as they pay out from the payout device.

4. The UAV capture system of claim 1 in which mid portions of the cables of the first cable array are supported between vertically-spaced upper and lower cable support arms of the first cable support structure such that the mid-portions of the cables of the first cable array are disposed in linear, vertical, parallel, spaced-apart orientations.

5. A UAV capture system comprising:
a first cable support structure;
a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart, mid portions of the cables of the first cable array being supported between vertically-spaced upper and lower cable support arms of the first cable support structure such that the mid-portions of the cables of the first cable array are disposed in linear, vertical, parallel, spaced-apart orientations;
port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions, the port and starboard catches being covered by frangible fairings shaped to a curvature of the UAV wing leading edges where the catches are located; and
a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV.

6. The UAV capture system of claim 5 in which the port and starboard catches comprise respective port and starboard protrusions carried by and extending forward from the respective port and starboard wings of the UAV.

7. The UAV capture system of claim 5 in which the cables of the first cable array comprise laterally-protruding bumps carried by the cables' respective mid portions.

8. The UAV capture system of claim 5 further comprising a landing pad positioned to receive and support the UAV as the cables of the first cable array pay out and diminish forward motion of the UAV.

9. The UAV capture system of claim 8 in which the landing pad comprises a second cable array that comprises a plurality of cables disposed below and in alignment with a flight path of the UAV to be captured and that are laterally spaced-apart from one another.

10. The UAV capture system of claim 9 in which the landing pad comprises:
a cable support arm connected to forward ends of the cables of the second cable array and disposed forward of the first cable support structure;
a cable payout rod connected to aft ends of the cables of the second cable array and carried by the first cable support structure.

11. A UAV capture system comprising:
a first cable support structure;
a first cable array comprising at least two cables carried by the first cable support structure in respective positions such that at least respective portions of the two cables are spaced-apart;
port and starboard catches disposed on respective port and starboard wings of a UAV to be captured, and positioned to engage the spaced-apart cable portions when the UAV flies into the spaced-apart cable portions;
a first cable array payout apparatus connected to the cables of the first cable array and comprising a payout device that pays out the cables after they have been engaged by the UAV to be captured and resists such pay out to decelerate the UAV;
a landing pad positioned to receive and support the UAV as the cables of the first cable array pay out and diminish forward motion of the UAV;
a second cable array that comprises a plurality of cables disposed below and in alignment with a flight path of the UAV to be captured and that are laterally spaced-apart from one another;
a second cable array payout apparatus comprising a cable payout rod supported on the first cable support structure for rotation about a longitudinal rod axis and cables including windings that are wound around the payout rod prior to UAV engagement, and unwound from the payout rod as the cables of the second cable array pay out following UAV engagement of two or more cables of the second cable array.

12. The UAV capture system of claim 11 in which the second cable array payout apparatus comprises a second cable array brake operable to decelerate the UAV by resisting pay out of the cables of the second cable array.

13. The UAV capture system of claim 12 in which the second cable array brake may include:
a brake disk coaxially fixed to the cable payout rod; and
a brake caliper carried by the first cable support structure in a position to releasably apply clamping pressure to the brake disk.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Briggs David C
• Fleischer Corey A
• Klein Greg W
• Knabe Adam M
• Miller George Gregory
• Poppek Michael W

Classifications

• B64F1/025

  using decelerating or arresting beds · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C2201/182

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64F1/02 Primary

  for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables · CPC title

• B64U10/25

  Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) · CPC title