Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A storage unit (100) has a storage box (110) and a base frame (130) which is removably mounted to the storage box. A hinge (160) is provided to a hinge mounting section (140) of the base frame (130) and supports a lid (150) so that the lid can be opened and closed. The hinge (160) is composed of two inner arms (170) and outer arms (180). A rotation shaft of the hinge is guarded by the inner arms (170) and outer arms (180), so that objects and fingers are prevented from being caught.

Abstract: A trailing-edge flap system for a wing of an aircraft comprises a trailing-edge flap, a guide rail attached to the trailing-edge flap, a carriage slidably engaging the guide rail and rotatably attachable to a fixed position on the wing structure, and a drive means coupled the wing structure to a first joint on the guide rail. The drive means is configured to move the trailing-edge flap relative to the wing structure by moving the guide rail along the carriage by moving the first joint relative to the wing structure, such that the trailing-edge flap translates and rotates. The trailing-edge flap is at least movable into a cruise position, a high-lift position and an air brake position.

Abstract: An interior component for an interior room of an aircraft is provided. The interior component includes a body having a first surface and a second surface and a multitude of functional modules which form a passenger service unit. The second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface and comprises a recess. The multitude of functional modules are arranged one after another in the recess in the longitudinal direction of the interior component, such that a first front surface of the functional module arranged frontally in the longitudinal direction closes flush with a first front surface of the body.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fuselage, an empennage having an all-moving horizontal stabilizer located at a tail end of the fuselage, a wing having the fuselage positioned approximately halfway between the distal ends of the wing, wherein the wing is configured to transform between a substantially straight wing configuration and a canted wing configuration using a canted hinge located on each side of the fuselage. The VTOL aircraft may further includes one or more retractable pogo supports, wherein a retractable pogo support is configured to deploy from each of the wing's distal ends.

Abstract: An aircraft door includes an outer shell with an exterior and an interior, a stiffening structure arranged on the interior of the outer shell, and at least one door seal arranged on the interior of the outer shell. The door seal is circumferential in an edge region. In the edge region between the outer shell and the door seal at least one circumferential stiffening component is arranged that is connected to the stiffening structure. Thus, in a particularly simple manner and without modifications to a stiffening structure, an aircraft door may be provided with very substantial stiffness in an edge region.

Abstract: A large area, deployable flexible blanket photovoltaic solar array architecture for high power applications is disclosed. The structure is a modularized and scalable solar array system that provides high power level scalability. The structure is comprised of repeating, similar modular deployable roll-out solar array wings mounted in an opposing manner and along the length of a rigid, strong and efficiently packaged deployable backbone structure. The deployable roll-out solar array building block modular “winglet” elements can be comprised of either a rolled or z-folded flexible photovoltaic blanket configuration, and their structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of longitudinal roll-out booms. The backbone structure is comprised of a stiff deployable beam structure articulated that is deployed perpendicular with respect to the spacecraft sidewall and latched out.

Abstract: Systems and methods for launching space vehicles into outer space are disclosed. Method include powering a thrust augmentation stage of a launch vehicle during an initial portion of a launch trajectory to provide thrust to the launch vehicle; following the initial portion of the launch trajectory, separating a first stage of the launch vehicle from the thrust augmentation stage; powering the first stage of the launch vehicle during the initial portion and during a second portion of the launch trajectory following the initial portion of the launch trajectory to provide thrust to the launch vehicle; and controlling a controlled descent of the thrust augmentation stage to Earth following separation of the thrust augmentation stage from the first stage.

Abstract: A control system for terminating flight of a balloon having a balloon envelope is provided. The control system includes a shuttle that has one or more cutting blades. The cutting blades are configured to cut open the balloon envelope. A tubular track is attached to a section of the balloon envelope. This tubular track has a guiding portion arranged to receive and guide the shuttle along the track. The control system includes a type of releasable ballast attached to the shuttle. When the ballast is released, the ballast is configured to move the shuttle along the tubular track in order to cause at least one of the cutting blades to cut open a portion of the balloon envelope. This allows lift gas to escape from the balloon envelope.

Abstract: An aircraft propulsion power plant for use in an aircraft includes one or more core engines housed in an airframe of the aircraft, one or more secondary propulsion units, each of the one or more secondary propulsion units being removably attached to the airframe, and one or more power transmission means, each of the one or more power transmission means being configured to transmit mechanical power from the or each core engine to a corresponding one of the or each secondary propulsion unit when the or each secondary propulsion unit is attached to the airframe.

Abstract: A winglet system for an aircraft wing includes an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing. The lower winglet has a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet is configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading. The lower winglet is configured to aeroelastically deflect upwardly under the approximate 1-g flight loading and further increase the effective span of the wing beyond the effective span increase that is caused by the upward deflection of the wing.

Abstract: A magnetic latching system is provided for removably latching a panel to an aircraft surface portion. The latching system includes a removable axis panel engageable to a latching land. The panel and land define opposing magnetically attractive surface portions, with a body of magnetic material disposed there between. An inflatable seal is also disposed intermediate the panel and the land. Upon inflation, the inflatable seal is operative to urge the panel away from the land far enough to reconnect magnetic engagement between the panel and the land, sufficient to permit disengagement of the panel from the land.

Abstract: A cargo restraining barrier configured to be mounted to a cargo deck surface of an aircraft. The cargo restraining barrier includes a base portion, a barrier portion arranged substantially perpendicular to the base portion at a first edge on the top side of the base portion, a plurality of force diverting struts mounted in parallel along the extension of the barrier portion between a backside of the barrier portion and a second edge of the base portion opposite to the first edge of the base portion. The force diverting struts are configured to divert forces acting on the front side of the barrier portion towards the base portion, and a plurality of first latches distributed over the bottom side of the base portion, hooking into tie down rings of a cargo deck surface and to direct the diverted forces from the force diverting struts into the cargo deck surface.

Abstract: A device for opening an aircraft door, comprising: a support arm arranged between the aircraft fuselage and the aircraft door; an opening system for opening the aircraft door; a support arm cover covering the support arm in the closed position of the aircraft door, the support arm cover having a cover element, and a flap element which swivels between being flush with the cover element, and a state in which the flap element overlaps the cover element; and a guide system for guiding the flap element, wherein the guide system has at least one guide arm, one end of which is joined in an articulated manner to the support arm, and the other end of which is joined to at least one guide element, which guide element can be guided along a guide track on the inner side of the flap element, when the aircraft door is opened.

Abstract: An unmanned air-ground vehicle is provided. The unmanned air-ground vehicle includes a frame having a center portion connecting two substantially parallel transversely spaced apart track supports. Tracks that generally form loops are disposed about the track supports. Track drive motors are connected to the frame and configured to propel the tracks about the track supports. A plurality of propellers, each having propeller drive motors, are attached to the frame and disposed within the loops formed by the tracks. The tracks are configured to propel the vehicle in a ground mode while the propellers are configured to propel the vehicle in a flying mode.

Abstract: A fuselage structure for a rotorcraft (1), the structure comprising load-bearing members including middle frames (9a, 9b) carrying a top floor (12a) and a middle floor (12b). The middle floor (12b) internally partitions the fuselage into two compartments (6, 7), including a cabin-forming top compartment (6) and a bottom compartment (7) having an open bottom (23) leading to the outside via the bottom face of the fuselage. The middle floor (12b) provides a loading plane in the top compartment (6) having a false-floor (27) made up of interchangeable slabs (28) fitted out in a variety of ways. The middle floor (12b) also forms an anchor member from which equipment (16, 17) for suspending can be suspended, which equipment is accessible from outside the fuselage through said open bottom (23).

Abstract: To reliably prevent entrance of electro-magnetic waves in a door that closes an opening portion formed in an airframe of an aircraft. A gasket seal 20 which is arranged between an opening portion 12 formed in an airframe of an aircraft and a door 13 for closing the opening portion 12, includes: a gasket seal body that is made of a rubber material; and conductive fiber 24 that covers a surface of the gasket seal body. When the door 13 is in a closed state, the gasket seal 20 whose surface is made conductive is abutted against a striker 30 provided on a skin 11 side of the airframe and made of a conductive material. The door 13 and the skin 11 of the airframe are electrically connected together via the conductive fiber 24 and the striker 30, and electro-magnetic waves can be reliably shielded.

Abstract: A pressure relief panel guard for use with a pressure relief ceiling panel having a perimeter and positioned in an aircraft cargo bay ceiling. The panel guard including a mounting structure attachable to the cargo bay ceiling, and having a mounting portion and a guard support portion, and a guard structure releasably supported by the guard support portion of the mounting structure. The guard structure having a perimeter wall and a central opening between the perimeter wall sized such that when supported by the guard support portion of the mounting structure at the pressure relief ceiling panel the pressure relief ceiling panel is vertically aligned with the central opening with the perimeter wall extending about the perimeter of the pressure relief ceiling panel and the perimeter wall does not overlap the pressure relief ceiling panel or otherwise restrict operational access to the pressure relief ceiling panel from below.

Abstract: A method for producing a connecting element for at least two components of an aircraft structure. A hollow initial profile is formed comprising a wall following a closed path in the initial profile cross-section. The wall has a first, second and third section. Material is removed from the wall in one region of the initial profile, to obtain one opening in the one region, the opening extending at least partially within the first section. A portion of the second section and a portion of the third section form part of the connecting element and are each formed so as to be adapted to at least partially abut against the structure. The one opening is formed such that material initially forming part of the wall in the first section and remaining after the formation of the opening forms a stabilizing section connecting the portions of the second and third sections.

Abstract: A launch system comprises a nose section comprising a nose coupling surface, a tail section comprising a tail coupling surface facing the nose coupling surface and a mast coupling the nose and tail sections. The mast is configured to expand and retract to displace the nose and tail sections within a range of distances from one another. In a retracted state, the nose and tail sections are either structurally coupled to one another at the nose and tail coupling surfaces or structurally coupled to at least one integrated module located between the nose and the tail sections.