Ejectable flight data recorder systems, methods, and devices
First Claim
1. An ejectable flight data recorder for robust retention of flight data and aiding in locating an aircraft after an emergency situation in a remote location over a body of water, the ejectable flight data recorder comprising:
- a buoyant housing configured to provide shock and heat protection to components positioned within the housing;
a nonvolatile memory positioned within the housing, the nonvolatile memory configured to store flight data comprising at least duplicated data from a conventional flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder;
an energy-dissipating nose cone positioned at a distal end of the housing for reducing an impact load on the housing and components positioned within the housing when the ejectable flight data recorder impacts a water surface;
a distress signal generating circuit positioned within the housing;
an antenna electrically coupled to the distress signal generating circuit, wherein the distress signal generating circuit is configured to transmit via the antenna a distress signal to a satellite;
at least three hydrophones configured to be deployable from the housing and suspended beneath the housing after a water landing of the ejectable flight data recorder; and
one or more computer processors programmed to analyze acoustic information received by the at least three hydrophones to estimate a sinking trajectory of the aircraft in a body of water.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ejectable flight data recorder for robust retention of flight data and aiding in locating an aircraft after an emergency situation comprises: a buoyant housing comprising an internal cavity, a door for access to at least a portion of the internal cavity, and an aerodynamic outer shape having a longitudinal axis; an energy-dissipating nose cone for reducing an impact load on the housing when the flight data recorder impacts a water surface; a nonvolatile memory configured to store flight data; a position sensor for detecting a geographic position of the flight data recorder; a radio transmitter; an antenna electrically coupled to the radio transmitter; a sustainable power system; and a hydrophone for acoustically tracking a sinking trajectory of the aircraft in a body of water.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ejectable flight data recorder for robust retention of flight data and aiding in locating an aircraft after an emergency situation in a remote location over a body of water, the ejectable flight data recorder comprising:
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a buoyant housing configured to provide shock and heat protection to components positioned within the housing; a nonvolatile memory positioned within the housing, the nonvolatile memory configured to store flight data comprising at least duplicated data from a conventional flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder; an energy-dissipating nose cone positioned at a distal end of the housing for reducing an impact load on the housing and components positioned within the housing when the ejectable flight data recorder impacts a water surface; a distress signal generating circuit positioned within the housing; an antenna electrically coupled to the distress signal generating circuit, wherein the distress signal generating circuit is configured to transmit via the antenna a distress signal to a satellite; at least three hydrophones configured to be deployable from the housing and suspended beneath the housing after a water landing of the ejectable flight data recorder; and one or more computer processors programmed to analyze acoustic information received by the at least three hydrophones to estimate a sinking trajectory of the aircraft in a body of water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification