Transportation Pod that Deploys from an Aircraft or Vehicle
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian Dale Laughlin, John William Glatfelter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods of a pod that deploys from an aircraft or vehicle and descends to safely land. The pod is configured to be attached to an aircraft or vehicle. The pod includes walls that extend around and form a contained interior space that houses one or more travelers or cargo containers. During flight of the aircraft or vehicle, the pod deploys from the aircraft or vehicle while at an elevation above ground. A landing location is determined for the pod. While the pod is descending, the pod is steered towards and lands at the landing location.
Claims20
A method of operating a pod that is attached to an aircraft or vehicle, the method comprising:
- during flight of the aircraft or vehicle, deploying the pod from the aircraft or vehicle while at an elevation above ground, the pod comprising walls that extend around and form a contained interior space that houses one or more travelers or cargo containers;
- determining a landing location for the pod to safely land;
- while the pod is descending from the elevation, steering the pod towards the landing location;
- and
- landing the pod at the landing location.
A method of operating a pod that is attached to an aircraft or vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining an occurrence of an event with the aircraft or vehicle during flight and while the aircraft or vehicle is at an elevation and while the pod is being carried by the aircraft or vehicle, the pod comprising a contained interior space that houses one or more travelers or cargo containers;
- deploying the pod from the aircraft or vehicle during the flight and after the occurrence of the event;
- calculating a plurality of landing locations that are located within a predetermined range of the event;
- steering the pod towards one of the landing locations while the pod is descending from the elevation;
- and
- landing the pod at the one landing location.
A pod configured to be connected to and transported by an aircraft or vehicle, the pod comprising:
- a plurality of walls that extend around and form an interior space;
- a canopy attached to one or more of the walls, the canopy adjustable between a stowed orientation when the pod is being transported by the aircraft or vehicle and a deployed orientation;
- one or more steering lines that extend between the pod and the canopy to adjust the canopy and steer the pod during descent;
- and
- a control unit configured to:
- deploy the canopy from the stowed orientation to the deployed orientation;
- calculate a glide path of the pod;
- calculate one or more landing locations that are located within the glide path;
- and
- adjust the one or more steering lines and steer the pod towards one or more of the landing locations while the pod is descending.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.