Recovery and Handling of Group 3 through Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Aboard Navy's Expeditionary Sea Base

The goal of this SBIR program is to operate large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from ships other than aircraft carriers. The Navy desires a system capable of recovering fixed-wing, jet-powered UAVs, with a wingspan of 30 feet and weight up to 6000 pounds, from 160 knots-indicated air speed (KIAS). The system must be reconfigurable to accommodate other Group 3 to Group 5 UAVs, with or without landing gear. In addition, the system is desired to recover a UAV at a rapid tempo, without interfering with top-side flight deck operations of the Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB). Advanced Technology and Research Corporation (ATR) proposes a Modular Adaptable UAV Recovery System (MAURS), which is based on mature and proven technology components and innovatively integrated into a simple and cost-effective system. The MAURS features a runway that is deployed over the side of the ship at a level midway between the mission deck and flightdeck.  There is a built-in recovery rail on the runway equipped with a recovery carriage and passive braking system to decelerate the UAV. The UAV and recovery carriage can be brought onboard for servicing.