Abstract:
A modular component set is configurable to form a plurality of flight capable platforms. A plurality of end pieces each has contiguously connected curved outer portions each longitudinally expanding from a tip to terminate at a blunt attachment face. Body members have opposed ends to receive the end piece blunt attachment face, and a rectangular shaped mid-portion having opposed walls. A plurality of task specific panels are each releasably connectable to one of the opposed walls. At least one of the body members with the end pieces joined at the opposed ends, and at least one of the task specific panels connected to one of the opposed walls form a minimum component set for each of the flight capable platforms.
Abstract:
A parafoil recovery system capable of autonomously controlling the descent profile of a payload to a recovery area and maneuvering the parafoil to execute a soft landing in the recovery area is disclosed. A descent profile management system determines wind speed and direction, altitude, heading, and position of the payload based on sensor input. The descent profile management system also determines a gliding flight path profile from the launch point to the desired recovery area. A flare and stall maneuver is executed at the end of the landing sequence by braking the parafoil to slow the vertical descent speed and groundspeed for a soft landing. The pitch attitude of the payload can be adjusted by the descent profile management system to prevent nose-first impact with the ground. The parafoil canopy is released from the payload upon touchdown to prevent the canopy from dragging the payload on the ground after landing.
Abstract:
The recoverable airborne instrument platform accurately determines its present position and uses this data to execute a predetermined flight plan and ultimately guide its descent to a predetermined landing site. This is accomplished by installing the instrument package payload in the aerodynamic exterior housing of the recoverable airborne instrument platform, which has a plurality of moveable control surfaces thereon to autonomously control the altitude, attitude and flight path of the recoverable airborne instrument platform. A navigation circuit contained within the aerodynamic housing determines the geographic location of the recoverable airborne instrument platform as well as the location of at least one predetermined recovery site. The determined position data is used to dynamically calculate a flight path which allows the guidance control circuit to both execute a predetermined flight plan and controllably descend the recoverable instrument platform to a selected predetermined recovery site. Upon arrival at the selected predetermined recovery site, the recoverable airborne instrument platform descends to a predetermined height over the selected predetermined recovery site and activates a parachute release mechanism to controllably descend to the selected predetermined recovery site.
Abstract:
Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) packs flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles. The hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a body, a tail, at least one power source and a lens bin, wherein the body comprises a middle section, a first side section and a second side section; two sides of the middle section are respectively detachably connected with the first side section and the second side section correspondingly; the tail is fixed to the middle section; the power source is fixed to the middle section; and the lens bin is fixed to the middle section and provided with a flexible cushion. The invention overcomes the technical defects in the prior art that the body maintenance cost of the hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle is high and the lens bin is very likely to be damaged due to collision between the lens bin of the hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle and the ground.
Abstract:
A control system configured to control a deceleration process of an air vehicle which comprises at least one tiltable propulsion unit, each of the at least one tiltable propulsion units is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle.
Abstract:
This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
Abstract:
This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
Abstract:
An apparatus for capture of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises a wind tunnel including at least one fan for generating airflow in the wind tunnel; sensors for sensing characteristics of the UAV; and a control system coupled to said sensors and said at least one fan. The control system is configured to cause the at least one fan to generate airflow based on the sensed characteristics of the UAV to bring the UAV that is in the wind tunnel to a low or zero airspeed above a floor of the wind tunnel, thereby allowing the UAV to be dropped onto the floor of the wind tunnel when the airflow and a motive force of the UAV are stopped.
Abstract:
An unmanned air vehicle includes a body having front and rear sections with at least one pair of end plates connected to the body, wherein one end plate within the at least one pair of end plates is connected to the left side of the body and another end plate within the at least one pair of end plates is connected to the right side of the body, each end plate having upper and lower sections, wherein: a) the upper section is positioned above a mean line of the body; b) the lower section is positioned below the mean line of the body; and c) a ratio of the area of the upper section to the area of the lower section is less than 1.