Parachute with improved gliding features

A ram-air parachute system comprising:

• upper and lower airfoil surface members;
• at least two proximal wall members extending between proximal edges of the upper and lower airfoil surface members, each proximal wall member extending distally and away from a longitudinal center of the parachute system;
• at least one distal wall member extending between distal edges of the upper and lower airfoil surface members;
• at least two interior wall members positioned within a space at least partially bounded by the upper and lower airfoil surface members, each interior wall member being positioned distal to one of the proximal wall members and extending distally and away from the longitudinal center of the parachute system;
• and
• at least one proximal-facing air inlet defined between the interior wall members and the upper and lower airfoil surface members;
• a plurality of edge airfoils are defined between the proximal wall members and at least a portion of the interior wall members, the upper airfoil surface member, the lower airfoil surface member and the at least one distal wall member;
• a first conductor positioned within each edge airfoil of the plurality of edge airfoils;
• and
• a second conductor positioned within the each edge airfoil of the plurality of edge airfoils at a position distal the first conductor;
• and
• control circuitry connected to each of the first and second conductors and configured to positively charge one of the first conductor and the second conductor and negatively charge the other of the first conductor and the second conductor;
• wherein the edge airfoils are in fluidic communication with the proximal-facing air inlet such that air may flow into the edge airfoils via the proximal-facing air inlet and inflate the edge airfoils;
• wherein inflation of the edge airfoils vertically expands the parachute system, increasing a vertical distance between the upper and lower airfoil surface members;
• wherein air particles adjacent to the positively-charged conductor are ionized by the positive charging thereof and attracted to the negatively-charged conductor by the negative charging thereof, creating a flow of air within the edge airfoil;
• wherein the lower airfoil surface member comprises at least one detachable panel;
• and
• wherein detachment of the at least one detachable panel creates an opening in the lower airfoil surface member to permit at least one of installment and removal of the first conductor and the second conductor.

A method of operating a ram-air parachute system that comprises upper and lower airfoil surface members, at least two proximal wall members, at least one proximal-facing inlet, at least two interior wall members, a plurality of edge airfoils defined between the proximal wall members and at least a portion of the interior wall members, the upper airfoil surface member, and the lower airfoil surface member, at least one distal wall member extending between distal edges of the upper and lower airfoil surface members, a first conductor positioned within each edge airfoil of the plurality of edge airfoils, a second conductor positioned within each edge airfoil of the plurality of edge airfoils at a position distal the first conductor, and control circuitry connected to each of the first and second conductors, the method comprising:

• polarizing one of the first and second conductors to have a positive polarity, thereby ionizing air particles adjacent thereto;
• polarizing the other of the first and second conductors to have a negative polarity, thereby attracting the ionized air particles;
• establishing a flow of air in the edge airfoil through polarization of the first and second conductors;
• and
• vertically expanding the edge airfoils through air flowing into the proximal-facing inlet and into the edge airfoils, thereby inflating the edge airfoils and increasing a vertical distance between the upper and lower airfoil surface members.