Patent ID: 9074844
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: B64F,B64G,F41F

Abstract:
1. A rocket launch tower comprising: a vertical support structure including two or more guide towers defining a vertical shaft between the two or more guide towers, each guide tower including one or more pulleys engaging one or more cables; a platform located within the vertical shaft and connected to the one or more cables; a drive mechanism that applies a force to the one or more cables to accelerate the platform along a trajectory within the vertical shaft; one or more sensors collecting data regarding the position of the platform along the trajectory within the vertical shaft and communicating the platform position data to a controller, the controller in communication with an acceleration control system including one or more brakes acting on the platform; wherein, the controller compares the platform position data received from the sensors to an intended platform acceleration and in response to receipt of platform position data indicating the platform acceleration has deviated from the intended platform acceleration, the controller causes the acceleration control system to actively correct the platform acceleration towards the intended platform acceleration; wherein the controller is also in communication with an active positioning system including the one or more brakes, further wherein, in response to receipt of platform position data indicating a platform trajectory has deviated from the intended platform trajectory, the controller causes the active positioning system to actively correct the platform trajectory towards the intended platform trajectory; and wherein each guide tower includes one or more guide rails, the platform includes two or more guide wheels, each of the guide wheels engages one of the one or more guide rails, and the active positioning system includes one or more linear actuators connecting the platform to the guide wheels.