Unmanned aerial vehicle and method for launching

Abstract

An embodiment of an unmanned aerial vehicle, which may be connected to a lighter-than-air carrier, may have a ratio of a lifting force of the carrier to a weight of the vehicle from 1.1:1 to 3:1. The vehicle, excluding payload, may have a mass of from 30 kg to 150 kg. The vehicle may have a wingspan of from 20 m to 60 m.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle connected to a lighter-than-air carrier, wherein a ratio of a lifting force of the carrier to a weight of the vehicle is from 1.1:1 to 3:1, the vehicle, excluding payload, has a mass of from 30 kg to 150 kg, and the vehicle has a wingspan of from 20 m to 60 m. 
     
     
         2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein a total weight of the vehicle is comprised of greater than 30% payload. 
     
     
         3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle, excluding payload, has a mass of from 30 kilograms (kg) to 100 kg. 
     
     
         4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least two wings, a fuselage, a tail and at least one propeller powered by a motor and a power supply. 
     
     
         5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is solar-powered, comprising solar energy collectors and batteries for storing solar energy. 
     
     
         6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is attached to the carrier via at least one tether. 
     
     
         7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the total weight of the vehicle is comprised of greater than 40% payload. 
     
     
         8 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the total weight of the vehicle is comprised of greater than 50% payload. 
     
     
         9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the lighter-than-air carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the lifting force of the carrier to the weight of the vehicle is from 1.2:1 to 2:1.