METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR STORING, LAUNCHING, AND CAPTURING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

WIPO Patent Application WO2005014390

A3

Methods and apparatuses for assembling, launching, recovering, disassembling, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft (140) and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft (140) can be assembled from a container (111) with little or no manual engagement by an operator. The container (111) can include a guide structure to control motion of the aircraft components. The aircraft (140) can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom (103). The boom (103) can be extended to deploy a recovery line (853) to capture the aircraft (140) in flight. The aircraft (140) can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored in the container (111), again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft (140).

WO/2006/063454	ARTICULATED AIRCRAFT LOADER
WO/1997/014114	AIRCRAFT DOCKING SYSTEM

DENNIS BRYAN D (US)
JACKSON CLIFFORD (US)
MCGEER BRIAN T (US)
ROESELER CORY (US)
VONFLOTOW ANDREAS H (US)

PCT/US2004/001033

March 23, 2006

January 17, 2004

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INSITU GROUP (US)
DENNIS BRYAN D (US)
JACKSON CLIFFORD (US)
MCGEER BRIAN T (US)
ROESELER CORY (US)
VONFLOTOW ANDREAS H (US)

B64F1/00; B63B27/10; B63B27/16; B63B27/26; B64C25/68; B64C39/02; B64F1/02; B64F1/04; B64F1/06

US4236686A	1980-12-02
US6264140B1	2001-07-24
US2219777A	1940-10-29
US0975953A	1910-11-15
US1960264A	1934-05-29
US1756747A	1930-04-29
US3939988A	1976-02-24
US3268090A	1966-08-23
US1686298A	1928-10-02
US1428163A	1922-09-05
US3765625A	1973-10-16
US4147317A	1979-04-03
US1530010A	1925-03-17
US2360220A	1944-10-10
US4730793A	1988-03-15
US5119935A	1992-06-09
US4678143A	1987-07-07
US1892357A	1932-12-27

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