Wireless radio frequency identification impact cargo parachute automatic release system

• US 20090127397A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bevan Hyunh, Thien-Bach Brian Huynh
• Original Assignee: Bevan Hyunh, Thien-Bach Brian Huynh
• Inventors: Huynh, Thien-Bach Brian, Hyunh, Bevan
• Application Number:
  US12/291,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20090127397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/152
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/383 Cargo release hooks

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein includes a parachute airdrop system and method for releasing cargo from a parachute. The system includes a locking device that connects cargo to a parachute, an impact sensor unit associated with the cargo, and a transceiver unit associated with the parachute. A controller processes signals generated by the impact sensor to determine whether threshold conditions are satisfied which indicates that the cargo has impacted a surface. When the threshold conditions are satisfied, a control signal is sent to the transceiver unit, preferably wirelessly. The transceiver unit then generates a fire control signal for firing a charge to release the locking device to thereby disconnect the parachute from the cargo.

Claims

1. A parachute airdrop system for releasing cargo from a parachute, the system comprising:

A locking device that connects cargo to a parachute,

An impact sensor associated with the cargo, the impact sensor generating signals,

A controller for processing the signals generated by the impact sensor to determine whether threshold conditions are satisfied which indicate that the cargo has impacted a surface,

A transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a transceiver unit when the threshold conditions are satisfied,

The transceiver unit being associated with the parachute, the transceiver unit capable of generating a fire control signal, in response to the control signal, for firing a charge to release the locking device to thereby disconnect the parachute from the cargo.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact sensor is located on the cargo.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact sensor is located on a device that carries the cargo.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting a control signal to a transceiver unit is done wirelessly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit is located on the parachute.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit is connected to the parachute.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact sensor is a piezo-electric impact sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a device for providing power for transmitting a control signal to the transceiver unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said device for providing power is a battery.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a microcontroller.

11. The system of claim 1, further including a tag radio frequency identification.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tag radio frequency identification contains information about the cargo.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit further includes:

a firing circuit, an initiator, and an initiator switch, wherein

the controller outputs a control signal to the initiator switch to close the initiator switch for providing voltage from a power source to the initiator, and

the controller outputs a control signal to the firing circuit which outputs a control signal to the initiator to fire the explosive charge.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said impact sensor, controller, and transmitter are housed in a single device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein at least two of said firing circuit, initiator, initiator switch are housed in a single device.

16. The system of claim 1, further including a device that activates the system after the cargo exits an aircraft from which the cargo is to be dropped.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver unit further includes:

a firing circuit, an electric motor, and an initiator switch, wherein

the controller outputs a control signal to the initiator switch to close the initiator switch for providing voltage from a power source to the electric motor, and

the controller outputs a control signal to the firing circuit which outputs a control signal to operate the electric motor to unlock the locking device to release and free the parachute from the cargo.

18. A method of releasing cargo from a parachute, the method comprising:

providing an impact sensor in association with cargo,

processing signals generated by the impact sensor to determine whether threshold conditions are satisfied which indicate that the cargo has impacted a surface,

transmitting a control signal to a transceiver unit that is associated with the parachute when the threshold conditions are satisfied,

the transceiver unit generating a fire control signal for firing a charge to release a locking device that connects the parachute to the cargo, to thereby disconnect the parachute from the cargo.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the impact sensor is located on the cargo.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the impact sensor is a piezo-electric impact sensor.