Steerable parachute control system and method
US6889942B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/105
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An autonomous guided parachute system for cargo drops that divides the requirements of guidance and soft landing into separate parachutes. Said invention includes a high wing-loaded ram air parachute for guidance, a larger round parachute for soft landing, a harness/container system, flight computer, position sensors and actuation system. The system is dropped from an airplane. A predetermined period of drogue fall ensures a stable position prior to deploying the guidance parachute. The flight controller determines a heading to intersect with an area substantially above the desired target and controls the guidance parachute via pneumatic actuators connected to the parachutes steering lines to fly on that heading. At a minimum altitude prior to the system's impact with the ground the flight computer transitions the system from the fast high performance guidance parachute to a larger landing parachute by releasing the guidance parachute to static line extract and deploy the landing parachute. If the system reaches a position substantially above target area prior to the parachute transition altitude the flight computer controls the system into a spiral dive or other rapid altitude dro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.