# US 2018/0022310 A1 · Airbag system for use with unmanned aerial vehicles

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- Number: US 2018/0022310 A1
- Document ID: US20180022310A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/469,128
- Filed: 2017-03-24
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-24
- Assignees: Rhombus Systems Group, Inc.
- Applicants: Rhombus Systems Group, Inc.
- Inventors: Erlend Olson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022310A1

## CPC

- B64D 25/00: Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for
- B64C 25/56: inflatable
- B64U 70/87: using inflatable cushions
- B60R 2021/0093: {Aircraft}
- B60R 2021/01325: {Vertical acceleration}
- B64D 2201/00: Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
- B64U 10/13: Flying platforms
- B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
- B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20)
- B64U 30/20: Rotors; Rotor supports
- B64U 50/19: using electrically powered motors
- B64U 50/31: generated by photovoltaics
- B64U 60/50: with landing legs
- B64U 2101/31: for surveillance
- B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
- B64U 2201/20: Remote controls
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A system for deploying an airbag when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has failed or is no longer able to sustain flight, comprising a triggering means which releases compressed air into a bag or bags which are configured to expand around the UAV for the purpose of reducing the deceleration forces of the UAV on impact. UAV's are provided that are configured with a system that includes a triggering mechanism that deploys one or more bags when there is a failure or when flight is no longer sustainable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for deploying an airbag when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has failed or is no longer able to sustain flight, comprising a triggering means which releases compressed air into a bag or bags which are configured to expand around the UAV for the purpose of reducing the deceleration forces of the UAV on impact.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger is caused by an accelerometer exceeding a certain acceleration limit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger is caused by a loss of power to the motors that power the UAV.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger is caused by a detector which monitors the current to one or more motors of a fixed wing UAV or quadcopter or octocopter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger is caused by a remote command which is issued via a datagram which is transmitted to the UAV over a wireless link.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein one or more airbags envelope the UAV completely on deployment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment of the airbags includes an electronic means for cutting power to all rotor motors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment of the airbags includes a mechanical means for cutting power to all rotor motors.

### Claim 9

A system for deploying an airbag when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has failed or is no longer able to sustain flight, comprising:
a) a triggering means for triggering the admission of gas into an airbag;
b) an airbag configured to be inflated with gas;
c) mounting means for mounting the airbag on a UAV.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the triggering means is coupled with a supply of a compressed gas.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein said triggering means triggers gas from the supply of compressed gas to inflate the airbag.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the gas is compressed gas is air.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the triggering means comprises a valve that regulates the passage of compressed gas from said supply of compressed gas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein said supply of compressed gas is contained in a reservoir.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the triggering means comprises a valve that regulates the passage of compressed gas from said reservoir.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein said valve regulates the supply of compressed gas to a plurality of airbags.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein a plurality of reservoirs are provided to supply gas to inflate a plurality of airbags, and wherein said triggering means triggers the admission of gas into the plurality of airbags from the plurality of reservoirs.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein said triggering means comprises a gas producing substance and an actuator for actuating said substance to produce gas.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein said actuator is an ignitor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein said ignitor comprises a heating element.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein said substance is a nitrogen gas producing substance.

### Claim 22 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, including circuitry electronically coupled with one or more detectors for detecting a condition of the UAV, and wherein said trigger is electronically coupled to trigger in response to a condition detected by said one or more detectors.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein said one or more detectors comprise detectors selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, current meters, gimbals, inertial measurement units, altimeters, position detectors, and orientation detectors.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a) a power source;
b) powering means for powering the vehicle to flight the vehicle; and
c) the system of claim 1.

### Claim 25

A module for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a) a housing;
b) at least one bag configured to be inflated with gas;
c) triggering means for triggering the admission of gas into the bag;
d) mounting means for mounting the housing on a UAV.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The module of claim 25, wherein said triggering means comprises a valve or igniter, a sensor for sensing at least one condition, wherein said triggering means is electronically coupled with said sensor to trigger said valve or igniter upon detection of at least one condition.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The module of claim 26, wherein said sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, current meter, inertial measurement unit, altimeter, position detector, and orientation detector; and wherein said condition comprises a predetermined value threshold programmed in said triggering means, which when reported by said sensor, actuates said trigger to actuate said valve or igniter to inflate said bag.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The module of claim 26, wherein said triggering means is remotely actuable.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The module of claim 27, wherein said triggering means is remotely actuable