Steerable container delivery system
First Claim
1. A steerable container delivery system (“
- CDS”
) comprising;
a pallet configured to be airdropped from a cargo aircraft,a first fin and a second fin extending from opposite sides of the pallet and configured to alter a lateral position of the pallet during descent of the CDS; and
a flight management computer (“
FMC”
) configured to control a rotation of the first fin and the second fin, wherein the FMC computer comprises a GPS receiver configured to determine the lateral position of the pallet and control rotation of the first fin and the second fin to position the CDS over a drop location.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steerable container delivery system (“CDS”) includes a pallet configured with inflatable fins for steering a CDS cargo bundle during free fall when airdropped. The inflatable fins are inflated shortly after deployment using compressed air carried by a tank in the pallet. A flight management computer (“FMS”) continuously monitors the location of the CDS bundle using GPS technology and determines a vector to a drop location based on stored GPS measurements. The FMC continuously monitors and positions the CDS bundle over the drop location, and is able to independently rotate the fins to control the position of the CDS bundle, either by rotating the CDS bundle or laterally moving it. At the appropriate altitude, the FMC causes the main parachute to open to slow the descent of the CDS bundle for impact.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A steerable container delivery system (“
- CDS”
) comprising;a pallet configured to be airdropped from a cargo aircraft, a first fin and a second fin extending from opposite sides of the pallet and configured to alter a lateral position of the pallet during descent of the CDS; and a flight management computer (“
FMC”
) configured to control a rotation of the first fin and the second fin, wherein the FMC computer comprises a GPS receiver configured to determine the lateral position of the pallet and control rotation of the first fin and the second fin to position the CDS over a drop location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- CDS”
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10. A steerable container delivery system (“
- CDS”
) comprising;a pallet configured to be airdropped from a cargo aircraft, a first fin and a second fin positioned at opposite sides of the pallet, the first fin and the second fin configured to be independently rotated on an axis positioned horizontal to the pallet; a first actuator and a second actuator configured to rotate the first fin and second fin respectively; and a flight management computer (“
FMC”
) configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator so as to steer the CDS to a drop location, wherein the FMC comprisesa memory storing GPS coordinates of the drop location, a wireless interface for receiving the GPS coordinates of the drop location, a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals and provide a longitude and latitude of the CDS during descent, and a compass providing a heading of the CDS during descent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- CDS”
Specification