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 in
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.
대표청구항▼
1. An impact protection apparatus for an aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more inflatable members configured to be selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the aerial vehicle during an impact, wherein the one or more inflatable members are disposed on at least one of an
1. An impact protection apparatus for an aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more inflatable members configured to be selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the aerial vehicle during an impact, wherein the one or more inflatable members are disposed on at least one of an upward portion, a downward portion, and a side portion of the aerial vehicle when the one or more inflatable members are inflated, wherein the upward portion is located in a direction of lift above a downward portion of the aerial vehicle, and wherein the side portion is located between the upward portion and the downward portion of the aerial vehicle; a control mechanism configured to cause compressed gas to flow from a container into the one or more inflatable members in response to a signal indicative of malfunction of the aerial vehicle;one or more sensors configured to collect data to predict an angle at which the aerial vehicle will likely experience the impact; anda controller in communication with the one or more sensors and the control mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to control the control mechanism to selectively inflate an inflatable member from the one or more inflatable members to protect the aerial vehicle, based on the predicted angle at which the aerial vehicle will likely experience the impact. 2. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift is generated by one or more propulsion units of the aerial vehicle, and wherein the direction of the lift is opposite to a direction of gravitational force acting on the aerial vehicle. 3. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the malfunction of the aerial vehicle comprises one or more of the following conditions: (1) abnormal orientation of the vehicle, (2) overheating of one or more components of the vehicle, (3) a short circuit in the one or more components of the vehicle, (4) an unintended fire in the vehicle, (5) low power supply of the vehicle, (6) loss of power to the one or more components of the vehicle, or (7) loss of communication between the vehicle and an external device. 4. The impact protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the signal is generated in response to one or more of the conditions of the aerial vehicle, and wherein the one or more of the conditions are indicative that the impact is imminent. 5. The impact protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the malfunction of the aerial vehicle causes an orientation of the vehicle to change at a frequency exceeding a predetermined threshold frequency or to lie outside of a predetermined orientation range. 6. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle comprises a hub and one or more arms extending from the hub. 7. The impact protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more inflatable members are configured to deploy from the hub and/or the one or more arms of the aerial vehicle, and wherein the aerial vehicle is an unmanned rotorcraft. 8. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more inflatable members are inflated when the control mechanism detects the signal indicative of the malfunction of the aerial vehicle, said malfunction causing an abnormal change in orientation of the aerial vehicle. 9. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more inflatable members are inflated based on directions and the forces of the impact during the malfunction of the aerial vehicle. 10. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to inflate the one or more inflatable members that are disposed on at least one of the upward portion, the downward portion, and the side portion of the aerial vehicle when at least one of the upward portion, the downward portion, and the side portion of the aerial vehicle is likely to experience the impact. 11. The impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors and the controller are powered by a first power source separate from a second power source that provides power to the aerial vehicle. 12. An impact protection apparatus for an aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more inflatable members configured to be selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the aerial vehicle during an impact, wherein at least a portion of the one or more inflatable members are configured to protect a load from damage when the one or more inflatable members are inflated, and wherein the load is disposed on the aerial vehicle and comprises a payload;a control mechanism configured to cause compressed gas to flow from a container into the one or more inflatable members in response to a signal indicative of malfunction of the aerial vehicle;one or more sensors configured to collect data useful for predicting whether the load is likely to experience the impact; anda controller in communication with the one or more sensors and the control mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to control the control mechanism to selectively inflate an inflatable member from the one or more inflatable members based on the prediction as to whether the load is likely to experience the impact. 13. The impact protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the load further comprises a carrier configured to carry the payload. 14. The impact protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the payload comprises a camera, an illumination device, an audio device, and/or measurement or sensing equipment. 15. The impact protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to inflate the one or more inflatable members at the load when the load is likely to experience the impact. 16. The impact protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the malfunction of the aerial vehicle comprises one or more of the following conditions: (1) abnormal orientation of the vehicle, (2) overheating of one or more components of the vehicle, (3) a short circuit in the one or more components of the vehicle, (4) an unintended fire in the vehicle, (5) low power supply of the vehicle, (6) loss of power to the one or more components of the vehicle, or (7) loss of communication between the vehicle and an external device. 17. The impact protection apparatus of claim 16, wherein in condition (1): the orientation of the vehicle changes at a frequency exceeding a predetermined threshold frequency, or the orientation of the vehicle lies outside of a predetermined orientation range. 18. An impact protection apparatus for an aerial vehicle, the apparatus comprising: one or more inflatable members configured to be selectively inflatable to reduce forces experienced by the aerial vehicle during an impact, wherein at least a portion of the one or more inflatable members are configured to protect one or more propulsion units of the aerial vehicle when the one or more inflatable members are inflated;a control mechanism configured to cause compressed gas to flow from a container into the one or more inflatable members in response to a signal indicative of malfunction of the aerial vehicle;one or more sensors configured to collect data useful for predicting whether the one or more propulsion units is likely to experience the impact; anda controller in communication with the one or more sensors and the control mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to control the control mechanism to selectively inflate an inflatable member from the one or more inflatable members based on the prediction as to whether the one or more propulsion units is likely to experience the impact. 19. The impact protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more inflatable members are configured to deploy from the one or more propulsion units, or from an area proximate to the one or more propulsion units. 20. The impact protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more inflatable members comprise a plurality of inflatable members clustered around the one or more propulsion units. 21. The impact protection apparatus of claim 19, wherein the aerial vehicle comprises a hub and one or more arms extending from the hub. 22. The impact protection apparatus of claim 21, wherein the area proximate to the one or more propulsion units corresponds to a distal portion of the one or more arms of the aerial vehicle. 23. The impact protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to inflate the one or more inflatable members at the one or more propulsion units when the one or more propulsion units are likely to experience the impact. 24. The impact protection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the malfunction of the aerial vehicle comprises one or more of the following conditions: (1) abnormal orientation of the vehicle, (2) overheating of one or more components of the vehicle, (3) a short circuit in the one or more components of the vehicle, (4) an unintended fire in the vehicle, (5) low power supply of the vehicle, (6) loss of power to the one or more components of the vehicle, or (7) loss of communication between the vehicle and an external device. 25. The impact protection apparatus of claim 24, wherein in condition (1): the orientation of the vehicle changes at a frequency exceeding a predetermined threshold frequency, or the orientation of the vehicle lies outside of a predetermined orientation range.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Hill, Andrew T.; Smith, Michael R.; Covington, Charles E.; Lappos, Nicholas; Sonneborn, Walter, Aircraft occupant protection system.
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