EMERGENCY MECHANICAL AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap, the system comprising:
- a flight data recorder, said flight data recorder comprising wireless communication hardware configured to communicate flight information to a remote device;
a tracking device comprising at least one camera and a data communication system;
a rapid ejection system, wherein the rapid ejection system forms an opening in the aircraft in the event of an aircraft emergency and ejects the flight data recorder and the tracking device through the opening of the aircraft;
a soft landing system, said soft landing system being attached to the flight data recorder and configured to reduce force of impact upon landing and increase buoyancy of the flight data recorder;
a tow system, said tow system comprising a tether and data communication link, wherein the tether physically connects the tracking device to the aircraft after the mid-air mishap in a manner such that the tracking device follows the aircraft at a distance to capture images of the aircraft and the surrounding environment immediately after the mid-air mishap;
wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; and
wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap comprises: a flight data recorder; a tracking device comprising at least one camera; a rapid ejection system for ejecting the flight data recorder and tracking device; a soft landing system; and a tow system, wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; and wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap, the system comprising:
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a flight data recorder, said flight data recorder comprising wireless communication hardware configured to communicate flight information to a remote device; a tracking device comprising at least one camera and a data communication system; a rapid ejection system, wherein the rapid ejection system forms an opening in the aircraft in the event of an aircraft emergency and ejects the flight data recorder and the tracking device through the opening of the aircraft; a soft landing system, said soft landing system being attached to the flight data recorder and configured to reduce force of impact upon landing and increase buoyancy of the flight data recorder; a tow system, said tow system comprising a tether and data communication link, wherein the tether physically connects the tracking device to the aircraft after the mid-air mishap in a manner such that the tracking device follows the aircraft at a distance to capture images of the aircraft and the surrounding environment immediately after the mid-air mishap; wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; and wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap, the system comprising:
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a flight data recorder; a tracking device comprising at least one camera and a data communication system, wherein the tracking device and flight data recorder are configured to be ejected from the aircraft immediately after the mid-air mishap; a tow system, said tow system comprising a tether and data communication link, wherein the tether physically connects the tracking device to the aircraft after the mid-air mishap in a manner such that the tracking device follows the aircraft at a distance to capture images of the aircraft and the surrounding environment immediately after the mid-air mishap; wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap; and a soft landing system, said soft landing system being attached to the flight data recorder and configured to reduce force of impact upon landing and increase buoyancy of the flight data recorder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for rapid separation of a flight data recorder from an aircraft, the system comprising:
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a housing comprising an internal cavity and an opening; a flight data recorder positioned within the internal cavity of the housing and configured to be ejectable from the housing through the opening of the housing; an ejection system adapted to eject the flight data recorder when the flight data recorder detects an emergency event; a towing cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the housing or configured to be coupled to the aircraft, the second end of the towing cable coupled to the flight data recorder, the towing cable comprising a communications cable, the towing cable adapted to tether the flight data recorder to the aircraft for a period of time and decouple from the aircraft; a communication system adapted to access data from the aircraft through the communications cable of the towing cable for storing the data in the flight data recorder; the flight data recorder adapted to cause the towing cable to decouple at the first or second ends based on detecting an impact event; and a landing mechanism coupled to the flight data recorder, the landing mechanism adapted to reduce impact forces during landing of the flight data recorder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification