New Flirtey Patent Covers Error Detection Capability to Trigger Drone Safety Mechanism

Drone delivery specialist Flirtey now holds a new U.S. patent covering a technique for deploying safety devices such as a parachute if an error is detected in an unmanned aerial system. The Nevada-based company announced the granting of the patent on February 7.

The patented technology can detect an error in the operation of a drone and subsequently deploy a safety mechanism, such as a parachute. The deployment can be done automatically or manually from a drone control base unit.

The system can detect an operational failure in the drone based on data gathered from accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and barometers. The system also includes a "kill switch" that allows the aircraft's power supply to be cut when necessary. 

Flirtey, which now holds 25 granted and pending patents, also has developed an anti-tampering system so that if someone pulls on the delivery tethers used to carry packages they will safely detach from the drone. 

In 2015, the company conducted the first drone delivery approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. It has since pioneered delivery operations in partnership with NASA, the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, emergency medical service provider Remsa, and the city of Reno.