Patent classifications
B64D37/26
Unmanned aerial vehicle off-site landing system
A fixed wing unmanned aircraft and a method for operating the same are provided. The fixed wing unmanned aircraft may include, but is not limited to, a failure detection system configured to detect faults in one or more of the plurality of components, a capability evaluation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system, the capability evaluation system configured to determine a capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the faults in the one or more of the plurality of components, and a trajectory generation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system and the capability evaluation system, the trajectory generation system configured to generate a touch down trajectory for the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the determined capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein when the determined capability level is below a predetermined threshold, the touch down trajectory comprising a stall maneuver configured to minimize a lateral energy of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle.
Unmanned aerial vehicle off-site landing system
A fixed wing unmanned aircraft and a method for operating the same are provided. The fixed wing unmanned aircraft may include, but is not limited to, a failure detection system configured to detect faults in one or more of the plurality of components, a capability evaluation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system, the capability evaluation system configured to determine a capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the faults in the one or more of the plurality of components, and a trajectory generation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system and the capability evaluation system, the trajectory generation system configured to generate a touch down trajectory for the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the determined capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein when the determined capability level is below a predetermined threshold, the touch down trajectory comprising a stall maneuver configured to minimize a lateral energy of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle.
Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions
An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The aircraft determines if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft also receives a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request. The aircraft then issues a command to perform the pre-activation action and then activates the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft then issues a command to perform a post-activation action.
FUEL TANKS AND REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES COMPRISING THESE FUEL TANKS
A fuel tank comprises an interior wall, a sump, and a baffle that comprises a center fitting, a full-length containment petal, a partial-length containment petal, a dump tube. The full-length containment petal comprises a full-length side edge, extending radially outward from the center fitting. The partial-length containment petal comprises a partial-length side edge, extending radially outward from the center fitting. The dump tube is connected to the sump. The full-length side edge of the full-length containment petal is longer than the partial-length side edge of the partial-length containment petal. All of the partial-length side edge of the partial-length containment petal is attached to a linear portion of the full-length side edge of the full-length containment petal.
Detecting a fuel jettison event
Disclosed herein is a method that comprises detecting that a rate of decrease in fuel quantity for an aircraft exceeds a previously-determined baseline rate of decrease in fuel quantity for the aircraft by a threshold rate during a corresponding segment of flight of the aircraft. The method also comprises determining that a fuel jettison setting for the aircraft is enabled in response to the detected increase in the rate of decrease in fuel quantity. The method further comprises determining that an angle of one or more flaps of the aircraft satisfies a threshold angle. The method additionally comprises generating an alert indicating possible fuel contamination of the one or more flaps due to jettisoned fuel.
Detecting a fuel jettison event
Disclosed herein is a method that comprises detecting that a rate of decrease in fuel quantity for an aircraft exceeds a previously-determined baseline rate of decrease in fuel quantity for the aircraft by a threshold rate during a corresponding segment of flight of the aircraft. The method also comprises determining that a fuel jettison setting for the aircraft is enabled in response to the detected increase in the rate of decrease in fuel quantity. The method further comprises determining that an angle of one or more flaps of the aircraft satisfies a threshold angle. The method additionally comprises generating an alert indicating possible fuel contamination of the one or more flaps due to jettisoned fuel.
IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL AIRCRAFT FUEL JETTISON SITES
An apparatus and method for identifying potential aircraft fuel jettison and/or burn sites is provided.
Systems and methods for automating components with guarded touchscreen controls
A system includes a display device and a control circuit. The control circuit generates an interface including a visual representation of a component of a platform, a status of the component indicated by a plurality of sensors associated with the platform, and one or more user interface elements corresponding to the component of the platform and one or more locations on the interface. The control circuit receives an indication of one or more gestures identifying at least one user interface element; selects an interaction guard from a plurality of interaction guards each corresponding to a respective authorization process identifying at least one authorization gesture; initiates, responsive to the selected interaction guard, the authorization process corresponding to the interaction guard; and causes, responsive to receiving the at least one authorization gesture, an operation of the component corresponding to the identified at least one user interface element.
Systems and methods for automating components with guarded touchscreen controls
A system includes a display device and a control circuit. The control circuit generates an interface including a visual representation of a component of a platform, a status of the component indicated by a plurality of sensors associated with the platform, and one or more user interface elements corresponding to the component of the platform and one or more locations on the interface. The control circuit receives an indication of one or more gestures identifying at least one user interface element; selects an interaction guard from a plurality of interaction guards each corresponding to a respective authorization process identifying at least one authorization gesture; initiates, responsive to the selected interaction guard, the authorization process corresponding to the interaction guard; and causes, responsive to receiving the at least one authorization gesture, an operation of the component corresponding to the identified at least one user interface element.
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE OFF-SITE LANDING SYSTEM
A fixed wing unmanned aircraft and a method for operating the same are provided. The fixed wing unmanned aircraft may include, but is not limited to, a failure detection system configured to detect faults in one or more of the plurality of components, a capability evaluation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system, the capability evaluation system configured to determine a capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the faults in the one or more of the plurality of components, and a trajectory generation system communicatively coupled to the failure detection system and the capability evaluation system, the trajectory generation system configured to generate a touch down trajectory for the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle based upon the determined capability level of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein when the determined capability level is below a predetermined threshold, the touch down trajectory comprising a stall maneuver configured to minimize a lateral energy of the fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle.