Development of an Actuator for an Airdropped Platform Landing System

Abstract

This work presents an actuation system that aims at improving the maneuvering capability during the landing phase of the LAICAnSat platform. The LAICAnSat is a low-cost, modular platform for high altitude applications, such as remote sensing, telecommunications, research, development and innovation within the aerospace field. The landing system uses a ram-air parachute that is actuated by servo motors located on a pseudo 2U CubeSat platform.

Altitude control of a remote-sensing balloon platform

“…In order to improve the platform, making it more robust and reliable for more complex missions, a solution capable of performing a completely autonomous mission, including data collection and safe landing using an airdropped system was studied in [31]. The use of an airdropped system to accomplish these tasks is inspired by different types of applications, such as aerial delivery applications and recovery of payloads from the International Space Station (ISS), among others.…”

“…3. Based on the flight heritage of past tests [31], this system is placed inside the nozzle of the balloon, in order to avoid contacts with the rope that connects the balloon to the rest of the platform.…”