公开(公告)号：US11639223B1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-02

申请号：US17455383

申请日：2021-11-17

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Joseph Allwein ,  Kevin David Koller ,  Ryan Bylard ,  Roy Hultenius

IPC: B64D3/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64U70/20 ,  B64U10/25 ,  B64U80/82

Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

公开(公告)号：US11820531B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17455376

申请日：2021-11-17

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Joseph Allwein ,  James William Groves ,  Kevin David Koller ,  Ryan Bylard ,  Roy Hultenius

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64F1/02 ,  B64U70/30

CPC classification number: B64F1/029 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64U70/30

Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

公开(公告)号：US20230150691A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-18

申请号：US17455376

申请日：2021-11-17

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Joseph Allwein ,  James William Groves ,  Kevin David Koller ,  Ryan Bylard ,  Roy Hultenius

IPC: B64F1/02 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64F1/029 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/182

Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

公开(公告)号：US20230150668A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-18

申请号：US17455383

申请日：2021-11-17

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Joseph Allwein ,  Kevin David Koller ,  Ryan Bylard ,  Roy Hultenius

IPC: B64D3/02 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: B64D3/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/206

Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

公开(公告)号：US11724807B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-15

申请号：US15930281

申请日：2020-05-12

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Kevin David Koller ,  Michael Joseph Allwein ,  Roy Hultenius ,  Armen Assatourian ,  Russell Temple

IPC: B64U70/20 ,  B64D5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64U70/30 ,  B64U80/82

CPC classification number: B64D5/00 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64U70/20 ,  B64U70/30 ,  B64U80/82

Abstract: In-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US20210354825A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US15930281

申请日：2020-05-12

Applicant: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Kevin David Koller ,  Michael Joseph Allwein

IPC: B64D5/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.