Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions
View Patent ↗An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The aircraft determines if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft also receives a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request. The aircraft then issues a command to perform the pre-activation action and then activates the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft then issues a command to perform a post-activation action.
1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving, from an aircraft occupant, a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request; then
based upon the receipt of the ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes increasing the altitude of the aircraft above the ground.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes decreasing the airspeed of the aircraft.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes changing the heading of the aircraft.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes changing the attitude of the aircraft.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, performing a second action.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes releasing a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes extending a reefing control line, which is coupled to a reefing device, and then releasing the reefing control line.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aircraft includes a transponder and wherein the action includes commanding the transponder to enter one of Mode A, Mode C, or Mode S.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes activating an emergency locator transmitter.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz and then transmitting a message on the transmitter frequency containing the aircraft type, the aircraft N number, the aircraft colors, the aircraft latitude and longitude coordinates, the fact that a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute has been deployed, and at least one phone number.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second action includes lowering the landing gear of the aircraft.
20. An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:
receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from an occupant of the aircraft; then
based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.