Patent ID: 8145369
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: B63B,B63G

Abstract:
1. An intercepting vehicle for use in retrieving a retrievable vehicle, the intercepting vehicle comprising: a body having opposite first and second sides; a steering mechanism carried by the body for steering the intercepting vehicle; a controller for controlling the steering mechanism to substantially align the intercepting vehicle with the retrievable vehicle; a receptacle hole carried by the body for receiving at least a portion of the retrievable vehicle, wherein the receptacle hole extends through the body, from the first side to the second side, such that the receptacle hole is open at each of the first and second sides; at least one latch mounted to the body for connecting the retrievable vehicle to the intercepting vehicle in response to the receptacle hole receiving at least the portion of the retrievable vehicle; and pads, wherein the second side of the body is a bottom side of the body, and the pads are mounted to the bottom side and respectively positioned on opposite sides of the receptacle hole.