UAV launch attachment assembly and launch system
A UAV attachment assembly, used with a UAV launch assembly comprising a frame and a launch driver, comprises a base, a UAV support, a biasing element, a coupler, and a retainer. The base is operably coupled to the launch driver. The UAV support is mounted to the base and is placeable in vertically collapsed and vertically extended orientations. The biasing element biases the UAV support towards the collapsed orientation. The coupler releasably couples the UAV support to a UAV when the UAV support is in the extended orientation, the UAV support being free of the UAV when in the collapsed orientation. The retainer maintains the UAV support in the vertically extended orientation prior to launch and releases the UAV support at launch so that the biasing element can cause the UAV support to move towards the collapsed orientation and to disengage from the UAV.
1. A method for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a UAV launch assembly of the type comprising a frame and a launch driver supported by the frame, the launch driver being capable of generating a launching force along a launch path relative to the frame, the method comprising:
mounting a vertically retractable UAV attachment assembly to the launch assembly, the UAV attachment assembly comprising a base operably coupled to the launch driver and a vertically retractable UAV support mounted to the base and placeable in a vertically collapsed orientation towards the base and a vertically extended orientation extending away from the base, and a biasing element coupled to the UAV support and biasing the UAV support towards the collapsed orientation;
mounting a UAV to the UAV support with the UAV support in the extended orientation so that the UAV support extends downwardly away from the UAV;
maintaining the UAV support in the extended orientation prior to launch;
launching, by the launch driver, the UAV attachment assembly and the UAV therewith along the launch path away from the frame; and
at launch:
disengaging the UAV support from the UAV; and
moving the UAV attachment assembly vertically downwardly away from the UAV from the from the vertically extended orientation towards the vertically collapsed orientation.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAV attachment assembly mounting step is carried out using a scissors type of UAV attachment assembly comprising at least one pair of legs with the legs of each said one pair pivotally secured to one another at pivot points.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the moving vertically downwardly step comprises pivoting the legs of the said at least one pair of legs about the points.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the disengaging step and the moving vertically downwardly step comprise pivoting the legs of the said at least one pair of legs about the pivot point.
5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the UAV vertically downwardly moving step is carried out using a spring operably coupled to the at least one pair of legs to move the UAV support towards the vertically collapsed orientation.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UAV mounting step comprises mounting the UAV support to a lower surface of a fuselage of the UAV.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the mounting step is carried out with a launch driver comprising an outer tube and an inner pushrod, and comprises mounting the base to the pushrod; and
the launching step is carried out with the pushrod, and the UAV attachment assembly and the UAV therewith, being launched from the outer tube.
8. A method for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a UAV launch assembly of the type comprising a frame and a launch driver supported by the frame, the launch driver comprising an outer tube and an inner pushrod, the launch driver being capable of generating a launching force along a launch path relative to the frame, the method comprising:
mounting a vertically retractable UAV attachment assembly to the launch assembly, the UAV attachment assembly comprising a base operably coupled to the launch driver, a vertically retractable UAV support mounted to the base and placeable in a vertically collapsed orientation towards the base and a vertically extended orientation extending away from the base, and a biasing element coupled to the UAV support and biasing the UAV support towards the collapsed orientation, the UAV support comprising at least one pair of legs with the legs of each said one pair pivotally secured to one another at pivot points;
mounting a UAV to the UAV support with the UAV support in the extended orientation so that the UAV support extends downwardly away from the UAV;
maintaining the UAV support in the extended orientation prior to launch;
launching, by the launch driver, the UAV attachment assembly and the UAV therewith along the launch path away from the frame with the pushrod, the UAV attachment assembly and the UAV therewith, being launched from the outer tube; and
at launch:
disengaging the UAV support from the UAV; and
pivoting the legs of the said at least one pair of legs about the points thereby moving the UAV attachment assembly vertically downwardly away from the UAV from the from the vertically extended orientation towards the vertically collapsed orientation.