Non-pyrotechnic flare systems and methods

1. A non-pyrotechnic flare system, comprising:

at least one flare member that is configured to be deployed, the at least one flare member comprising:

a head having a light-emitting diode (LED) that is configured to emit light when activated; and

a wing-shaped appendage extending from the head, wherein the wing-shaped appendage is configured to control a descent of the at least one flare member.

2. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , further comprising a casing that retains the at least one flare member in a stowed position, wherein the at least one flare member is configured to be deployed from the casing.

3. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one flare member comprises a plurality of flare members.

4. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 2 , further comprising a charging circuit coupled to one or both of the casing or the LED.

5. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein the wing-shaped appendage comprises:

a root that radially extends from the head, wherein the root includes an interior cuff;

an intermediate beam connected to the interior cuff;

an expanded distal end connected to the intermediate beam.

6. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein the wing-shaped appendage is aerodynamically shaped to allow the at least one flare member to rotate and descend towards ground at a controlled speed when the at least one flare member is deployed.

7. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flare member is formed of one or more biodegradable materials.

8. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the wing-shaped appendage includes a reflective material that is configured to reflectively disperse light emitted by the LED.

9. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein the LED is configured to emit the light at an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength at 100 cycles per minute.

10. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 1 , wherein the wing-shaped appendage is moveable between a stowed position, in which the wing-shaped appendage is coiled around the head, and an extended deployed position.

11. The non-pyrotechnic flare system of claim 10 , wherein the wing-shaped appendage is formed of a piezoelectric material, and wherein the LED is powered by the wing-shaped appendance moving from the stowed position to the extended deployed position.

12. A non-pyrotechnic flare method, comprising:

deploying at least one flare member;

emitting light, during the deploying, from a light-emitting diode (LED) of a head; and

controlling a descent of the at least one flare member, during the deploying, with a wing-shaped appendage extending from the head.

13. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , further retaining the at least one flare member in a stowed position within a casing, wherein the deploying comprises deploying the at least one flare member from the casing.

14. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 13 , wherein the deploying comprises deploying a plurality of flare members.

15. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling a charging circuit to one or both of the casing or the LED.

16. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , further comprising shaping the wing-shaped appendage to allow the at least one flare member to rotate and descend towards ground at a controlled speed during the deploying.

17. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , further comprising forming the at least one flare member from one or more biodegradable materials.

18. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , further comprising providing at least a portion of the wing-shaped appendage with a reflective material that is configured to reflectively disperse light emitted by the LED.

19. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , wherein the emitting comprises emitting the light at an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength at 100 cycles per minute.

20. The non-pyrotechnic flare method of claim 12 , further comprising:

moving the wing-shaped appendage between a stowed position, in which the wing-shaped appendage is coiled around the head, and an extended deployed position; and

powering the LED by the moving.