Autonomous Flight Termination via Onboard Sensor Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flight termination systems for air vehicles, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rely on a strong radio link between the aircraft and ground station, which can be unreliable in emergency situations, leading to potential loss of both the aircraft and its payload due to external or internal malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A flight termination system and method that includes onboard microcontrollers connected to parachute deployment systems, using internal and external sensors to autonomously determine emergency situations and deploy parachutes without relying on continuous radio communication, ensuring the system can operate independently and safely terminate flights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a strong radio link is used for flight termination control, then the ability to receive ground station commands is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates when radio communication is lost due to terrain or interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight termination system reliabilityVSAvoidradio link connectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The flight termination system is equipped with onboard sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, GPS) and a microcontroller that enable it to autonomously detect emergency conditions and trigger parachute deployment without requiring continuous ground station commands. The system serves itself by monitoring its own state and making independent safety decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-loads termination criteria and deployment parameters into its onboard microcontroller before flight. Emergency conditions and response thresholds are predetermined, allowing the system to react immediately upon detecting critical situations without waiting for ground station analysis or commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual operator control is used for parachute deployment, then the ability to make experienced decisions is improved, but the response time deteriorates in emergency situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision-making capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The microcontroller continuously monitors sensor data and automatically compares it against pre-programmed emergency criteria. When conditions are met, the system autonomously activates the parachute deployment sequence without requiring manual operator intervention, eliminating response delays while maintaining intelligent decision-making through embedded algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where onboard sensors monitor flight parameters (acceleration, rotation, altitude, position) and feed this data to the microcontroller. This real-time feedback enables the system to detect emergency conditions immediately and trigger automated response actions without human intervention delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If explosive devices are used for flight termination, then the ability to destroy the aircraft is improved, but the loss of payload deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight termination effectivenessVSAvoidpayload loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a parachute deployment mechanism that provides gradual deceleration and controlled landing. By preparing the parachute system in advance and deploying it before impact, the system cushions the landing force, protecting both the aircraft structure and any recoverable payload from destruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using destructive explosives that guarantee payload loss, the system converts the emergency situation into a controlled recovery scenario. The parachute system transforms the potentially harmful uncontrolled crash into a beneficial controlled descent, allowing the aircraft and payload to be recovered intact when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively and automatically terminates flights in emergency situations, reducing the risk of aircraft and payload loss by using onboard sensors to assess conditions and deploy parachutes, even in cases where radio communication is lost, thereby enhancing safety and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

deploying a parachute for flight termination

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS10450077B2Flight termination for air vehicles

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

The present disclosure refers to a method and a related system of flight termination for air vehicles. The method and the system of flight termination for air vehicles involve deploying a parachute for flight termination of an air vehicle. A flight termination system, which in turn comprises at least one microcontroller unit that is connected to at least one parachute deployment system for deploying an air vehicle's parachute when a major emergency is determined during an air vehicle's flight.