A stored energy release comprises an actuatable member slidably received within a housing. The actuatable member has an extended orientation wherein a portion of the actuatable member extends outwardly from the housing and a retracted orientation wherein the actuatable member resides within the housing. A biasing member is located between the actuatable member and the housing biases the actuatable member to the retracted orientation. A shaft is within the housing with the actuatable member configured for sliding movement along the shaft. A retaining member is located between the actuatable member and the shaft. The retaining member maintains the actuatable member in the extended orientation whereby potential energy is stored within the biasing member. A piezoelectric element selectively engages the retaining member to disable the retaining member and release the stored potential energy within the biasing member to place the actuatable member in the retracted orientation.

A multi-staged suspension line length parachute is provided. The parachute may comprise a canopy, a suspension line, a bundle, a bundling confluence, a traditional confluence, and a riser. The parachute may also comprise a cutter and a cutter pin puller configured to activate the cutter. The bundle may comprise a bundling line configured to secure secondary length from the suspension line. The parachute may deploy to a first length. In response to tension on the cutter pin puller, the cutter may activate to sever the bundling line in the bundle, causing the secondary length of the suspension line to release. The parachute may then deploy to a second length.

An unmanned aerial system (UAS) including a sonotube deployable multicopter (SDM) having a plurality of rotors for propulsion, a plurality of extension arms, and a central pivot device. Each extension arm supports at least one of the plurality of rotors. The central pivot device supports the plurality of extension arms radially extending from the central pivot device. Pivotal movement of a first arm-support structure of the central pivot device relative to a second arm-support structure of the central pivot device rotates a first pair of the plurality of extension arms in unison relative to a second pair of the plurality of extension arms. The pivotal movement is biased to rotate the plurality of extension arms from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration while the UAS is airborne. The SDM configured to be held inside a sonoshell in the compact configuration.

A powered air vehicle is disclosed. The air vehicle includes a parachute/parafoil or similar lifting body, with a frame structure suspended vertically below the parachute and comprising of all propulsion and flight control systems generally at the upper end of the frame structure. In one embodiment, a propulsion source is mounted on top of the frame structure, which also house the battery module, main parafoil/parachute system, flight control systems, and structure for carrying an individual user below the propulsion source. Control arms control pitch of the propulsion source to control altitude, and are also used to control direction.

A powered air vehicle is disclosed. The air vehicle includes a parachute/parafoil or similar lifting body, with a frame structure suspended vertically below the parachute and comprising of all propulsion and flight control systems generally at the upper end of the frame structure. In one embodiment, a propulsion source is mounted on top of the frame structure, which also house the battery module, main parafoil/parachute system, flight control systems, and structure for carrying an individual user below the propulsion source. Control arms control pitch of the propulsion source to control altitude, and are also used to control direction.

A parachute separation device is employed to releasably secure a male link body attached to a parachute riser to a female base assembly attached to a harness. The link body has a pair of shoulders which are secured to rotatably biased lock pins. A slide assembly is displaced to rotate a pair of arms which cause the lock pins to rotate to eject the link body from the base assembly. The arms have a concave recess with an offset distal end. The arms are preferably identical but axially offset. The arms are configured to allow the force exerted on the slide assembly required to release the link body to approximately 15 lbs or less.

A parachute separation device is employed to releasably secure a male link body attached to a parachute riser to a female base assembly attached to a harness. The link body has a pair of shoulders which are secured to rotatably biased lock pins. A slide assembly is displaced to rotate a pair of arms which cause the lock pins to rotate to eject the link body from the base assembly. The arms have a concave recess with an offset distal end. The arms are preferably identical but axially offset. The arms are configured to allow the force exerted on the slide assembly required to release the link body to approximately 15 lbs or less.

A quick release restraint system comprising a restraint body that mates a harness fitting with a moveable lockpin. The lockpin is held in a closed position by a return member and can be moved to an open position when a sleeve and/or a ripcord is moved away from the lockpin. The sleeve surrounds the restraint body and mates with an internal lockpin body that may also be attached to the ripcord. The ripcord and/or sleeve engage the lockpin body in a single direction to generate a pulling force that counteracts a biasing force of the return member.

A parachute deployment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes an interface configured to receive sensor information; a parachute load limiting device; and a parachute load limiting device state controller. The parachute load limiting device state controller sets a state of the parachute load limiting device to a state associated with a corresponding amount of load based at least in part on the sensor information.

A lever-lock release system is configured to releasably couple two objects together, for example a parachute and a payload. The lever-lock release system may comprise a first lever and a second lever, each rotatably coupled to a rigid base. When activated, the levers cascadingly rotate to release a first object and a second object. With these systems and related methods, various failure modes may be eliminated, such as undesired premature deployment of recovery parachutes during aerial delivery.