Granted Patent B2

US 12,552,561 · App. 18/905,452 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Inventors: Carlos Thomas Miralles (Burbank, CA); Guan H Su (Rowland Heights, CA); Alexander Andryukov (Simi Valley, CA); John McNeil (Tujunga, CA)

Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.

B64U30/12B64C39/024B64F1/06B64U70/50F41A21/02F41F1/00F41F3/042F42B39/14B64U10/25B64U70/00B64U80/70B64U2201/20

Abstract

Claims (32)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver disposed within a launcher, wireless communication via one or more radio-frequency (RF) signals received wirelessly through a launcher wall of the launcher, wherein the launcher wall comprises an RF permeable material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

commanding, by the launcher, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher to enter a standby mode while remaining responsive to received RF signal commands for a full power-up, wherein the command the enter the standby mode provides a self-contained launcher-UAV configured to be deployed and left at a prospective launch site for a protracted period of time.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the UAV is configured to be powered up and launched responsive to one or more command signals from an offsite node.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting, by a transmitter disposed within the launcher, wireless communication via one or more RF signals, based on the offsite node requesting status information while in a pre-launch state, wherein the status information is associated with the UAV.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication via one or more RF signals is transmitted from at least one of: a ground vehicle, an aircraft, a spacecraft, an airborne surveillance node, an airborne communication node, and a ground communication node.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received one or more RF signals are received by an RF antenna disposed within the launcher.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by an external communications node, the one or more RF signals received by the receiver disposed within the launcher.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more RF signals received by the receiver comprise at least one of: a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the received RF signal commands for a full power-up configures the UAV in the launcher to be ready to be committed to launch.

10 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

generating gas by one or more gas generating canisters during a launch of the UAV disposed within the launcher; and

retaining the generated gas within the launcher after the launch of the UAV.

11 . A system comprising:

a launcher having a launcher wall, the launcher wall having radio-frequency (RF) permeability; and

a receiver disposed within the launcher, the receiver receiving wireless communication via one or more RF signals received wirelessly through the launcher wall.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) disposed within the launcher, wherein the launcher provides a self-contained launcher-UAV configured to be deployed and left at a prospective launch site for a protracted period of time.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the UAV commands a full power-up responsive to the received wireless communication.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the UAV commits to a launch responsive to the received wireless communication.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication via one or more RF signals is transmitted from at least one of: a ground vehicle, an aircraft, a spacecraft, an airborne surveillance node, an airborne communication node, and a ground communication node.

16 . The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a transmitter disposed within the launcher, the transmitter transmitting wireless communication via one or more RF signals transmitted wirelessly through the launcher wall.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiver further comprises an RF antenna disposed within the launcher.

18 . The system of claim 11 , 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.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the received one or more RF signals comprise at least one of: a reconnaissance waypoint information, a surveillance optimizing trajectory information, a target data, and a flight plan information.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the launcher further comprises:

a membrane seal disposed over an open end of the launcher preventing outside elements from entering the launcher prior to launch; and

one or more gas generating canisters disposed within the launcher, wherein the one or more gas generating canisters generate gas during a launch of the UAV disposed within the launcher, and wherein the generated gas is retained within the launcher after the launch of the UAV.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (13)

References Cited (392)