Unmanned aerial vehicle launch system

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to unmanned aerial vehicle launch technologies.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch system, comprising:
 a. A retained propellant case adapted to be loaded into a grenade launcher and to be retained by the grenade launcher following launch of the UAV, comprising:
 i. a propellant in a propellant cavity; and 
 ii. a gas pressure containment cavity; wherein the propellant cavity further includes a vent connecting the propellant cavity and the pressure containment cavity; 
 iii. a piston arranged to move by a force caused by an increase in gas pressure in the gas pressure containment cavity resulting from a triggered propellant, the piston further arranged to move towards the UAV for a pre-determined distance, the piston further including a seal that substantially contains the increase in gas pressure in the gas pressure containment cavity as the piston moves to the pre-determined distance; and 
   b. A separable launch case adapted to be loaded into the grenade launcher, wherein the separable launch case is secured to the retained propellant case in a position such that the separable launch case is pushed by the piston as the piston moves towards the UVA, the separable launch case further comprising a UAV cavity adapted to hold the UVA in a launch position and to separate from the UAV in flight after launch.   
     
     
         2 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch system, comprising:
 a. A retained propellant case adapted to be loaded into a grenade launcher and to be retained by the grenade launcher following launch of the UAV, comprising:
 i. a gas pressure containment cavity adapted to contain, for a period of time after launch of the UAV, substantially all of an expanding gas that is used to push the UAV out of the grenade launcher, the period of time used to suppress a sound that would result if the expanding gas expanded outside of the gas pressure cavity and into an uncontained environment; 
   b. A separable launch case adapted to be loaded into the grenade launcher, wherein the separable launch case is secured to the retained propellant case in a position such that the expanding gas causes the separable launch case to be projected from the grenade launcher, the separable launch case further comprising a UAV cavity adapted to hold the UVA in a launch position and to separate from the UAV in flight after launch.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the grenade launcher comprises a 40 mm launcher. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the UAV comprises a copter with counter rotating blades. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the UAV is adapted to communicate with an HWC within a proximity of the UAV after the UAV is launched from a grenade launcher. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the HWC is adapted to communicate with other HWC's in an ad-hoc self healing network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the gas pressure containment cavity comprises a piston that substantial seals an expanding gas in the pressure containment cavity for at least a period of time to prevent a loud noise from the expanding gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the UAV is flight controlled through a control command captured by a HWC.