Impact deflection system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPhillip Rotta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An object deflection system includes at least one sensor for detecting an impending impact of a first object with a second object. The sensor communicates with a deflector deployment device to substantially instantaneously activate the deflector deployment device upon detecting the impending impact. When activated, the deflector deployment device substantially instantaneously deploys a deflector so that the first object impacts the deflector. The first object is therefore deflected by the deflector and prevented from impacting second object.
Claims39
An object deflection system comprising:
- a sensor adapted to detect an impending impact of a first object with a second object;
- a deflector adapted to prevent the first object from impacting second object;
- and
- a deflector deployment device adapted to be activated by the sensor upon detecting the impending impact and to deploy the deflector such that the first object impacts the deflector, thereby preventing the first object from impacting the second object.
A method for preventing a first object from impacting a second object, said method comprising:
- sensing an impending impact of a first object with a second object;
- communicating an activation signal to a deflector deployment device upon sensing the impending impact;
- activating the deflector deployment device upon receiving the activation signal;
- and deploying a deflector upon activation of the deflector deployment device so that the first object impacts the deflector and is thereby prevented from impacting the second object.
A mobile platform antenna protection system comprising:
- a deflector adapted to prevent an object from impacting an antenna coupled to a fuselage of the mobile platform;
- a deflector deployment device adapted to deploy the deflector;
- and
- a sensor communicatively linked to the deflector deployment device, the sensor adapted to:
- detect an impending impact of the object with the antenna;
- and
- activate the deflector deployment device upon detection of the impending impact such that the object impacts the deflector and is thereby prevented from impacting the antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.