Impact protection apparatus
First Claim
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1. An impact protection apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- two or more inflatable members configured to be coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the unmanned aerial vehicle during an impact; and
a control mechanism powered by a first power source that is separate from a second power that provides power to one or more propulsion units of the unmanned aerial vehicle,wherein the control mechanism is configured to cause compressed gas to flow from a container into an inflatable member selected from the two or more inflatable members in response to (a) a first signal indicative of malfunction of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the control mechanism is capable of selectively relaying the first signal such that at least one inflatable member does not inflate, and/or (b) a second signal indicative of one or more portions of the unmanned aerial vehicle that are likely to experience the impact, wherein the control mechanism is capable of selectively relaying the second signal such that at least one inflatable member does not inflate.
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Abstract
An impact protection apparatus is provided, comprising a gas container configured to hold a compressed gas and an inflatable member configured to be inflated by the gas and function as an airbag of a movable object, such as an aerial vehicle. A valve controls flow of gas from the container to the inflatable member in response to a signal from a valve controller. The valve and valve controller are powered by an independent power source than one or more other systems of the movable object. A safety mechanism may also be provided that, unless deactivated, prevents inflation of the inflatable member.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An impact protection apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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two or more inflatable members configured to be coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the unmanned aerial vehicle during an impact; and a control mechanism powered by a first power source that is separate from a second power that provides power to one or more propulsion units of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the control mechanism is configured to cause compressed gas to flow from a container into an inflatable member selected from the two or more inflatable members in response to (a) a first signal indicative of malfunction of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the control mechanism is capable of selectively relaying the first signal such that at least one inflatable member does not inflate, and/or (b) a second signal indicative of one or more portions of the unmanned aerial vehicle that are likely to experience the impact, wherein the control mechanism is capable of selectively relaying the second signal such that at least one inflatable member does not inflate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification