Rigid Parachute Wing for Drone Emergency Descent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency rescue systems for aircraft, such as parachutes and soft landing systems, face issues with high dead weight, excessive fuel consumption, and the inability to operate in automatic mode, especially at low altitudes and under adverse weather conditions, leading to reduced effectiveness and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft equipped with a rigid parachute system having a fixed shape, permanently open and connected by rigid braces, with the center of gravity below the aerodynamic center, allowing for automatic vertical descent without control systems, reducing weather effects and aircraft weight, and utilizing slots and airflow management to minimize descent speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional parachute system is used for emergency rescue, then the aircraft can be rescued in emergency situations, but the system has substantial dead weight and cannot operate in automatic mode
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute structure is merged with the aircraft wing structure itself. The wing is designed with an airfoil cross-section that functions as both the lifting surface during flight and the parachute canopy during emergency descent. This eliminates the need for a separate parachute system, thereby reducing dead weight while maintaining rescue capability
Solution Approach 2:
The wing serves dual functions: as a lifting surface during normal flight and as a parachute canopy during emergency rescue. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated emergency rescue equipment, reducing overall system weight while ensuring rescue capability is maintained
2Reliability
If a conventional parachute system is used, then emergency rescue is possible, but the system requires operator intervention and cannot operate automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to activate automatically through passive aerodynamic mechanisms. When the aircraft enters a dive or loss of control condition, the wing's airfoil shape naturally creates drag and lift forces that stabilize the aircraft in a vertical descent orientation, eliminating the need for operator intervention or complex control systems
3Reliability
If a conventional parachute system is used, then emergency rescue can be attempted, but the system has substantial lag and extraction time that affects effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute canopy is pre-configured as the wing structure itself, which is already in position and ready for immediate use. There is no extraction or deployment time required because the rescue surface is permanently integrated into the aircraft structure, eliminating the time lag associated with conventional parachute deployment
4Reliability
If a conventional parachute system is used, then emergency rescue is possible, but the system increases aircraft dead weight and reduces system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The parachute function is merged with the wing structure, eliminating the need for separate parachute components. This integration reduces dead weight and improves system efficiency by using the same structural elements for both flight and rescue functions
5Reliability
If a back-up powerplant system is used, then emergency rescue is possible, but the system has substantial dead weight and excessive fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts the emergency rescue function from the powerplant system and relocates it to the wing structure. By removing the back-up powerplant and its associated fuel requirements, the system eliminates excessive fuel consumption while maintaining rescue capability through passive aerodynamic means
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
Enables stable and automatic vertical parachuting at any altitude, reducing descent speed and horizontal speed, eliminating the risk of parachute collapse and false triggering, while maintaining aircraft stability and safety without operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The parachute 1 is provided with slots 2 and flight control surfaces 8
Implementation Method 2
utilizing slots and airflow management to minimize descent speed
Implementation Method 3
the aircraft center of gravity is located below the aircraft aerodynamic center
Implementation Method 4
allowing for automatic vertical descent without control systems
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of heavier-than-air aircraft, such as airplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and, in particular, to emergency rescue systems. The technical objective is accomplished by providing an aircraft, such as a drone, including a powerplant, a parachute, and a body. In particular, the parachute has a fixed shape, it is permanently in an opened state and is connected to the body by rigid braces, while the aircraft center of gravity is located below the aircraft aerodynamic center.