Flight recorder deployment system and method
First Claim
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1. A flight recorder release unit comprising:
- one or more deployment circuits for transmitting a deployment signal to deploy a fight recorder from an aircraft;
a deployment controller coupled to the one or more deployment circuits, the deployment controller including;
a sensor monitoring module that enables the one or more deployment circuits to transmit the deployment signal when crash sensor data from a plurality of crash sensors indicate a deployment criteria corresponding to a sensitivity state of the sensor monitoring module is detected; and
a sensitivity selection module that sets the sensitivity state of the sensor monitoring module to be in one of a plurality of sensitivity states based on flight status information of the aircraft, wherein the plurality of sensitivity states include a low sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is on the ground, a normal sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is cruising in flight, and an alert sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is taking off or landing.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provides an automatic deployable flight recorder (ADFR) system that includes a deployable fight recorder, a plurality of crash sensors, and a recorder release unit. The recorder release unit is communicatively coupled to the deployable fight recorder and the plurality of crash sensors, and is configured to initiate deployment of the deployable flight data recorder from an aircraft when a deployment criteria that is adjusted based on a flight condition of the aircraft is satisfied.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A flight recorder release unit comprising:
- one or more deployment circuits for transmitting a deployment signal to deploy a fight recorder from an aircraft;
a deployment controller coupled to the one or more deployment circuits, the deployment controller including;
a sensor monitoring module that enables the one or more deployment circuits to transmit the deployment signal when crash sensor data from a plurality of crash sensors indicate a deployment criteria corresponding to a sensitivity state of the sensor monitoring module is detected; and
a sensitivity selection module that sets the sensitivity state of the sensor monitoring module to be in one of a plurality of sensitivity states based on flight status information of the aircraft, wherein the plurality of sensitivity states include a low sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is on the ground, a normal sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is cruising in flight, and an alert sensitivity state when the flight status information indicate the aircraft is taking off or landing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- one or more deployment circuits for transmitting a deployment signal to deploy a fight recorder from an aircraft;
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11. A method for activating deployment of a deployable flight recorder from an aircraft using a plurality of crash sensors on the aircraft, the method comprising:
- determining a flight condition of the aircraft;
determining one of a plurality of crash risk levels based on the flight condition of the aircraft, wherein the plurality of crash risk levels include a low crash risk level corresponding to the flight condition of the aircraft being on the ground, an intermediate crash risk level corresponding to the flight condition of the aircraft being at a cruising altitude or cruising speed, and a high crash risk level corresponding to the flight condition of the aircraft during takeoff or landing; and
activating the deployment of the deployable flight recorder from the aircraft when a deployment criteria corresponding to the determined crash risk level is satisfied, wherein the deployment criteria is based on crash sensor data from the plurality of crash sensors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- determining a flight condition of the aircraft;
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20. A automatic deployable flight recorder system comprising:
- a deployable fight recorder;
a plurality of crash sensors; and
a recorder release unit communicatively coupled to the deployable fight recorder and the plurality of crash sensors, the recorder release unit configured to initiate deployment of the deployable flight data recorder from an aircraft when a deployment criteria that is adjusted based on a flight condition of the aircraft is satisfied, wherein the deployment criteria is adjusted based on whether the flight condition indicates the aircraft is on the ground, the flight condition indicates the aircraft is cruising in flight, or the flight condition indicates the aircraft is taking off or landing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a deployable fight recorder;
Specification