Safety system for aerial vehicles and method of operation
First Claim
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1. A rotorcraft comprising:
- an airframe;
a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis; and
a parachute module comprising;
a parachute;
an anchor submodule comprising a first anchor connected to the airframe at a first point and a second anchor connected to the airframe at a second point; and
a parachute connector mechanically coupling the parachute to the anchor submodule;
wherein the first anchor is operable to transition from an anchoring mode to a released mode, wherein;
in the anchoring mode, the parachute connector is connected to the first anchor and a parachute force is exerted on the first anchor by the parachute connector; and
in the released mode, the parachute connector is disconnected from the first anchor and connected to the second anchor.
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Abstract
A safety system for an aerial vehicle, preferably including: a ballistic subsystem, preferably including one or more rockets operable to adjust motion of the aerial vehicle and a mounting unit that couples the ballistic subsystem to the aerial vehicle; and/or a deployable parachute subsystem. An aerial vehicle, preferably including a safety system. A method for aerial vehicle operation, preferably including activating a safety system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rotorcraft comprising:
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an airframe; a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis; and a parachute module comprising; a parachute; an anchor submodule comprising a first anchor connected to the airframe at a first point and a second anchor connected to the airframe at a second point; and a parachute connector mechanically coupling the parachute to the anchor submodule; wherein the first anchor is operable to transition from an anchoring mode to a released mode, wherein; in the anchoring mode, the parachute connector is connected to the first anchor and a parachute force is exerted on the first anchor by the parachute connector; and in the released mode, the parachute connector is disconnected from the first anchor and connected to the second anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for rotorcraft operation, comprising:
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at a rotorcraft comprising an airframe, a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis, and a parachute mechanically coupled to the airframe;
operating the rotorcraft in a nominal flight mode, comprising controlling the rotor to rotate about the rotor axis;after operating the rotorcraft in the nominal flight mode, determining an emergency condition associated with the rotorcraft; and in response to determining the emergency condition, at the rotorcraft, performing emergency countermeasures, comprising; deploying the parachute in a first parachute anchoring mode, wherein the parachute exerts, on the airframe, a first force with a first moment arm defined from a center of gravity (CG) of the rotorcraft; after deploying the parachute, determining a parachute mode transition trigger; in response to determining the parachute mode transition trigger, controlling the parachute to transition from the first parachute anchoring mode to a second parachute anchoring mode, wherein the parachute exerts, on the airframe, a second force with a second moment arm defined from the CG; and after controlling the parachute to transition from the first parachute anchoring mode to the second parachute anchoring mode, landing the rotorcraft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification