Ground support equipment for a high altitude long endurance aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11414210-B2
Application number	US-202017605738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2020
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for a ground support system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: at least one handling fixture, where each handling fixture is configured to support at least one wing panel of the UAV; and at least one dolly, where each dolly is configured to receive at least one landing pod of the UAV, and where each landing pod supports at least one wing panel of the UAV; where the at least one handling fixture and the at least one dolly are configured to move and rotate two or more wing panels to align the two or more wing panels with each other for assembly of the UAV; and where the at least one dolly further allows for transportation of the UAV over uneven terrain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ground support system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
at least one handling fixture, wherein each handling fixture is configured to support at least one wing panel of the UAV; and
at least one dolly, wherein each dolly is configured to receive at least one landing pod of the UAV, and wherein each landing pod supports at least one wing panel of the UAV;
wherein the at least one handling fixture and the at least one dolly are configured to move and rotate two or more wing panels to align the two or more wing panels with each other for assembly of the UAV; and
wherein the at least one dolly further allows for transportation of the UAV over uneven terrain.

2. The ground support system of claim 1 , wherein each handling fixture is fitted to a wing panel spar of the at least one wing panel.

3. The ground support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handling fixture further comprises:
one or more wheels attached to a base, wherein the one or more wheels allow each wing panel to be moved around for attachment to another wing panel.

4. The ground support system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one handling fixture further comprises:
one or more legs attached to the base, wherein the one or more legs are configured to engage with at least one transportation fixture for transporting the UAV, wherein each transportation fixture is configured to load and unload wing panels into a shipping fixture.

5. The ground support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handling fixture allows each wing panel to rotate 360 degrees relative to a ground level.

6. The ground support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handling fixture is height-adjustable to raise or lower the wing panel of the UAV to a desired working height relative to a ground level.

7. The ground support system of claim 1 , wherein the UAV is secured to the at least one dolly via the at least one landing pod of the UAV.

8. The ground support system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a yoke; and
a winch connecting the yoke to the dolly, wherein the UAV is prevented from flying via an attachment of the yoke proximate a nose of the landing pod.

9. The ground support system of claim 8 , wherein the UAV is further prevented from flying based on a ballast weight of the UAV.

10. The ground support system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a lift tray of the dolly, wherein the lift tray cradles the landing pod to further prevent flying of the UAV.

11. The ground support system of claim 10 , wherein the lift tray can lower or raise relative to a ground level.

12. The ground support system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a rear gate of the dolly, wherein the rear gate opens for the winch to pull the landing pod into the lift tray via the yoke, and wherein the rear gate closes to secure the landing pod in the lift tray.

13. The ground support system of claim 10 , wherein the lift tray positions the wing panel of the UAV at a first pitch angle, wherein the UAV maintains a second pitch angle during flight, wherein the first pitch angle is greater than the second pitch angle, and wherein the first pitch angle decreases a chance that the UAV will unintentionally take flight.

14. The ground support system of claim 13 , wherein the first pitch angle would cause the UAV to stall if the UAV takes off unintentionally.

15. The ground support system of claim 13 , wherein the first pitch angle is about 14°, and wherein the second pitch angle is about 10°.

16. The ground support system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one interconnect frame connected between each dolly, wherein each interconnect frame stabilizes the UAV after assembly and during transportation of the UAV.

17. The ground support system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a towing frame connector configured to connect to the at least one interconnect frame, wherein the towing frame connector is configured to connect to a vehicle such that the vehicle can tow the UAV to a runway site.

18. The ground support system of claim 17 , wherein the UAV is towed sideways by the vehicle.

19. The ground support system of claim 17 , wherein the UAV is towed by the vehicle in a first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to a forward direction of flight of the UAV, and wherein towing in the first direction decreases a chance that the UAV will unintentionally take flight.

20. The ground support system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a wind fence attached to the vehicle, wherein the wind fence comprises a porous screen that protects the UAV from high winds during towing and allows for faster towing speeds.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Millspaugh Tom

Classifications

• B64F1/224 Primary

  Towing bars · CPC title

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B64C25/32

  characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface  (arrester hooks B64C25/68) · CPC title

• B64C2201/208

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C39/024

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