Concept : Icarus, Maple Seed & Beetle Wing-type Parachute.

Icarus is a conceptual approach for developing a new type of parachute.

Compact and foldable, useable as from high-level and low-level heights.

I am seeking to develop this idea into reality with a team of aerospace and avionic engineers, in compliance with all regulations of national and international aviation authorities.

Although the guided video is funny and has nothing directly to do with the project, indirectly it shows how complex current parachutes are struggling with their cords, and lifting off distance to get airborne.

Viewing recently Battle Factory on Discovery Channel about how parachutes were made, I noticed, since the idea of Leonardo da Vinci, there were no, or rarely, other point of views on developing types of parachutes.

Current parachutes are evolved in optimizing and esthetics, but it still remains a complex and intensive way to manufacture them.Further more classic parachutes need a certain level or height to get dropped.

(http://www.combatreform.org/llparachute.htm)

So I started thinking to develop a new kind of parachute for vertical descend.(see my first sketch)

Explanation of the first sketch :
Instead of using the whole surface (A) of semi-sphere classic parachute,the alternative is a single wing with surface (a), making x-rotations per minute (x * RPM) so the result of vertical descend (http://www.pcprg.com/rounddes.htm) becomes the same.

That is the basic idea.

Classic parachute has a 'linear' vertical descend, the Icarus type with x-rotations parachute has a helix vertical descend.

We all know nature already designed this with the maple seeds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple) and this has inspired a lot of inventors to make a similar design for flying.

The results you can find in monocoptor or gyropter, or even the now popular drones. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocopter)

Basic simple relative formula exists of 2 equations :

a. the mechanical equilibrium during the helix descend

b. defining the descend rate of the helix descend

Beyond this concept I would like to integrate some additional functions (see image front view) such as :

- a foldable blade (also see sketch 1 and the image of beetle wing unfolded)

- handle bar with cardan shaft to steer with your body

- small gearbox solar powered with electrical moter to speed up the rotations while needed, to prevent collision while descending

- reserve parachute

- both reserve parachute as throttle gearbox are manually controlled at the handle bar

- harness

Beetle wing folded / unfolded versus Icarus folded.

This is not a monocopter of other flying object, main purpose is to descend from air, with the possibility to get additional power to steer your direction.

Current renderings are showing the descend of a high-level heigt, but low-level is also a need.

Furthermore the image of the folded frame and wing should be more compact.

To develop this idea into reality with a team of aerospace and avionic engineers, in compliance with all regulations of national and international aviation authorities.