Abstract:
To provide a drone with an airbag that can eliminate the danger of the drone injuring a person in the event of the drone crashing mid-flight including during takeoff and landing. The present invention is equipped with an airbag 3 for reducing the impact of a crashed drone 2 colliding with a person. Prior to the drone 2 taking off, the airbag 3 can be inflated by being supplied with gas. Once the drone 2 has taken off and reached a required altitude, the airbag 3 deflates due to the gas being exhausted. When the drone 2 is mid-flight and in danger of crashing, the airbag 2 can be inflated instantly by being supplied with gas. Prior to the drone 2 landing, the airbag 3 can be inflated by being supplied with gas.
Abstract:
An unmanned cargo loading and transport system adapted for operation with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a payload pad comprising a plurality of support members movable from an extended mode to a retracted mode when exposed to a lateral force applied to the support members and a payload container adapted to attach to a UAV and pick up cargo from the payload pad by transferring the weight of the cargo from the payload pad to the payload container. The lower portion of the payload container comprises two generally opposed cargo doors movably mounted at opposed sides and movable inwardly to a closed position and outwardly to an open position to receive cargo when the payload container is positioned at the payload pad. The system further comprises a motive power mechanism coupled to the cargo doors for selectively moving the doors between their open and their closed positions.
Abstract:
Multi-chamber airbag systems for use in aircraft and other vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, an occupant restraint system includes a multi-chamber airbag that deploys from an occupant restraint (e.g., a lap seat belt) in an aircraft. The multi-chamber airbag can include a first portion that inflates generally upward in front of the occupant's torso, and a second portion that inflates in front of the first portion. The first portion and/or the second portion can include multiple chambers (e.g., generally cylindrical-shaped chambers) that, when inflated, provide the airbag with a shape and/or contact surfaces which can help to maintain the position of the airbag between the occupant and a strike object or hazard. In other embodiments, multi-chamber airbags configured in accordance with the present disclosure can me mounted to a structure (e.g., a monument, console, seat back, etc.) positioned generally in front of the occupant. The structure-mounted airbag can deploy generally toward the occupant in the event of a vehicle impact or other potentially harmful event to protect the occupant from impact injury.
Abstract:
An unmanned air module includes one or more rotors, engines, a transmission and avionics. Any of several different ground modules may be attached to the air module. The air module may fly with and without the ground module attached. The ground module may be manned. The air module may have two rotors, which may be ducted fans. The air module may include a parachute, an airbag and landing gear.
Abstract:
A safety device has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion defines a cavity for receiving a seat belt buckle assembly and has at least one rear wall portion extending between opposing sidewalls that partially define the cavity. The rear wall portion forms a slot area to permit a strap attached to the seat belt buckle assembly to extend from the cavity when the seat belt buckle assembly is positioned in the cavity. The rear wall portion is configured to prevent the seat belt buckle assembly from moving laterally out of the cavity. The upper portion is hingedly coupled to the lower portion such that the upper portion completely covers the cavity of the lower portion when the upper portion is rotated into engagement with the lower portion.
Abstract:
A control device including at least one control member for measuring an acceleration of an aircraft, for generating an inflation order, and for transmitting the inflation order to an inflation member, the inflation member serving to inflate at least one inflatable safety bag, the control device, the inflation member and the inflatable bag being arranged together on a single seat of the aircraft. Such a control device includes at least one readying system connected to the at least one control member, the readying system comprising: at least a first sensor suitable for continuously measuring a first current acceleration of the aircraft relative to at least one axis; and at least one switch that is controllable as a function of the first current acceleration of the aircraft as measured by the first sensor.
Abstract:
An impact protection apparatus is provided, comprising a gas container configured to hold a compressed gas and an inflatable member configured to be inflated by the gas and function as an airbag of a movable object, such as an aerial vehicle. A valve controls flow of gas from the container to the inflatable member in response to a signal from a valve controller. The valve and valve controller are powered by an independent power source than one or more other systems of the movable object. A safety mechanism may also be provided that, unless deactivated, prevents inflation of the inflatable member.
Abstract:
An external airbag for an aircraft includes an inflatable bladder having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being generally adjacent to an exterior of the aircraft. A widthwise panel divides the inflatable bladder into a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. The widthwise panel acts to restrict outward bulging of the inflatable bladder. An aperture in the widthwise panel may be used for allowing gas communication between the first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion.
Abstract:
An aircraft airbag inflation system includes an airbag mounted on an external surface of an aircraft. The airbag is configured to inflate in one of multiple stages prior to the aircraft crashing, and each stage is associated with a respective pressure. The system also includes multiple sensors disposed on-board the aircraft and configured to sense aircraft velocities and an aircraft attitude. The system also includes a controller disposed on-board the aircraft and configured to receive multiple signals from the sensors, the multiple signals representing the aircraft velocities and the aircraft attitude sensed by the sensors, determine a crash event for the aircraft based on the received multiple signals, the crash event including an aircraft sink rate, an aircraft attitude at crash time, and an aircraft distance from the impact surface, and determine a stage at which the airbag is to be inflated based on the crash event.