A method of capturing an aerial vehicle comprises rotating a first blade of the aerial vehicle, the first blade coupled to a hub of the aerial vehicle and having a contour configured to facilitate entanglement of a payload line of a winch system around the aerial vehicle. The method further comprises contacting, by a leading edge of the first blade, the payload line of the winch system and pulling the payload line towards the hub of the aerial vehicle, wherein the payload line is pulled towards the hub as the first blade continues to rotate and wherein continued rotation of the first blade causes the payload line to be tangled around the hub of the aerial vehicle.

A system for defeating a threat unmanned aerial vehicle. The system includes a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle, a capturing device configured to be suspended from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle for arresting a threat unmanned aerial vehicle, and one or more load-limited release mechanisms for removably suspending a releasable portion of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle. In certain embodiments, the load-limited release mechanisms are configured to release the entirety of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle upon capture of the threat unmanned aerial vehicle. In other embodiments, the load limited release mechanisms are configured to release only a peripheral portion of the capturing device to reposition a captured unmanned aerial vehicle to a central portion of the capturing device for carrying the captured vehicle to a remote location.

A system for defeating a threat unmanned aerial vehicle. The system includes a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle, a capturing device configured to be suspended from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle for arresting a threat unmanned aerial vehicle, and one or more load-limited release mechanisms for removably suspending a releasable portion of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle. In certain embodiments, the load-limited release mechanisms are configured to release the entirety of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle upon capture of the threat unmanned aerial vehicle. In other embodiments, the load limited release mechanisms are configured to release only a peripheral portion of the capturing device to reposition a captured unmanned aerial vehicle to a central portion of the capturing device for carrying the captured vehicle to a remote location.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus (100) for recovering an unmanned vehicle (20), comprising: a container (103) for storing at least one unmanned vehicle (20), the container (103) having an opening (105) for receiving an unmanned vehicle (20) an extendable tether (102), a first end of the tether (102) being coupled to the inside of the container (103), a second end of the tether being arranged to pass through the opening (105); and at least one light source (106) affixed to the second end of the tether (102). The present disclosure also provides an aircraft (10) having the apparatus (100), an unmanned vehicle (20) to be recovered and methods of recovering an unmanned vehicle.

A system and method for capturing an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a net configured to receive the unmanned aerial vehicle, an infrared emitter arrangement including a plurality of infrared emitters arranged around the net, an infrared sensor mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to detect the infrared emitter arrangement, and a processor that is in communication with the infrared sensor and configured to adjust an azimuth and elevation of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the detected infrared emitter arrangement in a field-of-view of the infrared sensor.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch and recovery is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus for recovering a UAV includes a base to be mounted to a recovery vehicle, a flexible arm extending from the base to pivot therefrom, the arm having a first end at the base and a second end opposite the first end, the arm to move to counteract a movement of the recovery vehicle, and a coupler mounted on or proximate the second end of the arm, the coupler to be releasably coupled to the UAV.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.

The present invention relates to the field of the unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular to a suspended landing and take-off and management base.

The present invention relates to the field of the unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular to a suspended landing and take-off and management base.