Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions

An aircraft, the aircraft including:

• a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute is configured to deploy based upon an electrical signal;
• a pull-handle;
• an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft;
• one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon;
• and
• one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions;
• the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:
• based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft;
• then
• based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;
• wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
• based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft;
• wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;
• wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;
• wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors;
• wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
• based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, perform an analysis to determine whether a second action needs to be performed;
• wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
• based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute regardless of whether the analysis determines that the second action needs to be performed;
• wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
• based at least upon the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, controlling reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, and wherein controlling reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes one or more of controlling a position of a reefing device, extending reefing control lines, or retracting reefing control lines.