Tactical Rapid Access small Unmanned Aerial System

Abstract

The invention specifies key small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) features which include the tactical mounting of the sUAS to a firearm for rapid access in tactical situations. The invention claims both the fixturing of a sUAS to a firearm and technologies and methodologies to allow for deployment of the sUAS utilizing a single hand of the operator.

Claims

1. The integration of a small Unmanned Aerial System to a firearm for stowage: where the system is fixtured by the protective storage housing; where the air vehicle access is intended to be accessed by one hand of the operator; and where the positioning of the small Unmanned Aerial System on the firearm is intended to be accessed by the operator utilizing their support hand while in a ready position.

2. The integration of a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle into a protective storage housing: where any storage housing removable covers preventing air vehicle removal are actuated by hand and require one single grasp for manual articulation required to make free the air vehicle; where any electrical connection between the air vehicle and storage housing are electrically disconnected by the action of removing the air vehicle itself from the storage housing; where any structural reconfiguration of the air vehicle required take flight from a stored configuration is triggered to actuate or is actuated by the action of removing the air vehicle from the storage housing; where all handling of the air vehicle is intended to be performed from one single grasp feature on the air vehicle; and where the grasp feature on the air vehicle may include a method to command the air vehicle to change operating mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a small Unmanned Aerial System in a stored configuration fixtured to the firearm's forestock by its storage container.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplified embodiment of a small Unmanned Aerial System in a stored configuration fixtured to the firearm's forestock by its storage container.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a small Unmanned Aerial System in a stored configuration.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplified embodiment of a small Unmanned Aerial System in a stored configuration.

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a methodology to remove a lid from a storage container.

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a pair of electrical connectors positioned to interconnect when the air vehicle is stored in the storage container.

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a methodology to remove the air vehicle from a storage container.

[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of an operator gripping the exposed grip of an air vehicle while the air vehicle is in an uncovered storage container.

[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of an operator gripping the exposed grip of an air vehicle while the air vehicle is not in a storage container.

[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplified embodiment of a methodology to actuate a switch located in the grip of an air vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0022] The Tactical Rapid Access small Unmanned Aerial System (TRAsUAS) is a system which enables a tactical operator to have improved access to the utility of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). This includes two unique characteristics: Fixtured storage for sUAS on the firearm and Rapid sUAS deployment technologies.

[0023] The characteristic of fixtured storage for sUAS on the firearm includes a configuration in which the stored sUAS mounted to the firearm only requires an operator to use of their support hand from a ready position to deploy the sUAS. The ready position is a handling position of the firearm where the operator is positioned to use the firearm if needed. The ready position considers one hand of the operator as the firing hand. This hand is used to hold the trigger grip for primary operational control of the firearm and actuate the trigger if required. The second hand of the operator is considered the support hand and is used to support and manipulate the firearm. The support hand can be used for other tasks such as operate equipment, interact with surroundings, or reload the firearm. The mounting of the sUAS in such a way that the operator only requires use of there support hand to deploy the sUAS and allowing the firing hand to maintain continuous grip on the firearm ensures the operator always has the option of maintaining operational control the weapon. The mounting of the sUAS is provided by fixturing the storage component to the firearm where the air vehicle can be stored and stowed. The forces exerted to withdraw the air vehicle from the fixtured storage component may require a reaction force by the storage component to be transferred the firearm.

[0024] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are an embodiment of this feature is in the form of mounting the sUAS 6 by the storage component 10 to the exterior of the forestock 3 of the firearm. The forestock 3 is located between the muzzle 1 and receiver 4 of the firearm, often in line with barrel 2, and often used for handling with the support hand. The orientation of the sUAS is such that the support hand alone can deploy the Air Vehicle from the stored configuration without requiring the firearm to be moved from the ready position. The operator controls the firearm utilizing the grip 8, stock 5 and butt 9 of the gun, while having the option to access the trigger 7 with the firing hand as required.

[0025] The characteristic of rapid sUAS deployment technologies focuses on the Air vehicle, storage component and operator interfaces and methodologies which uniquely enable rapid deployment of the Air Vehicle from the storage component. The air vehicle removal methodology is to have the operator grasp with their fingers an exposed grip to the air vehicle. The operator then withdraws the air vehicle from the storage container. The action of withdrawing the air vehicle will (a) activate an automatic actuation of any deployable systems required for flight and (b) disconnect the air vehicle to storage component electrical connection. Following this action to withdraw the air vehicle, the operator activates the flight phase of the air vehicle by a grip switch. This grip switch is pressure activated and does not require the operator to manipulate their grasp. The air vehicle is then positioned by the operator for launch and released for flight.

[0026] Due to the harsh exposer which may exist in a tactical environment, the storage component fully contains the air vehicle. In preparation for air vehicle removal, the storage component must be actuated to expose the air vehicle grip. The methodology of storage component actuation is to articulate a quick-release lid to expose the air vehicle. The air vehicle grip is positioned on the air vehicle to be revealed by the lid's actuation. Following the air vehicle deployment, the lid of the storage system is articulated by into its stored position. Quick-release implies a design optimized for time to perform the action.

[0027] The storage component and air vehicle share a mating electrical connection. The electrical connection may be of different forms, but uniquely is disconnected by the action of withdrawing the air vehicle from the storage component.

[0028] An embodiment of this characteristic is illustrated in FIGS. 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10. The primary structure of the storage component 10 is in the form of a tube-like 21 storage component which can be opened to access the stored air vehicle 11. The tube has fixture points externally 13. The tube has a forward ridged closure 19 with an electrical connector 20 mounted on its interior aligned such that the connector's actuation is in-line with the axis of the tube. The storage component 11 has a removable lid 12 on the opposing end of the tube which is accessed. The lid has a recessed pocket 18 allowing for the air vehicle 11, while stored, to extend into the recessed pocket 18 allowing for a grip to be positioned to be exposed if the lid is removed 17. The removable lid employs a twist-lock 16 quick release formed with a guided slot 14 in the storage container 10 used to capture a pin 15 like feature on the removable lid 12.

[0029] The deployment of the air vehicle from the storage component in this embodiment uses the methodology of removing the lid as illustrated in FIG. 5, gripping the air vehicle FIG. 8 with their hand 28, withdrawing the air vehicle 24 in a linear motion in axis with the tube FIG. 7, allowing any required deployable systems to actuate 25, handling the deployed air vehicle 26 through its grip 27 FIG. 9, commanding the air vehicle through its grip switch 29 FIG. 10, and releasing the air vehicle for flight. As the withdrawing of the air vehicle occurs, an electrical connection between the storage system electrical connector 20 and electrical connector 22 on the nose of the air frame 23 are disconnected passively FIG. 6.