Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are hindered by their limited payload and duration. Consequently, UAVs spend little time in their area of operation, returning frequently to base for refueling. The effective payload and duration of small UAVs is increased by moving the support base closer to the operating area; however this increases risk to personnel. Performing the refueling operations autonomously allows the support base to be located closer to the operating area without increasing risk to personnel. Engineers at SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) are working to develop technologies for automated launch, recovery, refueling, rearming, and re-launching of small UAVs. These technologies are intended to provide forward-refueling capabilities by teaming small UAVs with large unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The UGVs have larger payload capacities so they can easily carry fuel for the UAVs in addition to their own fuel and mission payloads. This paper describes a prototype system that launched and recovered a remotely-piloted UAV from a UGV and performed automated refueling of a UAV mockup.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff über TIB

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles

    MCDONNELL WILLIAM R / BAKER CHARLES H | Europäisches Patentamt | 2017

    Freier Zugriff

    LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

    MCDONNELL WILLIAM R / BAKER CHARLES H | Europäisches Patentamt | 2015

    Freier Zugriff


    FULLY AUTOMATED LAUNCH AND RECOVERY PLATFORM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

    STEPURA OLEKSANDR VOLODYMYROVYCH / TOPTUN MYKOLA MYKOLAIOVYTCH | Europäisches Patentamt | 2020

    Freier Zugriff

    FULLY AUTOMATED LAUNCH AND RECOVERY PLATFORM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

    STEPURA OLEKSANDR VOLODYMYROVYCH / TOPTUN MYKOLA MYKOLAIOVYTCH | Europäisches Patentamt | 2021

    Freier Zugriff