UAV Recovery System

Navy surface combatants will employ more unmanned autonomous vehicles in future operations. In addition future ships (DD(X), CG(X), and LCS) will be designed for reduced manning thus future Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) recovery systems must be unmannedor at least minimally manned.The majority of existing and projected future UAVs are fixed-wing aircraft with no capability for vertical launch and recovery. There are currently no safe and accurate methods for ship board recovery of fixed-wing UAVs. The Navy has the need for alightweight inexpensive automated system for recovering and securing multiple types of fixed wing UAVs. These devices should require minimal manpower requirements and should be capable of operating in sea states 4 and 5.A phase I program is proposed to develop recovery system which utilizes a Homing system to guide the UAV into a Docking system which will capture the UAV, decelerate the UAV to a stop and then secure the UAV to the deck. A conceptual system design will bedeveloped in Phase I, a prototype developed in phase II and shipboard evaluation will be completed in Phase III. The proposed homing system has could be used to guide any vehicle to the docking station. (P-030217) The successful development of the proposed recovery system will provide the Navy with UAV recovery system that will accommodate a variety of fixed wing aircraft. The system will capture, decelerate and secure the UAV with a minimum of ship's force.Features of the docking station will be adaptable to rotary winged air craft as well. The homing system will be able to guide any UAV, UUV, USV or a manned vehicle to the ship.