An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
system that couples the speed and responsiveness of a shoulder-launched
rocket with the stable, slow-moving aerial platform of a parafoil is disclosed. The unique use of an over-damped
rocket automatically positions the parafoil upwind of its target and overcomes the inherent inability of the parafoil to make
headway in adverse wind conditions. This marriage of a
rocket and a parafoil creates a valuable new
synergy that allows the rocket to very quickly position a
payload at altitude and defeat any adverse winds, while the parafoil provides an inexpensive and easy-to-fly vehicle for reconnaissance or accurately placing a
payload on a target. The
system is suitable for aerial videography, thermal imagery, target designation, sensor placement or precision munitions delivery; and can perform these functions at a small fraction of the cost of any other UAV. Unlike other UAV's, no flying skills are required of the operator. The
system is so simple to use that no special training is required even for flying at night, and the intrinsic stability of the parafoil eliminates the need for avionic control systems.