System and method for unmanned aerial signal relay

Abstract

An unmanned aerial signal relay includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a communication relay unit and at least one antenna, communicatively connected to the communication relay unit; a tether comprising at least two wires and at least one fiber optic cable, the wires and cable communicatively connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and a surface support system comprising a spool physically connected to the tether and a ground-based receiver communicatively connected to the at least one fiber optic cable, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is powered by electrical energy provided by the at least two wires, and wherein the communication relay unit is configured to relay signals received from the at least one antenna via the fiber optic cable to the ground-based receiver. Various systems and methods related to an unmanned aerial signal relay are also described.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An antenna array for a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
 a gimbal fixedly attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and   at least one antenna fixedly attached to the gimbal.   
     
     
         15 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is centered on the gimbal. 
     
     
         16 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is positioned along the circumference of the gimbal. 
     
     
         17 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , further comprising a tether fixedly attached to the gimbal, the tether comprising the antenna. 
     
     
         18 . The antenna array of  claim 17 , wherein the antenna is a long-wave antenna. 
     
     
         19 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is in a coaxial arrangement. 
     
     
         37 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is oriented vertically and positioned along the circumference of the gimbal. 
     
     
         38 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is a panel antenna. 
     
     
         39 . The antenna array of  claim 38 , wherein the panel antenna is mounted about the circumference of the gimbal. 
     
     
         40 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna array further comprises at least one filter. 
     
     
         41 . The antenna array of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one filter is selected from a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, or a band-pass filter. 
     
     
         42 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna comprises a first and second antenna, and the first antenna is positioned at least partially inside the gimbal, and the second antenna is positioned in a null of the first antenna. 
     
     
         43 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , further comprising a tether connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         44 . The antenna array of  claim 43 , wherein the tether comprises a transmitting and/or receiving antenna for long-wave radio. 
     
     
         45 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the gimbal is a two-axis gimbal. 
     
     
         46 . The antenna array of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna is a directional antenna.