AERIAL LAUNCH AND/OR RECOVERY FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

The invention discloses an aerial launch and/or recovery for an unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a first, carrier aircraft having an airframe a propulsion system carried by the airframe and positioned to support the carrier aircraft in hover, and a capture line carried by the carrier aircraft and deployable to hang from the carrier aircraft. The capture line is sized to releasably engage with a capture device of a second, carried aircraft. The system further includes a retrieval device positioned to support the carried aircraft for detachment from the capture line.. 本申请公开无人驾驶飞行器的空中发射和/或回收以及相关的系统和方法。代表性的系统包括第一运载飞行器，该第一运载飞行器具有机身、由机身运载并且定位成支撑运载飞行器在悬停状态的推进系统，以及由运载飞行器运载并且可展开以从运载飞行器悬挂下的捕获线。捕获线的尺寸设定成可释放地与第二被运载飞行器的捕获设备接合。该系统还包括取回设备，该取回设备定位成支撑被运载飞行器从捕获线分离。