System and apparatus for assured Limitation of flight operations of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

• Main Authors: Stephan Daren Carroll, Christopher Thomas Allsopp
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.10.2024
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; CONTROLLING; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SIGNALLING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING

A system 100 comprising monitor/limiter 104 and safe flight termination subsystem 106 may be mounted on (Fig.3) - or incorporated into (Fig.2) - an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Loss of communication detection module 110 sends a first output with a value of "SAFE" when an assured messaging output signal is received from assured messaging module 108. Remote flight termination module 112 sends a second "SAFE" output when a remote flight termination message is not received from the messaging module. Position and altitude geofencing modules 114, 116 send respective third and fourth "SAFE" outputs if expected times until the UAS reaches a geofence boundary exceed respective minimum safe times. Flight termination module 118 receives the outputs and, when any does not have a value of "SAFE, sends a fifth output with a value of "TERMINATE FLIGHT", e.g. to open a relay 132, 132' to isolate the propulsion components (204, 206, Fig.2-3) from their power source. Initiate safe outcome module 120 may send a sixth output with a value of "SAFE OUTCOME" in response to the fifth output, e.g. to launch a ballistic parachute.