Rocket-Assisted Parachute Deployment for VTOL Aircraft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parachute systems for low-altitude VTOL aircraft are inefficient in deploying quickly and minimizing vertical drop before full inflation, leading to potential high-velocity impacts during emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

A parachute system with three independent ballistic parachutes and a drogue parachute, utilizing a rocket-assisted deployment sequence to rapidly inflate canopies and control descent, ensuring the aircraft's vertical speed never exceeds unsafe impact velocities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional parachute deployment is used, then the parachute system is simple to operate, but the deployment time is too long and vertical drop before full inflation is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment timeVSAvoidparachute system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parachute canopy is pre-positioned in a deployment bag that is already attached to the aircraft. The deployment bag contains the canopy in a compact configuration ready for rapid extraction, eliminating the need for complex folding and packing operations during emergency deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A pneumatic extraction system uses compressed gas to rapidly eject the deployment bag from the aircraft. This pneumatic mechanism provides high-speed extraction without requiring complex mechanical winches or manual operations, significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional parachute deployment is used, then the parachute system is easy to manufacture, but the vertical drop before full inflation is excessive causing high-velocity impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact velocityVSAvoidparachute system manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The parachute canopy is nested within a deployment bag, which itself is attached to the aircraft. This nested configuration allows the canopy to be extracted in a controlled manner and rapidly inflate close to the aircraft, minimizing vertical drop and impact velocity without requiring complex external support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The deployment bag is pre-configured with the canopy in a compact, space-efficient arrangement that enables rapid extraction and inflation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the canopy can deploy quickly to reduce vertical drop, while the manufacturing process remains straightforward as it involves standard parachute fabrication techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If rapid deployment is implemented, then the impact velocity is reduced, but the deployment sequence becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact velocityVSAvoiddeployment operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction and deployment functions are merged into a single integrated deployment bag system. Pulling the bag releases both the extraction mechanism and the canopy deployment simultaneously, providing rapid response while maintaining operational simplicity through a single-action trigger system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The deployment bag system is designed to automatically extract and deploy the canopy upon activation without requiring complex sequencing or multiple manual operations. The system self-regulates the deployment sequence through its mechanical design, reducing operational complexity while achieving rapid deployment to minimize impact velocity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 limits maximum downward speed during extraction and inflation, ensuring a safe impact by quickly deploying and fully inflating the parachutes, preventing high-velocity crashes and injuries.

Implementation Method 1

a rocket (1000) is provided which extracts the parachute (1010) from a container (1118)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

facilitate smooth flight of payload (1918)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic drag: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS11273919B2Parachute architecture for low-altitude VTOL aircraft

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 KITTY HAWK CORP

AI summary

In an embodiment, a system to deploy a plurality of parachutes includes a plurality of parachute canopies each packed in a canister, a plurality of rockets adapted to extract an associated canopy from the canister, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine that an aircraft is at least one of: in a hover mode of operation and a forward flight mode of operation. In response to the determination that the aircraft is in the hover mode of operation, the controller applies a hover deployment sequence including by instructing the plurality of parachutes to deploy substantially simultaneously. In response to the determination that the aircraft is in the forward mode of operation and above a threshold airspeed, the controller applies a forward deployment sequence including by instructing the plurality of parachutes to deploy in a predefined sequence.