System and method for releasing UAVs from an airborne vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906641-B1
Application number	US-201815947261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 6, 2018
Priority date	Apr 6, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A system for releasably retaining at least one UAV in an aircraft includes a support member connected to the aircraft and extending through a passage. At least one boom is secured to the support member. Each boom has an expanded condition preventing the UAV from exiting the passage and a collapsed condition allowing the UAV to exit the passage in the wing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for releasably retaining multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in an aircraft, the system comprising:
a support member connected to the aircraft and extending through a passage; and
multiple booms secured to the support member, each boom having an expanded condition preventing one of the UAVs from exiting the passage and a collapsed condition allowing the respective UAV to exit the passage.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an actuating member connected to each boom and movable relative to the support member to place each boom in the expanded and collapsed conditions.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a linear actuator for moving the actuating member relative to the support member.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein movement of the actuating member in a first direction places each boom in the expanded condition and movement of the actuating member in a second direction opposite the first direction places each boom in the collapsed condition.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein each boom includes:
a base connected to the support member;
arms pivotably connected to the base; and
a tensioning member connected to each arm and the actuating member for controlling movement of the arms relative to the base.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the support member includes a longitudinal passage for receiving the actuating member and slots extending radially through the support member to the longitudinal passage, the tensioning members extending from the arms and through the radial slots to the actuating member.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the base is fixed to the support member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support member is connected to a surface of a wing of the aircraft and the passage extends within the wing.

9. A UAV release and recover system for an aircraft wing, comprising:
at least one UAV provided in a passage in the wing;
a support member connected to the aircraft and extending through the passage and each UAV;
at least one boom secured to the support member, each boom having an expanded condition preventing each UAV from exiting the passage in the wing and a collapsed condition allowing each UAV to exit the passage in the wing; and
an actuating member connected to each boom and movable relative to the support member to place each boom in the expanded and collapsed conditions.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a linear actuator for moving the actuating member relative to the support member.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein multiple booms are secured to the support member, each boom retaining a UAV within the passage of the wing.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein each boom includes:
a base connected to the support member;
arms pivotably connected to the base; and
a tensioning member connected to each arm and the actuating member for controlling movement of the arms relative to the base.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a longitudinal passage for receiving the actuating member and slots extending radially through the support member to the longitudinal passage, the tensioning members extending from the arms and through the radial slots to the actuating member.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein movement of the actuating member in a first direction places each boom in the expanded condition and movement of the actuating member in a second direction opposite the first direction places each boom in the collapsed condition.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the UAV is hollow and formed from an elastically deformable material.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the UAV includes projections for helping retain the UAV within the passage in the wing.

17. A method of releasably retaining at least one UAV in a wing of an aircraft, the method comprising:
providing the at least one UAV along a support member within a passage of the wing;
expanding at least one boom secured to the support member to prevent the at least one UAV from exiting the passage in the wing; and
collapsing the boom to allow the at least one UAV to exit the passage in the wing to be released from the aircraft.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
passing the released UAV into the passage and over the boom; and
expanding the boom to prevent the UAV from exiting the passage in the wing.

Assignees

• Anderson Charles M
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Anderson Charles M

Classifications

• B64U80/82

  Airborne vehicles · CPC title

• B64U70/30

  for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net · CPC title

• B64U2101/31

  for surveillance · CPC title

• B64U70/20 Primary

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B64C3/26

  Construction, shape, or attachment of separate skins, e.g. panels · CPC title