Abstract:
The present disclosure describes a system and method for the use of unmanned aircraft systems to detect, locate, and identify objects in, on, or near the water that may provide useful information to people in a different location, such as on a nearby vessel for purposes of ultimately locating fish. The vessel can then take action based on data collected by the unmanned aircraft system, such as move to a new location to catch fish as detected by the unmanned aircraft system.
Abstract:
Stowable and deployable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A UAV in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a main body, frames carried by the main body, and motors carried by the frames. At least two frames are positioned to move relative to each other between a stowed configuration in which the frames are generally aligned proximate to each other and a deployed configuration different from the stowed configuration. The main body can include a first body portion pivotably connected to a second body portion. In a stowed configuration, the body portions can generally overlap each other. A UAV in accordance with particular embodiments includes a modular electronics unit carried by the UAV and including a camera, a battery, and a vehicle controller. Modular electronics units can be configured to be removably connected to and disconnected from the UAV and other vehicles.
Abstract:
Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements.
Abstract:
A torque production vehicle (100) includes a plenum body (110) having a wall (112) with a central port (120) and a radial port (130) formed within the wall, an impeller (140) disposed within the plenum body to move air through the central port, an engine (145) coupled to the impeller to rotate the impeller about an axis (Ar), at least one arm (150) coupled to the plenum body, and a plurality of foils (160) disposed in the radial port to direct air about the plenum body to provide a torque force (Ft) about the plenum body.
Abstract:
A torque production vehicle includes a plenum body having a wall with a central port and a radial port formed within the wall, an impeller disposed within the plenum body to move air through the central port, an engine coupled to the impeller to rotate the impeller about an axis, at least one arm coupled to the plenum body, and a plurality of foils disposed in the radial port to direct air about the plenum body to provide a torque force about the plenum body.
Abstract:
L'invention concerne un aérodyne (10) comportant une hélice (84) de sustentation, une carène (14) entourant l'hélice, et un moteur (26) électrique pour l'entraînement en rotation de l'hélice par rapport à la carène. L'aérodyne comporte en outre un train d'atterrissage (13) qui est relié à la carène par une liaison à cardan, le train d'atterrissage comportant des moyens de liaison servant à relier le train d'atterrissage à un câble (12) permettant de retenir l'aérodyne captif d'une plateforme, et permettant d'alimenter le moteur électrique.
Abstract:
An unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system (10), is provided including a ground station (70), a platform (20) configured for carrying a payload (40) and having a propulsion system (30) for enabling the platform at least to selectively sustain a predetermined altitude above the ground station when in flight mode, and also including a tether (50) operatively coupling the ground station with the platform, the tether providing electrical communication between the platform and the ground station.
Abstract:
A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors (37, 43), a receiver (45), and a digital control system (57), all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors (37, 43) determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver (45) receives transmitted data (51, 55) communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system (57) calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors (37, 43) and the receiver (45) and then commands flight control devices (33) on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.
Abstract:
A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core, and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors with each rotor having a separate motor to drive the rotors about a common rotor axis of rotation. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.
Abstract:
An improved method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10) is disclosed. The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).