Systems and devices for remotely operated unmanned aerial vehicle report-suppressing launcher with portable RF transparent launch tube
View Patent ↗An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube ( 100 ) that comprises at least one inner layer of prepreg substrate ( 370 ) disposed about a right parallelepiped aperture ( 305 ), at least one outer layer of prepreg substrate ( 380 ) disposed about the right parallelepiped aperture, and one or more structural panels ( 341 - 344 ) disposed between the at least one inner layer of prepreg substrate ( 340 ) and the at least one outer layer of prepreg substrate ( 380 ). An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube ( 100 ) that comprises a tethered sabot ( 700,740 ) configured to engage a UAV within a launcher volume defined by an inner wall, the tethered sabot ( 700,740 ) dimensioned to provide a pressure seal at the inner wall and tethered to the inner wall, and wherein the tethered sabot ( 700,740 ) is hollow having an open end oriented toward a high pressure volume and a tether ( 740 ) attached within a hollow ( 910 ) of the sabot ( 700 ) and attached to the inner wall retaining the high pressure volume or attach to the inner base wall ( 1013 ). A system comprising a communication node ( 1500 - 1505 ) and a launcher ( 1520 ) comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a pre-launch state configured to receive and respond to command inputs from the communication node ( 1500 - 1505 ).
1. A system comprising:
a launcher having a launcher volume defined by a launcher wall, the launcher wall comprising a continuous radio-frequency (RF) permeable material;
a receiver disposed within the launcher volume, the receiver receiving wireless communication via one or more RF signals received wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state.
2. The system of claim 1 , the receiver further comprising an RF antenna disposed within the launcher volume.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an external communications node;
wherein the receiver is in communication with the external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to receive wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher one or more RF signals from the external communications node.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the one or more RF signals are selected from the group consisting of: a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.
5. The system of claim 1 , the launcher wall comprising at least one of: a prepreg substrate, a para-aramid synthetic fiber, a poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, and balsawood.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume.
7. The system of claim 6 , the UAV comprising the receiver.
8. The system of claim 7 , the UAV further comprising a transmitter, the transmitter positioned to transmit wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state, one or more RF signals.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter disposed within the launcher volume, the transmitter positioned to transmit wirelessly through the launcher wall of the launcher, in a pre-launch state, one or more RF signals.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a launch propulsion unit;
wherein the launch propulsion unit is disposed within the launcher volume, the launch propulsion unit comprising the receiver.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more gas generating canisters;
wherein gas generated by the one or more gas generating canisters during a launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume is retained within the launcher volume after the launch of the UAV.
12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a membrane seal disposed over an open end of the launcher.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the membrane seal is a frangible film preventing outside elements from entering the launcher volume prior to launch.
14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a cap disposed over the membrane seal.
15. An article comprising:
a launcher having a launcher volume defined by a continuous launcher wall, the launcher wall having radio-frequency (RF) permeability;
a receiver disposed within the launcher volume, the receiver receiving wireless communication via one or more RF signals received wirelessly through the launcher wall;
a transmitter disposed within the launcher volume, the transmitter transmitting wireless communication via one or more RF signals transmitted wirelessly through the launcher wall; and
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher volume.
16. The article of claim 15 , the receiver further comprising an RF antenna disposed within the launcher volume.
17. The article of claim 15 , wherein the receiver is in communication with an external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to wirelessly receive one or more RF signals from the external communications node.
18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the one or more RF signals are selected from the group consisting of: a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.
19. The article of claim 15 , wherein the transmitter is in communication with an external communications node, in a pre-launch state, to wirelessly transmit one or more RF signals selected from the group consisting of: a status of the UAV and a status of the launcher.
20. The article of claim 15 , the launcher further comprising:
a membrane seal disposed over an open end of the launcher preventing outside elements from entering the launcher volume prior to launch.