Breaking apart a platform upon pending collision
AssigneeSpace Data Corporation
InventorsGerald M. Knoblach, Eric A. Frische
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for separating and releasing component parts of a payload of a floating platform in response to a high collision probability is disclosed. The method includes, determining if an in-flight aircraft is within at least a safety zone associated with a floating platform, wherein the floating platform comprises releasably-coupled component parts; and activating, responsive to a determination that the in-flight aircraft is within at least the safety zone, a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism is configured to uncouple the component parts.
Claims20
A zone-based release mechanism, comprising:
- a processor to determine if an in-flight aircraft is within at least a zone associated with a floating platform as a collision zone or a safety zone;
- and
- a device operable to release a one or more component parts from the floating platform upon activation of the zone-based release mechanism wherein the one or more component parts descend to earth under gravity if the in-flight aircraft is in the collision zone or the one or more component parts is operable to be separated so as to remain attached to the floating platform by a one or more lines to provide distance between the one or more component parts that allow functionality of the one or more component parts if the in-flight aircraft is in the safety zone.
A system, comprising:
- a processor configured to determine an occurrence of a pre-determined event between a floating platform and an aircraft;
- the floating platform comprising a payload comprising a releasably coupled one or more component parts, wherein the payload of the floating platform comprises a power supply, a battery, a ballast system, an antenna system, an electronic system, a housing, or any combination thereof, wherein at least one of the releasably coupled one or more component parts is coupled to a recovery system;
- a release mechanism comprising a device that is configured to uncouple, upon activation, at least one of the releasably coupled one or more component parts;
- and
- a controller configured to activate the release mechanism in response to the occurrence of the pre-determined event;
- wherein at least one of the releasably coupled one or more component parts has a weight or density less than a certain value permissible under an aviation guideline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.