Opening machine

Automatic opening machine (here: Airtec Cypres 2)
(1) = main unit with battery, microprocessor
and pressure sensor
(2) = control unit
(3) = cutter

An opening machine (also activation automatic device (AAD) , automatic opening device (AOD) or Cypres ) the falling speed measuring a parachutist and directs the opening of the reserve parachute independently a member, Springer exceeds a certain rate of fall below a certain level.

Background and history

Automatic opening machines became necessary due to numerous accidents . So Springer were in freefall by collisions in the air faint or injured so badly that they no longer own the parachute could activate. Even if the parachute malfunctioned, the jumpers reacted incorrectly or forgot to check the height of the main parachute while the problem was being rectified. Jumpers simply failed to activate the main parachute in their free fall program. Many jumpers, beginners and experienced, died on impact with the earth, although they had a fully functional reserve. The first automatic opening machines developed as a result were mechanical devices with a pressurized can . So the FXC 12000 and KAP – 3. However, these were often unreliable and not infrequently triggered incorrectly or not at all. Nevertheless, electronic opening machines were available early on for the reserve umbrellas that were customary at the time, which were mounted on the stomach. For example, the widely used SSE Sentinel. It pulled the locking pin from the reserve with a pyrotechnic charge. In 1991 the Airtec company revolutionized the market with an electronic opening machine developed by Helmut Cloth , which works independently of the normal release system. From 1991 to 2003, the Cypres automatic opening machine alone saved over 1000 jumpers from mostly fatal accidents. This high number is not least due to the increasing acceptance among parachutists with the market launch. While only a few parachutists had such a system before the Cypres, today it has become the exception to jump without such a system. The modern electronic opening machines have therefore replaced the purely mechanical systems on the market. This development is not least due to the much higher reliability. For example, no case is known to date in which a properly operated system of the Cypres type would not have triggered in an emergency.

In Germany, the use of an opening machine is compulsory for school jumpers, tandem jumpers , AFF instructors , freeflyers and diabetics . An automatic opening machine is also a general requirement at many jump sites today.

Cypres is a brand name, but has established itself as a generic name for opening machines.

technology

Reserve parachute with cutter mounted on the ground

Schematic representation of a cutter: After the electrical impulse to ignite the propellant charge (2) has passed through the cable (1), the metal bolt (3), which is moving to the left, cuts the tensioned locking loop (4) of the reserve container.

The technical process of a modern electronic device is dealt with here. With other and mostly older devices, this can vary greatly due to development and technical progress.

The control center is usually a main unit that is installed invisibly in the reserve container. Except for operation and status messages, the control unit has no significance for the actual sequence of processes. The pressure sensor is located in the main unit. This unit continuously measures the height while jumping. The speed of the jumper can be calculated by changing the height over time. If the system reports too high a speed below a defined trigger height, it assumes an emergency. Depending on the manufacturer, further conditions must be met. The main unit then sends an electrical pulse to the cutter, which is actuated by a pyrotechnic detonator. This then initiates the opening mechanism of the reserve parachute. To do this, the cutter cuts through the locking loop with which the container of the reserve parachute is closed. This provides a second opening mechanism that can work completely independently of the normal manual reserve opening system. This offers the advantage that the reserve container can be opened even if the cables or pins are jammed or bent. The auxiliary parachute for the reserve parachute is then thrown outwards as it is under pressure from a tensioned spring and can unfold.

Airtec Cypres

Cypres is an acronym of the first letters of Cy Bernetić P arachute Re lease S ystem (German: cybernetic parachute opening system). It was the first electronic opening machine of its kind for reserve parachutes in 1991 and was developed by the German company Airtec in Bad Wünnenberg . Airtec is the market leader with this device . The device is now in its second generation.

There are different variants of the Cypres. Including the four standard versions:

Cypres "Expert": Opens the reserve parachute when the jumper is lower than about 225 m above ground and falls at more than 35 m / s (126 km / h ).
Cypres "Student": Opens the reserve parachute when the student is lower than about 225 m above ground and falling at more than 35 m / s (126 km / h). Additionally, if the student is lower than about 300 m above ground and falling between 13 m / s (47 km / h) and 35 m / s. Without opening of the umbrella at 225 m above ground, with partially or incorrectly opened partially supporting umbrella at 300 m above ground.
Cypres "Speed": Opens the reserve parachute when the jumper falls between about 225 m and 100 m above ground at more than 46 m / s (166 km / h). This variant is used by jumpers who intentionally reach speeds of over 46 m / s below 100 m above ground.
Cypres "Tandem": Opens the reserve parachute when the tandem pair is lower than about 580 m above ground and falls at more than 35 m / s (126 km / h).

The total costs for 15.5 years of operation of a Cypres 2, including the purchase and two maintenance work after every 5 years, are around 1400 euros (as of 2006).

There are also various special designs, for example opening systems for the military and for satellites .

Manufacturers and devices

Manufacturer	Type	Type of measurement	Type of trip
Advanced Aerospace Designs	Vigil	electronically	pyrotechnic
Airtec	Cypres, Cypres 2	electronically	pyrotechnic
Allan Hewitt	Guardian	?	?
FXC Corp	Astra	electronically	pyrotechnic
FXC Corp	FXC 12000, FXC 2100	mechanically	mechanically
GQ	SAVER	?	?
Hi Tek	Model 8000	mechanically	mechanically
Irvin	Hitefinder FF2	?	?
KAP – 3	?	mechanically	mechanically
LG Engineering	AR 2, Model: 451-600, Model: 474-001, Model: 474-003	?	?
Mars vs.	M PAAD	electronically	pyrotechnic
Osman Iftokear	Iftikar	?	?
POIGNON	?	?	?
Pretel	Score 2000	?	?
Scott Smith	Aerotechnics	?	?
SSE	Mars FF3	?	?
SSE	Sentinel Mk2000, Sentinel Mk2100	electronically	pyrotechnic