IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,673,656
Granted Patent B2
US 11,673,656 · App. 17/075,145 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Air mobility control system and air mobility control method

Inventor: Woo Sung Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
B64C25/30B64D17/80B64D25/00G08G5/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,673,656
App. No.
17/075,145
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air mobility control system is provided. The system includes one or more shock absorbing units that are mounted in an aircraft and are configured to absorb a vertical force impacting on the air mobility vehicle. A distance sensor is mounted in the air mobility vehicle and is configured to sense the distance to a ground or an approaching object. A safety controller is configured to detect an abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle and to operate the one or more shock absorbing units to be deployed according to the distance sensed by the distance sensor.

Claims (26)

1. An air mobility control system, comprising:

one or more shock absorbing units mounted in an air mobility vehicle and deployed downward from the air mobility vehicle;

a distance sensor mounted in the air mobility vehicle and configured to sense a distance from air mobility to a ground or an object that the air mobility vehicle approaches;

a safety controller configured to detect an abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle and to operate the one or more shock absorbing units to be deployed based on the sensed distance;

one or more descending slowdown units deployed upward from the air mobility vehicle to increase a resisting force to the descent of the air mobility vehicle; and

an altitude sensor mounted in the air mobility vehicle and configured to sense the altitude of the air mobility vehicle;

wherein the safety controller is configured to operate the one or more descending slowdown units to be deployed based on the altitude sensed by the altitude sensor;

an orientation sensor configured to sense a yaw, pitch, or roll of the air mobility vehicle;

wherein the one or more descending slowdown units are multiplied descending slowdown units arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the air mobility vehicle; and

when any one of the yaw, pitch, and roll of the air mobility vehicle is beyond a predetermined range, the safety controller is configured to deploy a part of the multiple descending slowdown units based on the yaw, pitch, or roll sensed by the orientation sensor to maintain the orientation of the air mobility vehicle.

2. The air mobility control system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more shock absorbing units include an airbag cushion to be deployed downward and an inflator that injects gas into the airbag cushion.

3. The air mobility control system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more shock absorbing units are multiple shock absorbing units arranged at intervals in a front-rear direction or a left-right direction of the air mobility vehicle.

4. The air mobility control system according to claim 1 , wherein the distance sensor is configured to sense the distance, and the safety controller is configured to operate the one or more shock absorbing units to be deployed when the distance sensed by the distance sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined reference distance in response to detecting the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle.

5. The air mobility control system according to claim 1 , wherein the safety controller is configured to operate the one or more descending slowdown units to be deployed in response to detecting the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle and the altitude sensed by the altitude sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference altitude.

6. The air mobility control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit through which a position of the air mobility vehicle is transmitted to an external device when the safety controller detects the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle or when the one or more shock absorbing units are deployed.

7. An air mobility control method, comprising:

sensing, by a controller, an abnormal descent of an air mobility vehicle;

sensing, by the controller, a distance from air mobility to a ground or an object in response to detecting the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle;

operating, by the controller, one or more shock absorbing units to be deployed downward from the air mobility vehicle based on the sensed distance;

sensing, by the controller, the altitude of the air mobility vehicle in response to detecting the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle;

operating, by the controllers, one or more descending slowdown units to be deployed upward from the air mobility vehicle based on the altitude sensed by the altitude sensor to increase a resisting force to descending of the air mobility vehicle; and

sensing, by the controller, a yaw, pitch, or roll of the air mobility vehicle before operating the one or more descending slowdown units to be deployed;

wherein the one or more descending slowdown units are multiple descending slowdown units arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the air mobility vehicle; and

wherein in the operating of the one or more descending slowdown units, when any one of the yaw, pitch, and roll of the air mobility vehicle is beyond a predetermined range, a part of the multiple descending slowdown units are deployed based on the yaw, pitch, or roll sensed by the orientation sensor to maintain the orientation of the air mobility vehicle.

8. The air mobility control method according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more shock absorbing units are deployed when the sensed distance is equal to or less than a predetermined reference distance.

9. The air mobility control method according to claim 7 , wherein in the operating of the one or more descending slowdown units, the one or more descending slowdown units are deployed when the abnormal descent of the air mobility vehicle is detected and the altitude sensed by the altitude sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference altitude.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2020
From: KIM, WOO SUNG
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054111/0614 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0056766 · May 12, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210354806A1 · Nov 18, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,735,187