A support structure, including an excavation and a plurality of irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies at least partially filing the excavation. Each respective irregularly shaped foamed glass body has an aspect ratio of about 1:1.7 and a diameter of about 1 inch. The irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies intersect to define stacking angles of at least about 35 degrees. Under compression, the irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies crush and break up before slip failure occurs such that the roadbed has a crushing failure mode.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.

An aircraft arrestor system which provides a controllable deceleration force for an aircraft during an overrun event is disclosed. The arrestor systems arrest aircraft movement by creating a controllable deceleration force or drag force on the aircraft's landing gear. The aircraft arrestor system comprises an arresting medium which is contained by a plurality of adjacent containment cells. The arresting medium comprises smooth and rounded expanded glass particles which are loose and unbroken. The particles also have a controlled size range of about 0.04 inches to about 0.75 inches, and at least about 75% of the particles have a minimum size which is not less than about ¼ of the size of the largest particles.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

Materials and structures for absorbing energy. The materials and structures are well suited for arresting aircraft and other vehicles, although their purposes need not be so limited. Also detailed are packaging and other solutions for maintaining system integrity, especially (but not exclusively) when foam glass or other aggregate is employed and stabilizing the location of the aggregate is desired.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.

Disclosed is a recovery device for unmanned aerial vehicles including a recovery pulley, a pulley rail and a damper, wherein the recovery pulley is used to be coupled for recovering unmanned aerial vehicles, and the pulley rail is used to carry the recovery pulley; the recovery pulley is connected to the pulley rail by rollers, and the damper is connected to the recovery pulley for generating a damping force for a linear movement of the recovery pulley. The recovery device for unmanned aerial vehicles of the present invention can be adapted to recover all types of aerial vehicles, has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture and has a low cost. Through the cooperation of the pulley rail, the recovery pulley and the damper, the recovery of the unmanned aerial vehicles of various weights can be performed. Through the foldable and retractable pulley rail, the recovery device is highly mobile. The present invention can have a wide range of application, and can be applied for comprehensive recovery in ships, vehicles, onboard situations, islands, forests and buildings.

A method of slowing an aircraft overrunning a runway, including covering an area adjacent a runway with irregular foamed glass bodies having aspect ratios of about 1:1.9 and diameters of about 10 mm to about 80 mm to define a bed, pouring liquid cement over the foamed glass bodies such that the cement infiltrates at least through the bed, curing the liquid cement to define a composite material of foamed glass bodies in a cementitious matrix, and crushing at least a portion of the composite material with an oncoming aircraft, slowing the aircraft. The composite material is at least 85 volume percent foamed glass bodies. When pouring the cement, the liquid cement flows over and around the foamed glass bodies. The aggregate bodies crush and break up before slip failure occurs when being overrun by an aircraft. The aggregate bodies intersect to define stacking angles of about 35 degrees. The cementitious matrix has a cementitious surface.

An arrestor bed for slowing an aircraft overrunning a runway, including an elongated excavation and a plurality of irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies at least partially filing the excavation. Each respective irregularly shaped foamed glass body has an aspect ratio between 1:1.6 to 1:1.7 and a diameter of about 1 inch. The irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies intersect to define stacking angles of about 35 degrees. Under compression, the irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies crush and break up before slip failure occurs such that the roadbed has a crushing failure mode.