Dual-Canopy Parachute with Secondary Vent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parachute systems for aircraft lack a mechanism to counteract the force of air exiting the apex, resulting in accelerated descent, inability to control descent rate or direction, lack of steering, and limited capacity for large aircraft, leading to potential damage and injury upon landing.
Innovation Solution
A dual-canopy parachute system with a primary canopy and a secondary canopy that captures and redirects air exiting the primary canopy's vent, using adjustable suspension lines and liquid jets to control descent and direction, and deploying onion-shaped airbags for deceleration, guided by GPS, cameras, wind velocity, and radar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If air vents are added to the parachute canopy, then descent speed increases, but air resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute system is divided into multiple canopies (primary and secondary) with separate functions. The primary canopy provides main air resistance, while the secondary canopy specifically manages air venting, segmenting the air resistance function from the venting function to resolve the contradiction between maintaining drag and enabling controlled descent.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary canopy acts as an intermediary between the primary canopy's air vent and the external environment. It captures and redirects the air exiting the primary canopy's vent, mediating the force interaction to convert potentially harmful air escape into useful directional control while maintaining overall air resistance.
2Ease of operation
If a hole is made at the top of the canopy for air escape, then maneuverability improves, but descent control deteriorates due to Newton's third law
Solution Approach 1:
The air escape force, which according to Newton's third law would accelerate descent, is converted into a beneficial steering force. The secondary canopy captures this escaping air and redirects it laterally, transforming the harmful downward acceleration into useful horizontal maneuvering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary canopy serves as an intermediary that intercepts the air flow exiting the primary canopy and redirects it. This mediation converts the direct downward force into lateral steering forces, enabling maneuverability without sacrificing descent control.
3Quantity of substance
If the parachute canopy size is increased to carry heavier cargo, then load capacity improves, but steering control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steering function is segmented from the main canopy structure and assigned to the secondary canopy. This allows the primary canopy to be sized for heavy cargo capacity while the secondary canopy, being smaller and more responsive, handles steering control independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary canopy acts as a steering intermediary that responds to control inputs and redirects air flow to steer the entire parachute system. This intermediary approach enables effective steering control even when the primary canopy is large enough to carry heavy cargo.
4Reliability
If traditional parachute deployment is used for aircraft, then passenger safety improves, but aircraft damage prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute system transitions from static traditional deployment to dynamic controlled descent. The ability to actively control descent rate and direction allows for optimized landing scenarios that can reduce impact forces on the aircraft structure while maintaining passenger safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic changes in descent parameters (rate, direction, timing) to optimize the landing outcome. By controlling these parameters, the system can achieve gentler landings that prevent aircraft damage while maintaining the primary function of passenger safety.
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 controls the rate and direction of descent, reduces damage and injury by decelerating the aircraft near impact, and enables safer landing by steering clear of obstacles, overcoming the limitations of traditional parachute systems.
Implementation Method 1
Parachutes are typically constructed from a fabric that employs air resistance to control the fall of an object or being through air
Implementation Method 2
air escapes from within the canopy through the hole at a great force (mass times acceleration according to Newton's second law of physics) actually acting against the desired slower descent according to Newton's third law of physics, that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Implementation Method 3
As the parachute is deployed, air is trapped within the hemisphere of the canopy and creates air resistance that decelerates the parachute for a safe landing
Implementation Method 4
deceleration is further enhanced using liquid jets exiting from reservoirs in the object in the direction of descent at velocities of about 1,000 meters per seconds
Implementation Method 5
Control of the operational parameters of the secondary canopy is accomplished using input from GPS, cameras, surrounding wind velocity, laser, Doppler ultrasound and radar
Implementation Method 6
Control of the operational parameters of the secondary canopy is accomplished using input from GPS, cameras, surrounding wind velocity, laser, Doppler ultrasound and radar
Data Source
AI summary
A parachute structure includes two canopies. A primary canopy has a central air vent. The primary canopy is attached to an object by primary suspension lines for reducing the velocity of descent of the object. A secondary canopy captures air that exits from the central air vent of the primary canopy. The secondary canopy is attached to the object by control lines. Control of the direction and rate of descent of the parachute is accomplished by adjusting the length of the control lines by way of actuators to alter the distance between the secondary canopy and the primary canopy. Symmetrical changes in the length of suspension lines alter the velocity of descent of the object while asymmetric change steer of the object. In some embodiments, liquid jets ejected from the object increase deceleration and change direction and exterior air bags are deployed to cushion the object from damage.