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Ejectable flight data recorder systems, methods, and devices

  • US 9,745,071 B1
  • Filed: 04/28/2017
  • Issued: 08/29/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for ejecting a flight data recorder from an aircraft in an emergency situation, the system comprising:

  • a flight data recorder disposed within a launching tube, the flight data recorder configured to be ejectable from the launching tube, the flight data recorder comprising a nonvolatile memory for storing flight data;

    an ejection system comprising a stored energy source configured to cause rapid ejection of the flight data recorder from the launching tube when the ejection system is triggered; and

    an emergency detection system comprising;

    an aircraft data bus interface configured to receive aircraft data bus information comprising at least position data, altitude data, vertical speed data, and airspeed data;

    a sensor interface configured to receive sensor data generated by a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least a plurality of collision sensors;

    an arming controller for automatically arming and disarming the ejection system based at least in part on one or more of the position data, the altitude data, the vertical speed data, or the airspeed data,wherein the arming controller is configured to dynamically disarm the ejection system within a first threshold distance from a first geographic location, and the arming controller is configured to dynamically disarm the ejection system within a second threshold distance from a second geographic location, the second threshold distance being different than the first threshold distance; and

    an ejection controller for automatically triggering the ejection system responsive to detection of one or more of a plurality of ejection conditions, the plurality of ejection conditions comprising ejection conditions grouped into at least two levels of authority,wherein the ejection controller is configured to, responsive to detection of an ejection condition having a lower level of authority, trigger the ejection system only if the ejection system is armed, andwherein the ejection controller is configured to, responsive to detection of an ejection condition having a higher level of authority, trigger the ejection system regardless of a current arming state of the ejection system.

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