US 11,628,941 B2 · Bimodal parachute deployment system

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes an interface which receives sensor information associated with a vehicle, a severing tool, a parachute load limiting device state controller, and a reefing device. The controller determines, based at least in part on the sensor information, whether to instruct the severing tool to release a reefing device prior to parachute deployment. If it is determined to instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, the severing tool is so instructed. If it is determined to not instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, the reefing device is configured to be situated around a parachute canopy to constrain the parachute canopy during an initial state and slide down the parachute canopy to a position below the parachute canopy to constrain one or more parachute tethers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

an interface that is configured to receive sensor information associated with a vehicle;
a severing tool;
a parachute load limiting device state controller that is configured to:
determine, based at least in part on the sensor information, whether to instruct the severing tool to release a reefing device prior to parachute deployment;
and
in the event it is determined to instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment;
and
the reefing device, wherein in the event it is determined to not instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, the reefing device is configured to:
be situated around a parachute canopy to constrain the parachute canopy during an initial state;
and
slide down the parachute canopy to a position below the parachute canopy to constrain one or more parachute tethers.

8 more elements

A method, comprising:

providing an interface that is configured to receive sensor information associated with a vehicle;
providing a severing tool;
providing a parachute load limiting device state controller that is configured to:
determine, based at least in part on the sensor information, whether to instruct the severing tool to release a reefing device prior to parachute deployment;
and
in the event it is determined to instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment;
and
providing the reefing device, wherein in the event it is determined to not instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, the reefing device is configured to:
be situated around a parachute canopy to constrain the parachute canopy during an initial state;
and
slide down the parachute canopy to a position below the parachute canopy to constrain one or more parachute tethers.

8 more elements

A system, comprising:

an interface configured to receive sensor information associated with a vehicle;
and
a processor coupled to the interface and configured to:
determine, based at least in part on the sensor information, whether to instruct a severing tool to release a reefing device prior to parachute deployment;
and
in the event it is determined to instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, wherein in the event it is determined to not instruct the severing tool to release the reefing device prior to the parachute deployment, the reefing device is configured to:
be situated around a parachute canopy to constrain the parachute canopy during an initial state;
and
slide down the parachute canopy to a position below the parachute canopy to constrain one or more parachute tethers.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bimodal parachute deployment system

Life of this patent

Bimodal parachute deployment system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20