US 11,981,429 B2
Off-center parachute flight termination system including latch mechanism disconnectable by burn wire
Derek Lisoski, Simi Valley, CA (US); and William Stuart Sechrist, Simi Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by AEROVIRONMENT, INC., Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/979,647.
Application 17/979,647 is a continuation of application No. 17/605,754, granted, now 11,518,514, previously published as PCT/US2020/029649, filed on Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/854,723, filed on May 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/838,833, filed on Apr. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/838,783, filed on Apr. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0075907 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B26F 3/12 (2006.01); B64D 17/34 (2006.01); B64D 17/62 (2006.01); B64D 17/80 (2006.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 39/024 (2013.01) [B26F 3/12 (2013.01); B64D 17/34 (2013.01); B64D 17/62 (2013.01); B64D 17/80 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 70/83 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a latching mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism comprises:
at least two radio modules in communication with a ground control station; and
at least two burn wires in contact with a portion of a string configured to secure a door of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein each burn wire of the at least two burn wires is attached to a respective radio module of the at least two radio modules;
a first latch configured to attach to the door of the UAV; and
a second latch configured to attach to a portion of the UAV distal from the first latch;
wherein the string is configured to be connected between the first latch and the second latch; and
wherein at least one of the at least two radio modules are configured to receive a burn signal from the ground control station, wherein current from a backup battery passes to a corresponding burn wire of the at least two burn wires based on receiving the burn signal, wherein the corresponding burn wire is attached to the radio module that is configured to receive the burn signal.