Method and apparatus for retrieving a hovering aircraft

摘要

For retrieval of a hovering aircraft, a cable, bar, or similar fixture is suspended in an approximately horizontal orientation across the retrieval area between two well-separated supports. The aircraft slowly flies into this fixture, which then slides along the aircraft in a direction approximately parallel with the aircraft's thrust line. This leads to the aircraft becoming fastened to the fixture by an interceptor or aircraft capturer, which in alternative embodiments are respectively on the aircraft or the fixture or both. Thrust is then reduced, and the aircraft comes to rest hanging from the fixture for subsequent removal. Retrieval is thus accomplished with simple and economical apparatus, light and unobtrusive elements on the aircraft, low risk of damage, and only moderate piloting accuracy.

主权项

1. A flying object capturing method comprising:
(a) causing a member connected to a body of a flying object to contact and removably attach to a first retrieval fixture suspended by a plurality of supports; (b) thereafter, causing the flying object to rotate at least partially around the first retrieval fixture such that the flying object contacts a second retrieval fixture suspended by the plurality of supports substantially parallel to the first retrieval fixture, at a substantially same altitude as the first retrieval fixture, and spaced apart from the first retrieval fixture; and (c) stopping the rotation of the flying object around the first retrieval fixture with the second retrieval fixture such that the flying object is in a substantially horizontal orientation.