UAV- OR PERSONAL FLYING DEVICE-DELIVERED DEPLOYABLE DESCENT DEVICE

• US 20120226394A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marcus
• Original Assignee: Robert Marcus
• Inventors: Marcus, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,987,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 5/00 Other devices for rescuing from fire ladders E06C
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/56 Rope or chain ladders
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/00 Ladders characterised by being mounted on undercarriages or vehicles Securing ladders on vehicles ladders having wheels, rollers, or runners E06C1/397 ; ladders on boats B63B27/14
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/14 with non-rigid longitudinal members, e.g. rope or chain ladders, ladders of the lazy-tongs type

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or manned/unmanned personal flying device (PFD) may be used to deliver a deployable descent system to an elevated location at which people await rescue, such as people trapped in an upper story of a burning building. The UAV or PFD may be used to deliver the descent system, attach the descent system to the building, and deploy the descent system. After deployment, the descent system may be tensioned to prevent sway and facilitate descent. Standoffs may be installed or integrated into the descent system to provide for adequate handholds for descending individuals. Various equipment and methods used in such systems are described herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

delivering a first deployable descent device to an elevated, substantially vertical first location with a station-keeping-capable, personal flying device (PFD), the first deployable descent device having a first end and a second end;

anchoring the first end of the first deployable descent device to a feature at the elevated, substantially vertical first location while the first end of the first deployable descent device is supported by the PFD; and

deploying the first deployable descent device such that the second end of the first deployable descent device is at a lower altitude than the first end of the first deployable descent device after deployment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

anchoring the second end of the first deployable descent device to a second location at a lower altitude than the elevated, substantially vertical first location; and

inducing a tensile load in the first deployable descent device between the first end and the second end in addition to any tensile load attributable to the weight of the first deployable descent device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing two or more standoffs configured to offset a substantial portion of the first deployable descent device from a substantially vertical surface, wherein the substantially vertical surface is located between the elevated, substantially vertical first location and the second location; and

offsetting the first deployable descent device from the substantially vertical surface with the standoffs.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

equipping the PFD with a second deployable descent device, the second deployable descent device having a first end and a second end;

delivering the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device with the PFD;

attaching the first end of the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device while the first end of the second deployable descent device is supported by the PFD; and

deploying the second deployable descent device such that the second end of the second deployable descent device is at a lower altitude than the first end of the second deployable descent device after deployment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the first deployable descent device from the elevated, substantially vertical first location after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the elevated, substantially vertical first location, wherein the retrieving is performed using the PFD.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the PFD is piloted by a first person during at least some portion of the delivering, anchoring, deploying steps, or combinations thereof,

the first person is riding on, or carried by, the PFD during the delivering, anchoring, and deploying steps,

the PFD is piloted via a remote control link by a second person during at least some portion of the anchoring step, and

the second person is not riding on and is not carried by the PFD during the delivering, anchoring, and deploying steps.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first person performs at least some of the anchoring step manually while the second person is piloting the PFD.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the PFD is piloted by a first person during at least some portion of the delivering, anchoring, deploying steps, or combinations thereof,

the first person is riding on, or carried by, the PFD during the delivering, anchoring, and deploying steps,

the PFD is equipped with one or more mechanical manipulator arms controllable via a remote control link,

the one or more mechanical manipulator arms are controlled by a second person via the remote control link during at least some portion of the anchoring step,

the second person controls the one or more mechanical manipulator arms to perform at least part of the anchoring step, and

the second person is not riding on and is not carried by the PFD during the delivering, anchoring, and deploying steps.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more mechanical manipulator arms are multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical manipulator arms.

10. A system comprising:

a first deployable descent device, the first deployable descent device having a first end and a second end; and

a station-keeping-capable personal flying device (PFD), the PFD configured to provide for delivery of the first deployable descent device to an elevated, substantially vertical first location and anchoring of the first end of the first deployable descent device to a feature at the elevated, substantially vertical first location while the first end of the first deployable descent device is supported by the PFD.

11. The system of claim 10, the PFD further configured to provide for anchoring of the second end of the first deployable descent device to a second location at a lower altitude than the elevated, substantially vertical first location.

12. The system of claim 11, the first deployable descent device further including a tensioning mechanism configured to induce a tensile load in the first deployable descent device in addition to any tensile load attributable to the weight of the first deployable descent device when the tensioning mechanism is actuated.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising two or more standoffs configured to offset a substantial portion of the first deployable descent device from a surface when the first deployable descent device is anchored to the elevated, substantially vertical first location and the second location and wherein the surface is located between the elevated, substantially vertical first location and the second location.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second deployable descent device, the second deployable descent device having a first end and a second end,

wherein the PFD is further configured to provide for delivery of the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the elevated, substantially vertical first location and for attaching of the first end of the second deployable descent device to the second end of the first deployable descent device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the PFD is further configured to provide for deployment of the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the elevated, substantially vertical first location.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the PFD is further configured to retrieve the first deployable descent device after the first deployable descent device has been anchored to the elevated, substantially vertical first location.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the PFD is equipped with at least one mechanical manipulator arm.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm is a multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical manipulator arm.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator arm includes a mechanical grasper end effector.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the PFD includes a remote control link configured for communication with a separate, external remote control station, and

the PFD is configured to be at least partially controlled via commands received via the remote control link.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein the PFD carries the first deployable descent device on a framework protruding from the front of the PFD, wherein the framework supports the first deployable descent device during anchoring of the first end of the first deployable descent device.