Automated aircraft recovery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025147507-A1
Application number	US-202519009707-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 3, 2025
Priority date	Jul 11, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An indication to perform a recovery action, including by deploying a first and second parachute canopy is output. Sensor data, which includes parachute canopy state information associated with the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy, is received from a sensor. It is determined, based at least in part on the sensor data, whether to generate a control signal with a value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position. If the parachute canopy state information indicates the first parachute canopy is collapsed and the second is inflated, the control signal is generated with the value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into the nose-up position. A load on the second parachute canopy is reduced if the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position. The control signal is output.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a first parachute canopy; a second parachute canopy, wherein the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy are coupled to an aircraft at a point aft of a center of mass of the aircraft; and a processor configured to:
output an indication to perform a recovery action, including by deploying the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy;
receive sensor data from a sensor, wherein the sensor data includes parachute canopy state information associated with the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy;
determine, based at least in part on the sensor data, whether to generate a control signal with a value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position, wherein:
in the event the parachute canopy state information indicates the first parachute canopy is collapsed and the second parachute canopy is inflated, the control signal is generated with the value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into the nose-up position; and
a load on the second parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position; and

output the control signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is smaller than the second parachute canopy.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is made of a thicker material than the second parachute canopy.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is able to withstand a greater load than the second parachute canopy.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the second parachute canopy is able to deploy faster than the first parachute canopy.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor data further includes an aircraft altitude and an aircraft speed; and the processor is further configured to determine the recovery action based at least in part on the aircraft altitude and the aircraft speed.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor data further includes an aircraft altitude and an aircraft speed; and the processor is further configured to determine the recovery action, including whether to deploy the first parachute canopy or the second parachute canopy first, based at least in part on the aircraft altitude and the aircraft speed.

8 . A method, comprising:
outputting an indication to perform a recovery action, including by deploying a first parachute canopy and a second parachute canopy, wherein the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy are coupled to an aircraft at a point aft of a center of mass of the aircraft; receiving sensor data from a sensor, wherein the sensor data includes parachute canopy state information associated with the first parachute canopy and the second parachute canopy; determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, whether to generate a control signal with a value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position, wherein:
in the event the parachute canopy state information indicates the first parachute canopy is collapsed and the second parachute canopy is inflated, the control signal is generated with the value associated with maneuvering the aircraft into the nose-up position; and
a load on the second parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position; and outputting the control signal.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is smaller than the second parachute canopy.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is made of a thicker material than the second parachute canopy.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the first parachute canopy is able to withstand a greater load than the second parachute canopy.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first parachute canopy is deployed before the second parachute canopy; and the second parachute canopy is able to deploy faster than the first parachute canopy.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the sensor data further includes an aircraft altitude and an aircraft speed; and the method further includes determining the recovery action based at least in part on the aircraft altitude and the aircraft speed.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the sensor data further includes an aircraft altitude and an aircraft speed; and the method further includes determining the recovery action, including whether to deploy the first parachute canopy or the second parachute canopy first, based at least in part on the aircraft altitude and the aircraft speed.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Robertson Cameron
• Roop Joseph
• Reichert Todd
• Vander Lind Damon

Classifications

• G05D1/46

  Control of position or course in three dimensions [3D] · CPC title

• G05D1/81

  Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control · CPC title

• B64U70/83

  using parachutes, balloons or the like · CPC title

• B64D17/725

  by explosive means · CPC title

• B64D17/54

  automatic · CPC title