Release and capture of a fixed-wing aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933996-B2
Application number	US-201514816318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2015
Priority date	Aug 3, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes an unmanned, multirotor helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. The multirotor helicopter may couple to the fixed-wing aircraft to support and hold the fixed-wing aircraft. The multirotor helicopter may then elevate the fixed-wing aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude. The multirotor helicopter may also accelerate the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed and upon reaching the release speed, release the fixed-wing aircraft. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter may then return to the launch site.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
coupling an unmanned, multirotor helicopter to a fixed-wing aircraft;
elevating the fixed-wing aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter;
accelerating the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter;
releasing the fixed-wing aircraft from the unmanned, multirotor helicopter upon reaching the release speed;
returning the unmanned, multirotor aircraft to the launch site;
elevating, the unmanned, multirotor helicopter, from the launch site and accelerating, the unmanned, multirotor helicopter;
capturing the fixed-wing aircraft using the multirotor helicopter;
decelerating the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to a hover; and
descending the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to the launch site;
wherein capturing the fixed-wing aircraft further comprises:
coordinating a capture sequence between the fixed-wing aircraft and the multirotor helicopter, the capture sequence comprising:
flying the unmanned, multirotor helicopter at an elevation above the fixed-wing aircraft until the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the fixed-wing aircraft have synchronized vectors and speeds, and then in response, descending the unmanned multirotor helicopter in elevation and connecting the fixed-wing aircraft to the unmanned, multirotor helicopter; and
prior to flying the unmanned, multirotor helicopter at an elevation above the fixed-wing aircraft until the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the fixed-wing aircraft have synchronized vectors and speeds, communicating a desired capture speed of the fixed-wing aircraft, a desired capture elevation of the fixed-wing aircraft, and a desired capture vector of the fixed-wing aircraft between the fixed-wing aircraft and the multirotor aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein accelerating the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter further comprises utilizing a propulsion system of the fixed-wing aircraft to enhance the acceleration of the unmanned, multirotor helicopter.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon releasing the fixed-wing aircraft, the unmanned multirotor helicopter elevates away from the fixed-wing aircraft to avoid downdraft interference with the fixed-wing aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned multirotor helicopter is controlled by a remotely located pilot.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating, accelerating, releasing, and returning are performed by the multirotor helicopter autonomously.

Assignees

• Gamble Dustin
• Curran Matthew
• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Gamble Dustin
• Curran Matthew

Classifications

• B64U80/82 Primary

  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

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U10/25

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