Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can kill the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard kill switch from the base unit.

A package delivery mechanism (PDM) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The PDM 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 a suspension member of the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension member, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension member, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package.

A package delivery mechanism (PDM) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The PDM 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 a suspension member of the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension member, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension member, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package.

An ejection launcher is an apparatus that effectively ejects a payload while maintaining a compact structure. The apparatus includes an elongated enclosure, a cover, a trigger mechanism, a spring-loaded piston, and a payload. The elongated enclosure positions and connects the trigger mechanism with the spring-loaded piston. The elongated enclosure also houses the spring-loaded piston and the payload. The trigger mechanism releases the spring-loaded piston which forces the payload from within the elongated enclosure. The payload is a desired delivered item and is preferably a parachute. The trigger mechanism and the spring-loaded piston translates horizontal force into vertical force which releases the payload and reduces the release resistance. The trigger mechanism preferably utilizes and includes a servo motor with a output arm. The output arm pushes against a catch plate of the trigger mechanism and releases a catch pin of the spring-loaded piston.

An ejection launcher is an apparatus that effectively ejects a payload while maintaining a compact structure. The apparatus includes an elongated enclosure, a cover, a trigger mechanism, a spring-loaded piston, and a payload. The elongated enclosure positions and connects the trigger mechanism with the spring-loaded piston. The elongated enclosure also houses the spring-loaded piston and the payload. The trigger mechanism releases the spring-loaded piston which forces the payload from within the elongated enclosure. The payload is a desired delivered item and is preferably a parachute. The trigger mechanism and the spring-loaded piston translates horizontal force into vertical force which releases the payload and reduces the release resistance. The trigger mechanism preferably utilizes and includes a servo motor with a output arm. The output arm pushes against a catch plate of the trigger mechanism and releases a catch pin of the spring-loaded piston.

A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are constrained. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members open or assist with opening the canopy. The members may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes and use a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate. The ends connected to the canopy may be restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.

The technology relates to techniques for drogue deployment for a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle descent. A drogue deployment system for an LTA vehicle descent can include a drogue comprising a drogue parachute coupled to a carrier. A spring can be configured to launch the drogue from a launch tube directed outward from an apex of the LTA vehicle in an acute angle from a horizontal plane. A core can be placed around the launch tube and placed around the spring, the core compressing the spring and holding the spring in a compressed state prior to deployment, and a riser can couple the carrier to the envelope of the LTA vehicle. In some cases, the drogue deployment system can comprise two or more drogues, wherein intervals between the two or more drogues can be selected such that horizontal components of drogue deployment forces approximately cancel out.

The technology relates to techniques for drogue deployment for a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle descent. A drogue deployment system for an LTA vehicle descent can include a drogue comprising a drogue parachute coupled to a carrier. A spring can be configured to launch the drogue from a launch tube directed outward from an apex of the LTA vehicle in an acute angle from a horizontal plane. A core can be placed around the launch tube and placed around the spring, the core compressing the spring and holding the spring in a compressed state prior to deployment, and a riser can couple the carrier to the envelope of the LTA vehicle. In some cases, the drogue deployment system can comprise two or more drogues, wherein intervals between the two or more drogues can be selected such that horizontal components of drogue deployment forces approximately cancel out.

The invention relates to a device (1) for ejecting a parachute, comprising a housing (2) with an ejection opening (3), wherein the housing (2) is suitable for at least partially accommodating the parachute. In order to enable a robust and repeated ejection of the parachute with a low weight of the device (1), according to the invention a movable base (4) is arranged within the housing (2), which base (4) is connected to the housing (2) via at least one spring element, wherein the base (4) can be releasably fixed in place within the housing (2) using a fixing means (5), wherein the device (1) is configured such that if a parachute is arranged within the housing (2), the base (4) is accelerated by the spring element when the fixing means (5) is released, so that the parachute is ejected through the ejection opening (3) by means of the base (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for ejecting a parachute.

An ejection launcher is an apparatus that effectively ejects a payload while maintaining a compact structure. The apparatus includes an elongated enclosure, a cover, a trigger mechanism, a spring-loaded piston, and a payload. The elongated enclosure positions and connects the trigger mechanism with the spring-loaded piston. The elongated enclosure also houses the spring-loaded piston and the payload. The trigger mechanism releases the spring-loaded piston which forces the payload from within the elongated enclosure. The payload is a desired delivered item and is preferably a parachute. The trigger mechanism and the spring-loaded piston translates horizontal force into vertical force which releases the payload and reduces the release resistance. The trigger mechanism preferably utilizes and includes a servo motor with a output arm. The output arm pushes against a catch plate of the trigger mechanism and releases a catch pin of the spring-loaded piston.