Patent ID: 8573536

Claim:
A flying object retrieval base apparatus for retrieving a flying object from substantially thrust-borne flight, said base apparatus including: (a) a guide; (b) at least one suspension support configured to suspend the guide such that the flying object in substantially thrust-borne flight can: (i) cause, by motion of the flying object relative to the guide, a tension element attached to the flying object to contact the guide, the tension element including an effector configured to engage the guide, (ii) cause the tension element to slide relative to the guide until the effector removably attaches to the guide, and (iii) after the effector removably attaches to the guide, rotate at least partially around the guide such that at least a portion of the flying object is positioned beneath the guide; and (c) a docking carriage mounted to the at least one suspension support configured to: (i) receive the flying object, and (ii) rotate at least partially around the guide to rotate the flying object such that a thrust line of the flying object is oriented to enable the flying object to exit from the docking carriage into free flight.