UAV Parachute Systems
Drone parachute systems are used to provide a safe descent for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in the event of system failure, reducing the risk of harm to people and damage to property. They may also be used to recover expensive drones and payloads, preventing them from being damaged or destroyed in a crash.
Urban Flight Safety
UAV parachutes are particularly critical for flights over people, which are restricted in many jurisdictions. Installation of appropriate certified parachute technology will increase the chance of waivers being granted for such flights, as well as other restricted operations such as BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) missions. Parachute systems may also lower the cost of premiums on drone insurance policies.
COTS Parachutes for Drones
Most commercial UAS (unmanned aerial systems) do not come with parachutes installed, leaving it up to the operator to find a suitable third-party solution. COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) drone parachute products are typically designed for a particular model of aircraft, or for a specific MTOW (maximum takeoff weight) range. Some drone parachute manufacturers also offer custom services, creating a bespoke solution for a particular aircraft, including quadcopters, fixed-wing, hybrid, eVTOL and multirotor parachutes.
Automated Parachute Technology
UAV parachute systems can be remotely triggered by the pilot, but most are automated, and look for conditions such as sudden freefall or low voltage as a cue to trigger. Many UAS parachute systems also include a mechanism that cuts power to the drone to stop propellers from cutting the parachute cords or material.
Passive and Ballistic Deployment
Deployment of drone parachutes may be performed passively or ballistically.
Passive deployment methods usually involve allowing the wind to catch a smaller first parachute that drags out the main parachute deployment bag.
Ballistic drone parachute deployment may use an electrically-triggered mechanism, or require consumables such as CO2 or pyrotechnic charges. The latter type of system may output more energy, but are typically more complicated to reset and repack, require an additional cost for the consumables, and may be limited by regulations such as commercial transport rules.