초록 ▼

The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle energy absorption. One embodiment includes an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon and one or more cords coupled to one or more deflation vents on the inflatable structure, where at least on

The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle energy absorption. One embodiment includes an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon and one or more cords coupled to one or more deflation vents on the inflatable structure, where at least one of the one or more cords is an activation mechanism to activate the deflation vent upon impact of the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle energy absorption apparatus, comprising: an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon; andone or more cords directly connected to one or more deflation vents on the inflatable structure, where at least one of the cords is an activation mechanism to activate the deflation vent

1. A vehicle energy absorption apparatus, comprising: an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon; andone or more cords directly connected to one or more deflation vents on the inflatable structure, where at least one of the cords is an activation mechanism to activate the deflation vent upon impact of the vehicle where the inflatable structure includes a number of inflatable support members connected by at least one netting portion, where the netting portion is configured to remain connected to the number of inflatable support members after impact of the vehicle, and where the one or more deflation vents are configured to detach from the apparatus along with at least a portion of the one or more cords after impact of the vehicle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the inflatable structure includes a number of inflatable support members, and where at least one cord is directly connected to a deflation vent on more than one inflatable support member. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, where at least one of the one or more cords is one selected from the group including: a component of the at least one netting portion; and a component interspersed within components of the at least one netting portion. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, where the activation mechanism activates the deflation vent to at least partially deflate the inflatable structure when impact of the vehicle deforms the inflatable structure sufficiently to cause the cord to flex. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, where the activation mechanism activates the deflation vent upon impact of the vehicle on the cord causes the cord to flex. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the activation mechanism activates the deflation vent by one selected from the group including: at least partially opening the deflation vent; at least partially removing a cover from the deflation vent; and at least partially pulling a plug from the deflation vent. 7. A vehicle energy absorption system, comprising: an inflatable structure, including: a number of cords directly connected to a number of deflation vents;a number of sensors coupled to the number of cords, the number of deflation vents, and a controller; anda number of actuators coupled to the number of deflation vents and the controller; andthe controller having logic for controlling the number of actuators, where logic of the controller: receives a signal from at least one of the number of sensors indicating a status of at least one of the number of cords and at least one of the number of deflation vents; andsends a signal to at least one of the number of actuators to activate the deflation vents when the signal from the number of sensors indicates one of the group including: at least one of the number of cords is flexed beyond a threshold amount, and at least one of the deflation vents is activated. 8. The system of claim 7, where: the status of at least one of the number of cords is selected from the group including flexed and relaxed; andthe status of at least one of the number of deflation vents is selected from the group including open and closed. 9. The system of claim 7, where the number of actuators activate the number of deflation vents by opening the deflation vents. 10. The system of claim 7, where at least one of the number of cords is flexed by impact of a vehicle on the inflatable structure. 11. The system of claim 10, where the at least one flexed cord is directly connected to a deflation vent, and where the flexed state of the cord activates the deflation vent. 12. A method for absorbing vehicle energy, comprising: using an inflatable structure with a number of cords directly connected to a number of deflation vents to capture a vehicle; where the inflatable structure includes a number of inflatable support members connected by at least one netting portion, where the netting portion is configured to remain connected to the number of inflatable support members after impact of the vehicle;impacting the inflatable structure with the vehicle, causing at least one cord to flex and activate at least one deflation vent; where the at least one deflation vents is configured to detach from the apparatus along with at least a portion of the at least one cords after impact of the vehicle; anddeflating, at least partially, the inflatable structure via the at least one activated deflation vent. 13. The method of claim 12, where the method includes dampening impact of the vehicle on the inflatable structure by at least partially deflating the inflatable structure. 14. The method of claim 12, where activating the at least one deflation vent includes pulling the at least one deflation vent open via the flexed cord. 15. The method of claim 12, where causing the at least one cord to flex includes impacting the at least one cord directly with the vehicle. 16. The method of claim 12, where deflating the inflatable structure includes: activating the at least one deflation vent via the flexed cord;sensing the activated at least one deflation vent with a sensor coupled to the activated at least one deflation vent; andactivating additional deflation vents in response to sensing the activated at least one deflation vent. 17. The method of claim 16, where activating additional deflation vents includes: receiving a signal with a controller from the sensor coupled to the activated at least one deflation vent that indicates activation of the at least one deflation vent; andsending a signal from the controller to an actuator coupled to the additional deflation vents instructing the actuator to activate the additional deflation vents. 18. The method of claim 12, where the method includes capturing the vehicle in a netting portion coupled to the inflatable structure. 19. The method of claim 18, where capturing the vehicle in the netting portion causes at least one cord to flex and activates at least one deflation vent. 20. A vehicle energy absorption apparatus, comprising: an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon having an envelope portion formed therein;one or more actuators directly connected to one or more deflation mechanisms where an actuation of at least one of the actuators results in the deflation of the envelope upon impact of the vehicle; andone or more cords directly coupled to at least one of the one or more actuators where at least one of the cords is an activation mechanism to actuate the at least one of the one or more actuators upon impact of the vehicle.