Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions

Abstract

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.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by an aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an aircraft occupant, a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request; then   based upon the receipt of the ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes increasing the altitude of the aircraft above the ground. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes decreasing the airspeed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controlling the reefing includes restraining a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes changing the heading of the aircraft. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes changing the attitude of the aircraft. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute, performing a second action. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes releasing a reefing control line that is coupled to a reefing device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling the reefing of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute includes extending a reefing control line, which is coupled to a reefing device, and then releasing the reefing control line. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the aircraft includes a transponder and wherein the action includes commanding the transponder to enter one of Mode A, Mode C, or Mode S. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes activating an emergency locator transmitter. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes setting a transmitter frequency of a communication radio to 121.5 MHz and then transmitting a message on the transmitter frequency containing the aircraft type, the aircraft N number, the aircraft colors, the aircraft latitude and longitude coordinates, the fact that a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute has been deployed, and at least one phone number. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes displaying a visual indication on a display that is coupled to the processor. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second action includes lowering the landing gear of the aircraft. 
     
     
       20. An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from an occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing an action and also deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute.   
     
     
       21. An aircraft, the aircraft including:
 a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute is configured to deploy based upon an electrical signal,   a pull-handle,   an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft,   one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon, and   one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions,   the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:   based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, perform an analysis to determine whether a second action needs to be performed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute regardless of whether the analysis determines that the second action needs to be performed.   
     
     
       22. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       23. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, reducing engine power and utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       24. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle, displaying a message on an aircraft display, the message instructing the occupant of the aircraft to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       25. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, commanding the autopilot to perform a steep climb. 
     
     
       26. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
 (a) based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle;
 (i) commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb; 
   (b) after commanding the autopilot to initiate the climb in action (a)(i), then, based at least upon a reference airspeed, activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the reference airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a third action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       27. The aircraft of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:
 (a) based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle;
 (i) commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb; 
   (b) after commanding the autopilot to initiate the climb in action (a)(i), then, based at least upon a maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed, activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a third action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       28. An aircraft, the aircraft including:
 a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute is configured to deploy based upon an electrical signal,   a pull-handle,   an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft,   one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon, and   one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions,   the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:   based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, performing a second action;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, performing a third action regardless of whether the second action has been performed.   
     
     
       29. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       30. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle, displaying a message on an aircraft display, the message instructing the occupant of the aircraft to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       31. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb;
 wherein the electrical signal is based at least upon (a) whether the occupant of the aircraft has pulled on the pull-handle and (b) a reference airspeed;   wherein the reference airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a fourth action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       32. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb;
 wherein the electrical signal is based at least upon (a) whether the occupant of the aircraft has pulled on the pull-handle and (b) a maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed;   wherein the maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a fourth action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       33. An aircraft, the aircraft including:
 a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute is configured to deploy based upon an electrical signal,   a pull-handle,   an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft,   one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon, and   one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions,   the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:   based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising:   (a) based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle;
 (i) commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb; 
   (b) after commanding the autopilot to initiate the climb in action (a)(i), then, based at least upon a reference airspeed, activate the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the reference airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a second action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       34. The aircraft of claim 33, wherein the aircraft has a maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed and the reference airspeed is equal to the maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed. 
     
     
       35. The aircraft of claim 34, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       36. The aircraft of claim 33, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       37. An aircraft, the aircraft including:
 a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft, the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute is configured to deploy based upon an electrical signal,   a pull-handle,   an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft,   one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon, and   one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions,   the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:   based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, commanding the autopilot to initiate a climb;   wherein the electrical signal is based at least upon (a) whether the occupant of the aircraft has pulled on the pull-handle and (b) a reference airspeed;   wherein the reference airspeed exceeds a predetermined airspeed;   wherein the aircraft is operable to fly at the predetermined airspeed;   wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: performing a second action based at least upon the predetermined airspeed.   
     
     
       38. The aircraft of claim 37, wherein the aircraft has a maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed and the reference airspeed is equal to the maximum safe parachute deployment airspeed. 
     
     
       39. The aircraft of claim 38, wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;
 wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors.   
     
     
       40. The aircraft of claim 37, wherein the machine-readable instructions include the step comprising: based at least upon the occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, utilizing the autopilot to increase the altitude of the aircraft via a steep climb. 
     
     
       41. The aircraft of claim 37, wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;
 wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors.   
     
     
       42. An aircraft, the aircraft including:
 a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft,   an autopilot that is operable to control the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft, the autopilot being operable to increase the altitude of the aircraft and to reduce the airspeed of the aircraft,   one or more memories having machine-readable instructions stored thereon, and   one or more processors, each of the one or more processors configured to read and execute a portion of the machine-readable instructions,   the aircraft configured to perform a method comprising:   based upon an occupant of the aircraft pulling on the pull-handle, receiving a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request from the occupant of the aircraft; then   based upon the receipt of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute deployment request, both performing a first action and deploying the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to be pulled by the occupant of the aircraft a first time and a second time;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the first time, as a first interface to the one or more processors;   wherein the pull-handle is configured to function, based upon the occupant pulling on the pull-handle the second time, as a second interface to the one or more processors.