Inflatable parachute airbag system
A system and method that reduces the descent velocity of an aerial vehicle, the system including a control system, an inflation device, and a deployable, inflatable cage. The control system detects a descent condition, such as an uncontrolled descent and activates the inflation device to inflate the cage to at least partially encase the aerial vehicle and protect the vehicle during descent and landing. The inflatable cage includes a main fill tube, a perimeter tube, and support tubes. The support tubes are connected between the main fill tube and the perimeter tube, and enable gas to flow from the inflation device through the support and perimeter tubes and into the perimeter tube. A drag inducing material enclosure is connected to the inflatable cage and structured to induce drag to reduce a descent speed of the aerial vehicle.
1. An apparatus for use with an aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
an inflation device;
an inflatable frame capable of being stored on the aerial vehicle in a collapsed configuration, deployed from the aerial vehicle into an inflated configuration, and inflated around the aerial vehicle while the inflatable frame is being deployed to at least partially encase the aerial vehicle within the inflatable frame when the inflatable frame is in the inflated configuration, the inflatable frame including:
a first conduit having a length;
a second conduit in fluid communication with the inflation device; and
a plurality of support conduits positioned radially along the length of the first conduit, each support conduit of the plurality of support conduits having a first end attached to and in fluid communication with the first conduit and a second end in fluid communication with the second conduit; and
drag inducing material connected to the inflatable frame to create drag to reduce airspeed of the aerial vehicle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit constitutes a main fill tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the inflation device and the second end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the second end of each support conduit such that air flows from the inflation device through the main fill tube through the plurality of support conduits and into the first conduit.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the plurality of support conduits are arcuate and cause the inflatable frame and the drag inducing material to be in a concave-like formation when the inflatable frame is in the inflated configuration.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflation device is capable of storing a gas and providing the stored gas to the inflatable frame to cause the inflatable frame to deploy from the aerial vehicle and into the inflated configuration.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the inflatable frame further comprising:
a plurality of fill tubes extending from the second conduit, each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes having a first end and a second end, the first end of each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is connected to and in fluid communication with the second conduit and the second end of each respective fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is connected to a respective support conduit of the plurality of support conduits such that gas flows from the second conduit to the plurality of fill tubes.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of weight distribution straps, each weight distribution strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of each weight distribution strap is capable of being physically connected to the aerial vehicle and the second end of each weight distribution strap is capable of being physically connected to the drag inducing material.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of weight distribution straps, each weight distribution strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the aerial vehicle and the second end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the inflatable frame.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable frame further includes:
a plurality of bottom support tubes connected to and in fluid communication with the first conduit, the plurality of bottom support tubes extending radially from the first conduit in a direction that substantially mirrors a direction that the plurality of support tubes extend from the first conduit so that the inflatable frame fully encases the aerial vehicle within the inflatable frame when the inflatable frame is in the inflated configuration.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
mesh material connected to the plurality of bottom support tubes and structured to be permeable, allowing air to flow through the mesh material to promote drag on the drag inducing material when the inflatable frame is in the inflated configuration.
10. An inflatable system for use with an aerial vehicle, the inflatable system comprising:
an inflatable frame to be stored on and deployed from the aerial vehicle and to inflate around the aerial vehicle to partially encase the aerial vehicle when inflated, the inflatable frame having a perimeter tube, a main fill tube, and a plurality of first support tubes, a first end of each of the plurality of first support tubes connects to and is in fluid communication with the main fill tube and a second end of each of the plurality of first support tubes connects to and is in fluid communication with the perimeter tube;
a drag inducing material to create drag to reduce a velocity of the aerial vehicle in response to inflation of the inflatable frame; and
an inflation device in fluid communication with the main fill tube to inflate the inflatable frame.
11. The inflatable system of claim 10 , wherein the main fill tube has a first end and a second end, the first end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the inflation device and the second end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the second end of each support tube of the plurality of first support tubes to direct a flow of gas from the inflation device through the main fill tube, through the plurality of first support tubes, and into the perimeter tube.
12. The inflatable system of claim 10 , the inflatable frame further comprising:
a plurality of fill tubes extending from the main fill tube, each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes having a first end and a second end, the first end of each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is in fluid communication with the main fill tube and the second end of each respective fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is connected to a respective support tube of the plurality of first support tubes to direct a flow of gas from the main fill tube into the plurality of fill tubes.
13. The inflatable system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of weight distribution straps, each weight distribution strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the aerial vehicle and the second end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the drag inducing material or the inflatable frame.
14. The inflatable system of claim 10 , wherein the inflatable frame further includes:
a plurality of second support tubes connected to and in fluid communication with the perimeter tube, the plurality of second support tubes extending from the perimeter tube in a direction that substantially mirrors a direction that the plurality of first support tubes extend from the perimeter tube to cause the inflatable frame to fully encase the aerial vehicle within the inflatable frame.
15. The inflatable system of claim 14 , further comprising:
mesh material connected to the plurality of second support tubes, the mesh material capable of allowing air to flow through the mesh material to promote drag on the drag inducing material when the inflatable frame is inflated.
16. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
a body;
at least one motor mounted on the body and coupled to at least one lift generating device;
a descent detection system operable to detect a descent condition of the aerial vehicle and to output a descent condition signal in response to detection of the descent condition; and
a descent restraint system on the body, including: a
an inflatable frame affixed to the body, the inflatable frame including a first plurality of support tubes deployable in a concave-like formation to at least partially encase the aerial vehicle within the inflatable frame upon inflation of the inflatable frame;
drag inducing material connected to the inflatable frame to reduce a descent velocity of the aerial vehicle; and
an inflation device coupled to the descent detection system and operable to generate a flow of gas to inflate the inflatable frame in response to the descent condition signal.
17. The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the inflatable frame includes a main fill tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the inflation device and the second end of the main fill tube is in fluid communication with the second end of each support tube of the first plurality of support tubes to direct a flow of gas from the inflation device through the main fill tube and into the first plurality of support tubes.
18. The aerial vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the inflatable frame further includes:
a plurality of fill tubes extending from the main fill tube, each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes having a first end and a second end, the first end of each fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is in fluid communication with the main fill tube and the second end of each respective fill tube of the plurality of fill tubes is connected to a respective support tube of the first plurality of support tubes.
19. The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the descent restraint system further includes:
a plurality of weight distribution straps, each weight distribution strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the body and the second end of each weight distribution strap is structured to be physically connected to the drag inducing material or the inflatable frame.
20. The aerial vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the inflatable frame further includes:
a second plurality of support tubes in fluid communication with the first plurality of support tubes, the second plurality of support tubes mirror the first plurality of support tubes so that the inflatable frame fully encases the aerial vehicle within the inflatable frame when the inflatable frame is inflated.