Off-Center Parachute Flight Termination With Redundant Burn-Wire Latches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight termination systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack redundancy and fail to provide a controlled and predictable descent in case of power loss or malfunction, leading to unpredictable landing scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A latching mechanism with dual burn wires and a redundant off-center parachute system, controlled by ground-based radio modules, ensures secure separation of the UAV door and deployment of an off-center parachute, inducing a controlled spiral descent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single burn wire and single parachute system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of flight termination is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is divided into multiple independent latch units (first latch and second latch) that can be independently actuated by separate burn wires. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while keeping each individual latch component relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the UAV door are secured by different latches positioned at different locations. The first latch secures a first portion while the second latch secures a second portion, allowing localized failure without complete system failure and enabling targeted release of specific door sections.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a centered parachute is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability of descent is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute is deliberately positioned off-center within the UAV rather than at the center. This asymmetric placement creates a controlled moment arm that generates stabilizing torque during descent, causing the UAV to orient in a predictable manner and spiral down in a controlled fashion rather than tumbling unpredictably.
3Reliability
If the door is securely latched during flight, then the reliability of flight operation is improved, but the ease of emergency release is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical release system is replaced with an electrical/thermal actuation system using burn wires. The burn wires can be remotely activated via radio frequency signals from ground control, allowing emergency release without requiring physical access to the latches or manual operation during critical flight situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The release function is extracted from the mechanical latch structure itself and implemented as a separate thermal cutting system. The burn wires are positioned to cut the retention strings that hold the latches engaged, separating the securing function from the release function and enabling independent control of each.
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 provides a redundant and controlled descent mechanism, ensuring a predictable and stable landing of UAVs even in power loss situations, with the ability to manually override for safe landing.
Implementation Method 1
current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire of the at least two burn wires when the burn signal may be received, where the burn wire melts a portion of the string
Implementation Method 2
deploying the parachute may cause a drag force on a first side of the UAV, where the drag force slows down the first side of the UAV more than a second opposite side of the UAV inducing a torque on the UAV which results in a rotation of the UAV
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods including: a latching mechanism comprising: a first latch configured to attach to a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch; a string connected between the first and second latch, where the string secures the door shut; at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of the string between the first latch and the second latch; where current from a backup battery passes to at least one burn wire when the burn signal is received, where the burn wire causes the connection between the first latch and the second latch to be broken and the door of the UAV is separated from the UAV.