A tailhook with a telescopic lever, a fixed jaw, a sliding jaw, a pivot arm, and a cam arm. The lever has a second lever and a first lever end attached to a ring to which a pulling force can be applied, which allows the tailhook to test and exercise an arresting cable. The sliding jaw and the fixed jaw communicate such that the arresting cable can be accepted and clamped. The second lever end is attached to the fixed jaw, while the fixed jaw includes a thumb screw that provides tension adjustment for the fixed jaw. The pivot arm provides a clamping force, and the cam arm provides a mechanical linkage between the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw such that when force is applied to the pivot arm, the cam arm moves the sliding jaw to clamp together or unclamp the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw.

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An example system includes a rocket, a carriage, a guide element, and a launch guide. The carriage is coupled to the rocket and is configured to releasably support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The guide element is coupled to the rocket. The launch guide is configured to be engaged by the guide element during a launch of the rocket while the carriage is supporting the UAV. The guide element is configured to move along the launch guide during the launch.

Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements.

An asymmetric aircraft (1) and an aircraft (1) that can operate from small ships (8) and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar (107) without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies (90) like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil (6).

Methods and apparatus to stabilize and recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a capture line, a mast to support the capture line for contact with the UAV, and a braking stabilizer. The braking stabilizer includes a flexible stem, a body at a distal end of the stem, where the body defines first and second flexible posts, and a filament extending between the first and second posts to contact and engage a hook of the UAV.

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.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

A control system is described that is connected to an advanced arresting gear system. The control system has: (a) an outer control loop; (b) a first inner control loop associated with a port-side motor current controller for outputting a voltage command for controlling a port side motor that controls a port side of an arrestment cable; (c) a second inner control loop associated with a starboard-side motor current controller outputting a second voltage command for controlling a starboard side motor that controls the starboard side of the arrestment cable. Each of the port-side motor current controller and the starboard-side motor controller comprises: a positive sequence controller, at least one negative sequence controller, one or more delay state feedback to counter control loop delays, wherein the delay state feedback provides high bandwidth, low current overshoot, small current rise time and good current stability margins.

Apparatus and methods are provided for providing persistent aerial vehicle surveillance capabilities, including launch and recovery platforms, secured communication, sensor systems, targeting systems, locating systems, and precision landing and stabilization systems for such uses as assisting with base defenses, monitoring parking lots or facilities, providing security monitoring, assisting farmers, performing recon of enemy beaches or use by mortar teams in hostile fields of operations. One embodiment can include an aerial surveillance system using an aerial short wave infrared surveillance system platform for use when quick response in reaction to real-time conditions is preferred while relaying the geo-location and other monitoring assistance via a wireless, fiber optic type link, or an ADHOC GPS system. Embodiments of this disclosure provides a user with precise targeting, without manned air assets, and a highly mobile base of operations with swift relocation possibilities in a denied or hostile environment.

A liner motor based on radical magnetic tubes includes: a dynamicer (mover, QDZ) and a stator (STA), the structure of the stator (STA) is: a stator magnetic tube (SCG) is nested into the inner wall of a pure iron tube (DTG), the stator magnetic tube (SCG) provides a radial magnetic field, a stator tube (DZGD) is formed within the stator magnetic tube (SCG), the dynamicer can travel in the stator tube; the dynamicer iron core is a tube of a radial magnetic field and installed on a tubular coil skeleton, on which winding the dynamicer coil to form the dynamicer main body; the sliders (HDZ) are installed on both ends of the dynamicer main body load.