Patent ID: 11952137
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A cargo transport system comprising:
an engine powered tractor aircraft;
at least one unmanned autonomous towed aircraft, which is connected to the tractor aircraft for inflight towing by the tractor aircraft, wherein the towed aircraft includes a body with wings positioned on opposing sides of the body;
a sensor system configured to sense flight parameters including relative positions of the tractor aircraft and the towed aircraft;
at least one towing element comprising a cable coupled between the towed aircraft and the tractor aircraft; and
an auto pilot system in the towed aircraft configured to receive the sensed flight parameters from the sensor system, wherein the autopilot system is configured to autonomously control taxing, takeoff, flight, and landing of the towed aircraft, and wherein the autopilot system is configured to maintain, based at least in part on the sensed flight parameters, positions of the towed aircraft and the wings with respect to the tractor aircraft at specified positions for positive energy wake gain above a turbulence vortex produced by the tractor aircraft during flight, and wherein the position of the towed aircraft with respect to the tractor aircraft is controlled, at least in part, by adjustment of a length of the cable coupled between the towed aircraft and the tractor aircraft.