Energy absorption through mass redistribution and magnetic manipulation
View Patent ↗An energy absorption system, for absorbing an impact energy imparted to a subject upon landing on a surface, includes a mass containment vessel fixed to the subject and a plurality of electromagnets disposed at fixed positions relative to the mass containment vessel. The mass containment vessel may contain one or more mass elements movably disposed therein. A controller may be configured to charge one or more of the electromagnets upon an impact of the subject with the surface to move the mass element(s) toward the surface by electromagnetic force. Alternatively, the energy absorption system may include a pulley system operable to mechanically move one or more mass elements along an axis, a multi-axis joint connecting the pulley system to the subject, and a controller configured to operate the pulley system upon an impact of the subject with the surface to mechanically move the mass element(s) toward the surface.
1. An energy absorption system for absorbing an impact energy imparted to a subject upon landing on a surface, the energy absorption system comprising:
one or more mass elements;
a pulley system operable to mechanically move the one or more mass elements along an axis;
a multi-axis joint connecting the pulley system to the subject; and
a controller configured to operate the pulley system upon an impact of the subject with the surface to mechanically move the one or more mass elements toward the surface.
2. The energy absorption system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more distance sensors arranged to measure a distance between the subject and the surface, wherein the controller is configured to operate the pulley system according to the distance measured by the one or more distance sensors.
3. The energy absorption system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a direction of the impact based on the distance measured by the one or more distance sensors and, upon the impact, operate the pulley system to move the one or more mass elements in the direction of the impact.
4. The energy absorption system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an optimal arrangement of the one or more mass elements relative to the pulley system based on the distance measured by the one or more distance sensors prior to the impact of the subject with the surface.
5. The energy absorption system of claim 4 , wherein the controller determines the optimal arrangement based on a velocity of the subject relative to the surface and an angle of impact of the subject with the surface as determined from the distance measured by the one or more distance sensors prior to the impact.
6. The energy absorption system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more distance sensors include at least one optical sensor.
7. The energy absorption system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises a laser sensor.
8. The energy absorption system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more distance sensors include at least one sonar sensor.
9. The energy absorption system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more force sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine a timing of the impact according to a force measured by the one or more force sensors.
10. The energy absorption system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more force sensors comprise at least one strain gauge.
11. A method of absorbing an impact energy imparted to a subject upon landing on a surface, the method comprising:
measuring a distance between the subject and the surface;
prior to an impact of the subject with the surface, mechanically moving one or more mass elements via a pulley system and a multi-axis joint connecting the pulley system to the subject to an optimal arrangement based on the measured distance; and
upon the impact of the subject with the surface, moving the one or more mass elements toward the surface.