Impact velocity reduction by mass ejection

• US 10,322,817 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Inventors: Vawter, Zachais, Reichert, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US15/879,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20180162552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3- 18, 244138, 244139
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0016 the lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/10 Stowage arrangements for the devices in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/725 by explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/008 Devices for detecting or indicating hard landing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/08 Ejecting or escaping means escape apertures B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/105 specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing parachutes per se B64D17/00

Abstract

A ballistic parachute associated with an aircraft is deployed where the aircraft includes a first part and a second part, the two parts are detachably coupled to each other when the ballistic parachute is deployed, and the ballistic parachute is coupled to the first part of the aircraft. A landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is determined and it is decided whether to decouple the two parts, including by deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited. If it is decided to decouple the two parts from each other, they are decoupled from each other.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

deploying a ballistic parachute associated with an aircraft, wherein;

the aircraft includes a first part and a second part;

the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft are detachably coupled to each other when the ballistic parachute is deployed; and

the ballistic parachute is coupled to the first part of the aircraft;

determining a landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft;

deciding whether to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, including by deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited; and

in response to deciding to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, decoupling the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited includes:

scanning the landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the landing zone is inhabited.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein:

the landing zone is a projected landing zone associated with a future decoupling of the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other; and

deciding whether the projected landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited includes;

scanning the projected landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the projected landing zone is inhabited.

4. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

deploy a ballistic parachute associated with an aircraft, wherein;

the aircraft includes a first part and a second part;

the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft are detachably coupled to each other when the ballistic parachute is deployed; and

the ballistic parachute is coupled to the first part of the aircraft;

determine a landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft;

decide whether to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, including by deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited; and

in response to deciding to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the instructions for deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited include instructions for:

scanning the landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the landing zone is inhabited.

6. The system recited in claim 4, wherein:

the landing zone is a projected landing zone associated with a future decoupling of the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other; and

the instructions for deciding whether the projected landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited include instructions for;

scanning the projected landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the projected landing zone is inhabited.

7. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

deploying a ballistic parachute associated with an aircraft, wherein;

the aircraft includes a first part and a second part;

the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft are detachably coupled to each other when the ballistic parachute is deployed; and

the ballistic parachute is coupled to the first part of the aircraft;

determining a landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft;

deciding whether to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, including by deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited; and

in response to deciding to decouple the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other, decoupling the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other.

8. The computer program product recited in claim 7, wherein the computer instructions for deciding whether the landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited include computer instructions for:

scanning the landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the landing zone is inhabited.

9. The computer program product recited in claim 7, wherein:

the landing zone is a projected landing zone associated with a future decoupling of the first part of the aircraft and the second part of the aircraft from each other; and

the computer instructions for deciding whether the projected landing zone associated with the second part of the aircraft is inhabited include computer instructions for;

scanning the projected landing zone using a thermal sensor in order to obtain a plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone; and

in the event it is determined that at least one temperature in the plurality of temperatures associated with the projected landing zone is greater than a threshold, deciding that the projected landing zone is inhabited.