Energy Attenuating Struts for VTOL Aircraft Impact Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy absorption systems in vertical lift or vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are seat-specific and fail to effectively distribute and absorb impact energy across the entire aircraft during hard landings, leaving passengers and cargo unprotected.
Innovation Solution
An energy attenuation system (EAS) is integrated into the aircraft, comprising energy attenuating struts and stabilizing struts that deflect and absorb impact forces by rotating and compressing to distribute the force across the aircraft, protecting both passengers and cargo by reducing the impact transmitted to the pod and its occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seat-specific energy absorption systems are used, then individual seat protection is provided, but overall impact energy distribution and protection across the entire aircraft is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple seat-specific energy absorption systems into a single integrated energy attenuation system that spans multiple seats. The energy attenuating struts are coupled to both the pod and the aircraft structure, creating a unified system that distributes impact forces across multiple attachment points rather than isolating them to individual seats, thereby achieving both protection effectiveness and impact energy distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy attenuation system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it attenuates impact forces, distributes energy across the aircraft structure, and protects both passengers and cargo. The struts serve dual purposes as both structural support elements and energy absorption mechanisms, making the system universally applicable to various impact scenarios without requiring separate systems for different protection needs.
2Reliability
If energy attenuating struts are added to the aircraft structure, then impact energy absorption is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy attenuating struts are integrated with the existing aircraft structure and pod mounting system rather than being added as completely separate components. The struts are coupled to the pod attachment mechanism and the aircraft fuselage, merging the energy absorption function with the structural support function to minimize additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy attenuating struts are designed to automatically deploy and activate during impact events without requiring external control systems or manual intervention. The struts self-regulate their energy absorption characteristics through their mechanical design, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms while maintaining effective impact energy absorption.
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 EAS effectively reduces impact forces across the entire aircraft, providing enhanced protection for passengers and cargo by distributing and absorbing energy through the rotation and compression of energy attenuating struts, even before conventional impact reduction systems are activated.
Implementation Method 1
energy attenuating struts and stabilizing struts that deflect and absorb impact forces by rotating and compressing
Implementation Method 2
energy attenuating struts... configured to rotate about an axis of rotation... to deflect and absorb impact forces
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle has a pod carrier, a pod rotatably connected to the pod carrier, and an energy attenuating system (EAS) disposed between the pod and the pod carrier to attenuate forces associated with a deflection of the pod relative to the pod carrier. A method of operating an energy attenuating system (EAS) is provided for attenuating energy associated with movement between a pod and a pod carrier. The method includes providing a vehicle having a pod carrier and providing the pod carrier with an EAS configured in an undeflected state.