Safety system for aerial vehicles and method of operation
First Claim
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1. A rotorcraft comprising:
- an airframe comprising a rocket engine, wherein the rocket engine comprises a structural member of the airframe;
a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis; and
a powerplant mechanically coupled to the rotor by a power transmission, wherein the powerplant drives rotation of the rotor about the rotor axis;
wherein;
the rocket engine comprises a propulsion vector;
the rotorcraft comprises a rotor vector directed along the rotor axis from the airframe to the rotor; and
a dot product of the propulsion vector and the rotor vector is greater than zero.
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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 comprising a rocket engine, wherein the rocket engine comprises a structural member of the airframe; a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis; and a powerplant mechanically coupled to the rotor by a power transmission, wherein the powerplant drives rotation of the rotor about the rotor axis; wherein; the rocket engine comprises a propulsion vector; the rotorcraft comprises a rotor vector directed along the rotor axis from the airframe to the rotor; and a dot product of the propulsion vector and the rotor vector is greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rotorcraft comprising:
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an airframe; a rotor rotationally coupled to the airframe about a rotor axis; a powerplant mechanically coupled to the rotor by a power transmission, wherein the powerplant drives rotation of the rotor about the rotor axis; and a rocket engine mechanically coupled to the airframe; wherein; the rocket engine comprises a propulsion vector; the rotorcraft comprises; a center of gravity (CG); a midplane normal the rotor axis, the midplane comprising the CG; and a rotor vector directed along the rotor axis from the midplane to the rotor; the rocket engine opposes the rotor across the midplane; and a dot product of the propulsion vector and the rotor vector is greater than zero.
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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, a powerplant mechanically coupled to the rotor, and a rocket engine mechanically coupled to the airframe;
operating the rotorcraft in a nominal flight mode, comprising controlling a powerplant of the rotorcraft to drive rotation of the rotor 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; at the rocket engine, exerting a rocket force on the airframe, wherein the rocket force is oriented upward relative to a gravity vector; and after exerting the rocket force, landing the rotorcraft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification