Abstract: A rotorcraft-assisted system configured to launch a fixed-wing aircraft into flight comprising a fixed-wing aircraft and an aircraft launch apparatus where the aircraft launch apparatus comprises a mechanism for attaching the rotorcraft to the fixed-wing aircraft, such as a saddle that removably engages the wing or wings of the fixed-wing aircraft.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 3, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 13, 2024
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure describes various systems, devices, and methods configured to retrieve a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight using a flexible capture member and a monopole assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2022
Date of Patent:
July 11, 2023
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Caleb A. Woodruff, Benjamin T. Ketler
Abstract: The present disclosure presents various embodiments of a system for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight using a flexible capture member. The system includes a GPS reference sensor and a communication link to guide the fixed-wing aircraft to intercept the flexible capture member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 8, 2020
Date of Patent:
June 6, 2023
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 12, 2019
Date of Patent:
May 2, 2023
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2020
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2023
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Pepin Reiss, Jessie Massong
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of an aircraft retrieval system including winch-equipped retrieval assembly that is removably attachable to a rotorcraft to facilitate retrieval of a fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 23, 2021
Date of Patent:
December 13, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2018
Date of Patent:
August 16, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure describes various systems and methods configured to: launch a fixed-wing aircraft from a moving object into free, wing-borne flight using a multicopter; retrieve the multicopter after fixed-wing aircraft launch using a retrieval winch; retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight back onto the moving object using the multicopter; and retrieve the multicopter after fixed-wing aircraft retrieval using the retrieval winch.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 4, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2020
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Pepin Reiss
Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft capable of long-distance efficient cruising flight from a small space without the use of a long runway.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2020
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Reiss
Abstract: The present disclosure describes various systems, devices, and methods configured to retrieve a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight using a flexible capture member and a monopole assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2020
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2022
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Caleb A. Woodruff, Benjamin T. Ketler
Abstract: A rotorcraft-assisted launch and retrieval system, and a method for controlling an airborne rotorcraft which includes controlling by a controller a first feedback loop about a longitudinal roll axis of the airborne rotorcraft and controlling by the controller a second feedback loop about a horizontal pitch axis of the airborne rotorcraft, without controlling a vertical yaw axis of the airborne rotorcraft.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 17, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 21, 2021
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Caleb Andrew Woodruff, Daniel Pepin Reiss
Abstract: A rotorcraft-assisted system for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system is usable with a rotorcraft to launch a fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight and to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2018
Date of Patent:
June 8, 2021
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of an aircraft retrieval system including winch-equipped retrieval assembly that is removably attachable to a rotorcraft to facilitate retrieval of a fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2021
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 21, 2020
Date of Patent:
January 26, 2021
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Pepin Reiss
Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide wind harvesting systems and methods using crosswind power kites and methods for launching crosswind power kites into wing-borne flight, for generating electricity through such flights, and for landing or retrieving such crosswind power kites.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 2019
Date of Patent:
November 24, 2020
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2020
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Pepin Reiss
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a rotorcraft-assisted launch and retrieval system including a rotorcraft having a fixed-wing aircraft capture assembly configured to capture a fixed-wing aircraft.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 25, 2020
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 25, 2020
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler
Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2020
Assignee:
Hood Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Andreas H. von Flotow, Corydon C. Roeseler, Daniel Pepin Reiss