Aircraft for transporting and deploying UAVs
An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft has an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween. A distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing. A UAV carrier assembly is coupled between the first and second pylons. The UAV carrier assembly has a plurality of UAV stations each configured to selectively transport and release a UAV. A flight control system is configured to control each of the propulsion assemblies and launch each of the UAVs during flight.
1. An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation, the aircraft comprising:
an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween;
a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe, the thrust array including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing;
a UAV carrier assembly coupled between the first and second pylons, the UAV carrier assembly having a plurality of UAV stations each configured to selectively transport and release a UAV, the UAV carrier assembly having a substantially horizontal cross member coupled between the first and second pylons, a first beam extending substantially vertically upward from the cross member and a second beam extending substantially vertically downward from the cross member when the aircraft is in the biplane orientation; and
a flight control system configured to control each of the propulsion assemblies and launch each of the UAVs during flight.
2. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of UAV stations are vertically stacked when the aircraft is in the biplane orientation.
3. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of UAV stations further comprises at least three UAV stations.
4. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of UAV stations further comprises at least six UAV stations.
5. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAV stations is configured to provide a mechanical coupling with a respective one of the UAVs.
6. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAV stations is configured to provide a magnetic coupling with a respective one of the UAVs.
7. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAV stations is configured to provide an electrical coupling with a respective one of the UAVs.
8. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAV stations is configured to provide a power communication coupling with a respective one of the UAVs.
9. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAV stations is configured to provide a data communication coupling with a respective one of the UAVs.
10. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the flight control system is configured to sequentially launch each of the UAVs.
11. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the flight control system is configured to simultaneously launch each of the UAVs.
12. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the flight control system is configured to launch each of the UAVs when the aircraft is in the biplane orientation.
13. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the UAVs is released aftward from the aircraft.
14. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second beams are aft swept beams.
15. An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation, the aircraft comprising:
an airframe including first and second wings with first and second pylons coupled therebetween;
a distributed thrust array coupled to the airframe, the thrust array including a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the first wing and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the second wing;
a UAV carrier assembly coupled between the first and second pylons, the UAV carrier assembly having a plurality of UAV stations each configured to selectively transport and release a UAV, the UAV carrier assembly having a substantially horizontal cross member coupled between the first and second pylons, a first beam extending substantially vertically upward from the cross member and a second beam extending substantially vertically downward from the cross member when the aircraft is in the biplane orientation; and
a flight control system configured to control each of the propulsion assemblies and launch each of the UAVs during flight;
wherein, the flight control system is configured to sequentially launch each of the UAVs when the aircraft is in the biplane orientation; and
wherein, each of the UAVs is released aftward from the aircraft.