The Parafoil Technology Demonstration (PTD) Project - Lessons learned and future visions

Petry, Guenther; Behr, R.; Tscharntke, Lothar

doi:10.2514/6.1999-1755

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…22,[29][30][31][32][33] The Parafoil Technology Demonstrator program was set up and conducted under ESA to demonstrate feasibility of guiding a large-scale parafoil autonomously to a predefined point and to perform a flared landing within a specific range. Another objective was to enable further investi-gation into the flight dynamics of the parafoil systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Control Algorithm for the Autonomous Gliding Delivery System

Kaminer

Yakimenko

2003

17th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar

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Abstract. The paper considers the development and simulation testing of the control algorithms for an autonomous high-glide aerial delivery system, which consists of 650sq.ft rectangular double-skin parafoil and 500lb payload. The paper applies optimal control analysis to the real-time trajectory generation. Resulting guidance and control system includes tracking this reference trajectory using a nonlinear tracking controller. The paper presents the description of the algorithm along with simulation results and ends with guidelines for the further implementation of the developed software aboard the real system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Control Algorithm for the Autonomous Gliding Delivery System

Kaminer

Yakimenko

2003

17th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar

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“…The extent to which symmetric brake deflection yields glide slope change varies from canopy to canopy with some systems generating more glide slope change than others, but the major trend is that symmetric brake deflection yields relatively minor glide slope changes. Typical flight control laws for guided parafoil systems posses direct lateral control and achieve a limited degree glide slope control using an altitude-dump maneuver in the form of a series of S-turns [1]. A flare is often performed immediately before touchdown to minimize impact velocities and forces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parafoil Glide Slope Control Using Canopy Spoilers

Gavrilovski

Ward

Costello

2011

21st AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar

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Current autonomous parafoil and payload aircraft are controlled by deflection of left and right brakes, leading to lateral-directional control. While left and right brakes can be deployed symmetrically, the main effect is to alter speed and not glide slope of the vehicle. Thus the use of left and right brakes produces lateral control but not longitudinal control of the vehicle. As a consequence, landing accuracy is reduced, especially when difficult terrain or significant atmospheric gusts are present near the landing area. Previous research has shown that improved landing accuracy can be achieved using glide slope control generated by dynamic modification of the canopy incidence angle. The work reported here considers generation of glide slope control authority for parafoil and payload aircraft using a novel approach of integrating aerodynamic spoilers into the canopy. Both an upper surface slitspoiler and a lower surface flap-spoiler are investigated. It is shown that significant glide slope control can be achieved with either device.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the literature they are classified as RPA (remotely piloted aircraft), AAV (autonomous aircraft vehicles), and so on [2][3][4][5][6]. A UAV is defined as an aerial craft, flying without human crew on-board; it can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously [6,7]. Over the past three decades, the popularity of UAV or UAS (unmanned aerial systems-in 2005, the U.S. Department of Defense, DoD, started defining them as "flying systems") has kept growing at an unprecedented rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SMA-Based System for Environmental Sensors Released from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

et al. 2017

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Abstract:In the work at hand, a shape memory alloy (SMA)-based system is presented. The system, conceived for releasing environmental sensors from ground or small unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV (often named UAS, unmanned aerial system), is made of a door, integrated into the bottom of the fuselage, a device distributor, operated by a couple of antagonistic SMA springs, and a kinematic chain, to synchronize the deployment operation with the system movement. On the basis of the specifications (weight, available space, energy supply, sensors size, etc.), the system design was addressed. After having identified the main system characteristics, a representative mock-up was manufactured, featuring the bottom part of the reference fuselage. Functionality tests were performed to prove the system capability to release the sensors; a detailed characterization was finally carried out, mainly finalized at correlating the kinematic chain displacement with the SMA spring temperature and the supplied electrical power. A comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental outcomes showed good agreement.

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The Parafoil Technology Demonstration (PTD) Project - Lessons learned and future visions

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Development of Control Algorithm for the Autonomous Gliding Delivery System

Development of Control Algorithm for the Autonomous Gliding Delivery System

Parafoil Glide Slope Control Using Canopy Spoilers

SMA-Based System for Environmental Sensors Released from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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