UAV Capture of Micro Cargo Aloft
In this patent, Boeing explains the need for a new micro cargo retrieval method and system that does not require the recovery vehicle to land – a process that may be dangerous, and is not cost effective.
To avoid these issues, Boeing proposes “A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device.”
In this design, the tether would be connected to a micro cargo container with a suspension system. The UAV “engages the tether without landing and tows the micro cargo container to a dsired location.”
Boeing was also assigned patents for managing component information during component lifecycle, and a satellite predictive avoidance system (specifically, a method for avoiding the illumination of satellites by directed energy sources).
Corn Preparation Device
Fox Run USA, LLC has been assigned a patent for a device that cuts and/or desilks corn on the cob for you. The (brilliant, but probably unnecessary) design includes a single unit with a base and a removable cover.
The patent explains, “A brush for use in removing silks is mounted on one side of the base, and a cutter is mounted on the other side. When it is desired to use the tool on one side instead of the other, the cover is placed over the other tool. The cover then is used as an easy-to-grip palm-fitting structure to push the brush or the cutter along the ear of corn.”
Fingertip Shaving Device
Competing with the robotic corn husker for the strangest patent of the week, this patent is for a fingertip mountable shaving device. Assigned to, and invented by, Samir Hanna Safar, the design includes “a flexible and breathable substrate layer including a first shaving surface, and a second adhesive surface opposite to the first shaving surface.”
The first shaving surface includes “a plurality of rubber strips along the vertical peripheral edge and a plurality of blade assemblies affixed at predetermined locations.” The second adhesive surface is coated with an adhesive to temporarily stick to the user’s finger.
According to the patent, “The device can safely and closely shave hair from the face and other difficult to reach body surfaces, such as within the ear or nostrils.”
Electrical Weapon System
This patent, assigned to Raytheon, describes an electrical weapon system. The system includes a power supply, control electronics connected to this power supply, and an electrode pair.
In this design, the control electronics are configured to deliver voltage across the electrode pair. The system may include more than one electrical stun device placed on the user. “The electrical stun devices provide an electric shock to a target … when placed in contact with the target.”
These devices may be integrated into the users’ clothing or equipment, providing a hands-free weapon for “neutralization” in close quarters.
Convertiplane
Agustawestland S.p.A. (a multinational helicopter design and manufacturing company, and subsidiary of Finmeccanica) has been assigned a convertiplane patent. According to the patent, a convertiplane has the advantage of twice the cruising speed and flying distance than helicopters, making them cheaper to operate. In regards to a traditional plane, the convertiplane has the advantages of being able to hover, and take off and land in confined spaces.
However, there are design changes that need to be made to improve upon current convertiplane designs (the tilt rotor, and tilt wing).
These changes include the need to increase the lift acting on a tilt-rotor convertiplane “both in the aircraft and in the helicopter mode.” Additional requirements include an increase in flexibility, a reduction in noise, a maximized efficiency, an increase in stability, and a reduction in bending in the semi-wings. Also, the patent explains the need to manufacture “a modular convertiplane which may easily switch form an unmanned to a manned configuration.”
The proposed design includes a wing and coaxially mounted counter-rotating rotors that would tilt relative to the wing; specifically, “A pair of semi-wings and at least two rotors which may rotate about relative first axes and tilt about relative second axes together with first axis with respect to semi-wings between a helicopter mode and an aeroplane mode.”
In this description, the first axis is transversal to a longitudinal direction of the convertiplane in the helicopter mode, and is parallel to the longitudinal direction in the aeroplane mode.
The design also includes “at least two through openings within which said rotor may tilt, when said convertiplane moves, in use, between said helicopter and said aeroplane mode.” The rotors would be arranged on the lateral sides of the fuselage.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense