Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An example system includes a support having an upright portion and a boom portion. The example system further includes a capture line carried by and extending downwardly relative to the boom portion. The capture line has an engagement portion positioned to engage an unmanned aircraft. The example system further includes a flexible landing device positioned to receive the unmanned aircraft in response to the unmanned aircraft engaging the engagement portion.

An unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) recovery system for in-flight recovery of a fixed wing UAV includes a catching device and a plurality of hover-capable drones, such as multi-rotors. The catching device is for catching the fixed wing UAV via a hook system during flight of the fixed wing UAV and takes the form of a line between the recovery drones. The recovery drones are arranged to support the catching device as it spans a gap in a horizontal orientation with the catching device suspended between at least two recovery drones that are in flight and spaced apart horizontally from each other either side of the gap. During a recovery operation the recovery drones co-ordinate their movement to adopt a flight path relative to a flight path of the fixed wing UAV to define a virtual runway for interception of the fixed wing UAV by the recovery system.

Methods and apparatus to recover rotorcraft are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a rotor of a vehicle, a rotatable hub to support the rotor, and a rotor hook disposed on the rotor. The rotor hook has a groove to receive a recovery line. The rotor is to contact the recovery line when the vehicle is flown toward the recovery line.

Methods and apparatus to recover rotorcraft are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a rotor of a vehicle, a rotatable hub to support the rotor, and a rotor hook disposed on the rotor. The rotor hook has a groove to receive a recovery line. The rotor is to contact the recovery line when the vehicle is flown toward the recovery line.

Example magnetic recovery systems and magnetic docking mechanisms for fixed-wing UAVs are disclosed herein. An example capture mechanism for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a first member attached to a capture vehicle, the first member having a first portion having a first shape and a magnetic portion; and a second member attached to the UAV, the second member having a second portion having a second shape, wherein the first member and the second member mutually self-align responsive to incidental contact of the first shape and the second shape, and the magnetic portion is to capture the second member.

Example magnetic recovery systems and magnetic docking mechanisms for fixed-wing UAVs are disclosed herein. An example capture mechanism for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a first member attached to a capture vehicle, the first member having a first portion having a first shape and a magnetic portion; and a second member attached to the UAV, the second member having a second portion having a second shape, wherein the first member and the second member mutually self-align responsive to incidental contact of the first shape and the second shape, and the magnetic portion is to capture the second member.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tethered wing recovery is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a detachable portion of a wing that is couplable to a fixed portion of the wing, a lock configured to fasten the detachable portion to the fixed portion, where the lock is to disengage the detachable portion from the fixed portion upon contact of the wing with a recovery device, and a tether configured to extend between the detachable and fixed portions.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tethered wing recovery is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a detachable portion of a wing that is couplable to a fixed portion of the wing, a lock configured to fasten the detachable portion to the fixed portion, where the lock is to disengage the detachable portion from the fixed portion upon contact of the wing with a recovery device, and a tether configured to extend between the detachable and fixed portions.

Capture devices for unmanned aerial vehicles, including track borne capture lines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes at least one support having an upright portion and at least one boom portion, a carriage track carried by the at least one boom portion, and a carriage carried by, and movable along, the carriage track. The system can further include a capture line carried by and extending downwardly from the at least one boom portion, or the carriage, or both the at least one boom portion and the carriage.

An external anchoring harpoon for an aircraft in order to anchor the aircraft on an anchor grid of a platform, the external anchoring harpoon comprises a frame connected to the aircraft, a harpoon head, and a deployment device for deploying the harpoon head. The deployment device comprises a cable, a movement device for moving the cable connected to the frame, the cable being connected to the harpoon head and to the movement device. The deployment device also comprises a main telescopic strut and two secondary telescopic struts so as to enable the harpoon head to be centered under the aircraft and so as to enable the harpoon head to be anchored to the anchor grid.