Actuated flywheel projectile launcher
| DWPI Title: Two-wheeled actuated projectile launcher for use in mobile system (Claimed), particularly unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for launching projectiles, for marking cattle, has over-center linkage for guiding one of support arms between expanded position and contracted position |
| Abstract: Various embodiments include an actuated projectile launcher, including: a base structure; a projectile support, and a holding area from which a projectile launches; propulsion wheels selectively driven to rotate; and support arms, each supporting at a first end thereof a separate one of the propulsion wheels and being supported at an opposed second end thereof by the base structure. The support arms are configured to move the propulsion wheels between an expanded position and a contracted position, in which the propulsion wheels are closer to one another in the contracted position as compared to the expanded position. The movement of the propulsion wheels toward the contracted position brings the propulsion wheels into engagement with the projectile and drives the projectile from the holding area. |
| Use: Actuated projectile launcher, i.e. two-wheeled actuated projectile launcher for use in a mobile system (Claimed), i.e. UAV for launching projectiles, for marking cattle to diagnose, identify or separate cattle from an entire herd. Uses include but are not limited to single rotor UAVs, fixed-wind UAVs, and fixed-wing hybrid vertical take-off and landing UAVs. |
| Advantage: The actuated projectile launcher is designed to be easily secured to a different UAVs. The projectile launcher enables temporarily marking the cattle for identification with a visual marker by adding the device to a UAV, such that a handler visually identifies and separates the cattle based on the temporary mark, where an entire herd is selectively marked as needed by providing effective and efficient cattle marking systems. The projectiles themselves are made with a simpler design that are disposable or biodegradable by including propulsion wheels with compliant surfaces designed to grip the projectiles. The projectiles are 3D printed from water-soluble materials, which are harmless to the cattle if consumed by them. |
| Novelty: The actuated projectile launcher (100) has a base structure (110), and a projectile support (120) for maintaining a projectile (90) in a holding area from which the projectile launches. Multiple propulsion wheels (131), i.e. flywheels are selectively driven to rotate, where multiple support arms (151) are designed to move the propulsion wheels between an expanded position and a contracted position. An over-center linkage is provided to guide one of the support arms between the expanded position and the contracted position. |
| Filed: 2/16/2023 |
| Application Number: US18110557A |
| Tech ID: SD 16008.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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