An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.

An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.

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 flexible members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are deformed, storing elastic energy. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members spring back to their undeformed shapes, thereby opening or assisting with opening the canopy. The flexible member may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes that can be flexed using a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate, so that the ends connected to the canopy are 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.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a gliding parachute/kite. The gliding parachute/kite has a wing with a flexible material, and a set of suspension lines adapted for coupling a load to the wing, such that the coupling is configurable in any one of a plurality of possible states based on relative lengths of the suspension lines. In some implementations, the possible states include a first state enabling gliding in a first direction, and a second state enabling gliding in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Reversing direction is possible with the first and second states. Additionally, or alternatively, the possible states include a spinning state enabling spinning of the gliding parachute/kite. Adjusting a rate of decent is possible with the spinning. Reversing direction and/or spinning operations can be used to improve control of trajectory.

Methods of reducing wing type parachute opening shock during a parachute drop, and parachute systems with reduced opening shocks are disclosed, the opening force reduction is achieved by dynamic braking, i.e. dynamically adjusting the canopy control lines during the inflation stage of the canopy. Typically, the control lines are set to zero brake length when the parachute canopy is released from the deployment bag, and are at least shortened during the inflation stage, optionally all the way to full brake. Optionally the control lines are also lengthened prior to completion of the canopy inflation. Other features and parachute systems are also disclosed.

Described herein are features for a riser release flaring system for parafoils and other descent flight vehicles for controlled descent and landing of the flight vehicle. The descent flight vehicle may have a payload suspended by a canopy. The descent flight vehicle may be released from a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system, from another system, or may not be associated with any other flight system. The riser release auto flare system is used with the descent system, such as the parafoil, for controlled and safe landing of the payload. Riser lines are released at a controlled rate and for a fixed distance to automatically cause the payload to pull control lines to flare the parafoil and slow a descent and/or forward speed of the vehicle. The riser lines may be released in response to the descent system satisfying a landing criterion, such as altitude.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a gliding parachute/kite. The gliding parachute/kite has a wing with a flexible material, and a set of suspension lines adapted for coupling a load to the wing, such that the coupling is configurable in any one of a plurality of possible states based on relative lengths of the suspension lines. In some implementations, the possible states include a first state enabling gliding in a first direction, and a second state enabling gliding in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Reversing direction is possible with the first and second states. Additionally, or alternatively, the possible states include a spinning state enabling spinning of the gliding parachute/kite. Adjusting a rate of decent is possible with the spinning. Reversing direction and/or spinning operations can be used to improve control of trajectory.

A variable-geometry vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft system may transport passengers from a departure point to a destination via partially or fully autonomous flight operations. The VTOL aircraft system may operate in hover-based ascent/descent modes, level-flight cruising modes, and transitional modes between the two. Thrust may be provided by ducted propeller units articulable relative to the fuselage; by articulating the airfoil struts connecting the thrust sources to the fuselage the thrust sources may be manipulated for ascent/descent, transition, and cruising. in order to control ascent, descent, and cruise. More precise thrust control may be achieved by further articulation of the annular propeller ducts relative to the airfoil struts. The airfoil struts and propeller ducts may present a wing-shaped or variably segmented cross section to maximize achievable lift.

A paradrone includes a canopy having a parafoil, a transverse canopy frame coupled to the parafoil to support the parafoil, a longitudinal canopy frame that is coupled to the parafoil while having a bent structure such that the parafoil generates a lift, and at least one parafoil connecting portion for connecting at least one canopy frame among the transverse canopy frame and the longitudinal canopy frame to the parafoil. The paradrone also includes a servomotor portion having a servomotor body and a servomotor arm for coupling and fixing intersecting parts of the transverse canopy frame and the longitudinal canopy frame. The servomotor arm is connected to a servomotor body and rotated in a predetermined direction by driving of the servomotor body to change the angle between the travelling direction of the paradrone fuselage and the transverse and longitudinal canopy frames, thereby changing the angle of attack.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a gliding parachute/kite. The gliding parachute/kite has a wing with a flexible material, and a set of suspension lines adapted for coupling a load to the wing, such that the coupling is configurable in any one of a plurality of possible states based on relative lengths of the suspension lines. In some implementations, the possible states include a first state enabling gliding in a first direction, and a second state enabling gliding in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Reversing direction is possible with the first and second states. Additionally, or alternatively, the possible states include a spinning state enabling spinning of the gliding parachute/kite. Adjusting a rate of decent is possible with the spinning. Reversing direction and/or spinning operations can be used to improve control of trajectory.