US 12,222,717 B2
Automated aircraft recovery system
Cameron Robertson, San Mateo, CA (US); Joseph Roop, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Todd Reichert, Mountain View, CA (US); and Damon Vander Lind, Alameda, CA (US)
Assigned to Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/589,243.
Application 18/589,243 is a continuation of application No. 17/558,170, filed on Dec. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,947,352.
Application 17/558,170 is a continuation of application No. 15/207,359, filed on Jul. 11, 2016, granted, now 11,256,253, issued on Feb. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210940 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); B64D 17/54 (2006.01); B64D 17/62 (2006.01); B64D 17/72 (2006.01); B64D 17/80 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01); G05D 1/81 (2024.01)
CPC G05D 1/0061 (2013.01) [B64D 17/54 (2013.01); B64D 17/62 (2013.01); B64D 17/80 (2013.01); B64D 45/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/042 (2013.01); G05D 1/0808 (2013.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01); G05D 1/81 (2024.01); B64D 17/725 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated aircraft recovery system, comprising:
an interface configured to receive sensor data from a sensor, wherein the sensor data includes: (1) aircraft state information associated with an aircraft including an aircraft pitch angle and (2) recovery device state information including (a) which of a plurality of parachute canopies in the aircraft are operational parachute canopies and (b) one or more properties associated with the operational parachute canopies;
the plurality of parachute canopies, wherein the plurality of parachute canopies is coupled to the aircraft aft of a center of mass of the aircraft; and
a processor configured to:
determine, based at least in part on the aircraft pitch angle, whether to generate a control signal associated with maneuvering the aircraft into a nose-up position, and
perform a recovery action, including by:
selecting, from the operational parachute canopies and based at least in part on the one or more properties associated with the operational parachute canopies, a selected parachute canopy to be deployed; and
deploying the selected parachute canopy, wherein a load on the selected parachute canopy is reduced in the event the aircraft is in the nose-up position compared to the aircraft being in a nose-down position.