VTOL Carrier Aircraft Releases Fixed-Wing UAV for Independent Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixed-wing UAVs augmented with VTOL kits face limitations in maximum airspeed, ceiling, payload capacity, and endurance due to the added weight and drag of rotors and mounting hardware during missions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a VTOL aerial vehicle to take off vertically while carrying a fixed-wing aircraft, transition to horizontal flight, release it for independent operation, and then capture it again for vertical landing, avoiding the drawbacks of conventional VTOL kits by separating the VTOL capabilities from the mission aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fixed-wing UAV is augmented with a VTOL kit including rotors and propellers, then the UAV achieves vertical takeoff and landing capability, but the rotors and mounting hardware add weight and drag that limit maximum airspeed, ceiling, payload capacity, and endurance
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the VTOL functionality into a separate carrier aircraft that can vertically take off and land, while the fixed-wing mission aircraft remains independent. The carrier aircraft carries the mission aircraft during VTOL operations but releases it for horizontal flight, eliminating the need for the mission aircraft to carry VTOL components.
Solution Approach 2:
The VTOL capability is extracted from the fixed-wing mission aircraft and placed in a separate carrier aircraft. This allows the mission aircraft to operate without the weight and drag penalties of VTOL components during its primary mission, while still benefiting from vertical launch and recovery capabilities through the carrier.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotors and propellers are added to enable vertical flight, then VTOL capability is achieved, but drag increases limiting maximum airspeed and endurance
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the VTOL function (performed by carrier aircraft with rotors) from the fixed-wing mission aircraft. The mission aircraft experiences no rotor drag during horizontal flight since it operates independently after release from the carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor system is extracted from the mission aircraft and placed solely on the carrier aircraft. This eliminates the harmful drag effect on the mission aircraft during its primary horizontal flight operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If VTOL kit components are mounted on the fixed-wing aircraft, then vertical takeoff and landing is enabled, but payload capacity is reduced due to additional weight
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the VTOL function into a separate carrier aircraft, allowing the mission aircraft to carry its full payload without the additional weight of VTOL components. The carrier aircraft bears the weight of its own VTOL kit separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The VTOL kit weight is extracted from the mission aircraft and placed on the carrier aircraft, directly increasing the mission aircraft's available payload capacity by eliminating the weight of rotors, propellers, and mounting hardware.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the fixed-wing aircraft to perform missions without the performance penalties of carrying VTOL equipment, achieving improved airspeed, ceiling, payload capacity, and endurance by using a separate VTOL aircraft for launch, recovery, and vertical takeoff/landing.
Implementation Method 1
a set of rotor assemblies coupled with the frame
Implementation Method 2
The rotors/propellers operate during takeoff and landing to enable the fixed-wing UAV to take off and land vertically
Implementation Method 3
A conventional fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fixed-wing airframe that generates lift as the UAV flies horizontally
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques involve releasing and/or capturing a fixed-wing aircraft using an aerial vehicle with VTOL capabilities while the fixed-wing aircraft is in flight. For example, the VTOL aerial vehicle may take off vertically while carrying the fixed-wing aircraft and then fly horizontally before releasing the fixed-wing aircraft. Upon release, the fixed-wing aircraft flies independently to perform a mission (e.g., surveillance, payload delivery, combinations thereof, etc.). After the fixed-wing aircraft has completed its mission, the VTOL aerial vehicle may capture the fixed-wing aircraft while both are in flight, and then land together vertically. Such operation enables the fixed-wing aircraft to vertically take off and/or land while avoiding certain drawbacks associated with a conventional VTOL kit such as being burdened by weight and drag from the VTOL kit's rotors/propellers, mounting hardware, etc. during a mission which otherwise would limit the fixed-wing aircraft's maximum airspeed, ceiling, payload capacity, endurance, and so on.