A multi-staged drogue parachute assembly may include a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length. The primary length may be deployable upon a first deployment of the multi-staged drogue parachute assembly. The secondary length may be prevented from deployment until the primary length has fully deployed. An attenuator may attach a first portion of the secondary length to a second portion of the secondary length.

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 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 disconnect assembly configured to disconnect a parachute of an aerial delivery apparatus from a payload includes a detector device, a disconnect device, and a transmit cable. The detector device is configured to detect that the aerial delivery apparatus has landed, the disconnect device is configured to provide a releasable connection between the parachute and the payload, and the transmit cable is configured to transmit a mechanical trigger force from the detector device to the disconnect device. When the detector device detects that the aerial delivery apparatus has landed, the transmit cable transmits a mechanical trigger force from the detector device to the disconnect device and the disconnect device releases the connection between the parachute and the payload.

A disconnect assembly configured to disconnect a parachute of an aerial delivery apparatus from a payload includes a detector device, a disconnect device, and a transmit cable. The detector device is configured to detect that the aerial delivery apparatus has landed, the disconnect device is configured to provide a releasable connection between the parachute and the payload, and the transmit cable is configured to transmit a mechanical trigger force from the detector device to the disconnect device. When the detector device detects that the aerial delivery apparatus has landed, the transmit cable transmits a mechanical trigger force from the detector device to the disconnect device and the disconnect device releases the connection between the parachute and the payload.

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.

A ring release system is configured to releasably couple a parachute to a payload. The ring release system may comprise a series of release rings affixed to a riser. At least one release ring has an associated retaining ring that surrounds the riser and is affixed to the riser on a back side. The retaining ring prevents stitching securing the release ring from being placed in peel when under stress, improving the reliability of the ring release system.

Disclosed is a package delivery mechanism for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The package delivery mechanism includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to suspension means of the UAV that lowers the package to the ground from the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension means, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches on the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package. The package delivery mechanism includes a severing module to sever the suspension means from the UAV.

The present invention provides a payload activation device, the device comprising a housing; a cord disposed within the housing and arranged to be coupled at a first end to an activation mechanism within a payload; and a retardation device coupled to the second end of the cord, wherein, in a first configuration, the retardation device is retained within or adjacent to the housing, and, in a second configuration, the retardation device is released from the housing to tauten the cord, and wherein, at a predetermined tension, the cord activates the activation mechanism. The present invention also provides a deployable payload having the payload activation device.

A multi-staged suspension line length parachute may include a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length. The primary length may be deployable upon a first deployment of the multi-staged suspension line length parachute. The secondary length may be prevented from deployment until the primary length has fully deployed. An attenuator may attach a first portion of the secondary length to a second portion of the secondary length.