Proceedings ArticleDOI
Precision guided airdrop system flight test results
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TLDR
In this paper, the authors developed a modular guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software to precision guide ram-air parafoils using a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial navigation system (INS) data.Abstract:
Airdrop technology is a vital Department of Defense (DoD) capability that supports rapid deployment of war fighters and supplies. Consequently, the Army has sponsored development of gliding, steerable airdrop systems that can be deployed from high altitudes, with large offset, carrying small through large pay loads. The goal was to enable payload delivery within 100 meters of the target. Under this effort, Draper Laboratory developed modular guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software to precision guide ram-air parafoils using a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial navigation system (INS) data. A high fidelity simulator was constructed to evaluate the expected performance of the Draper software. Also, in conjunction with NASA, flight tests with an 88 sq. ft. parafoil and a 170 pound payload were performed to evaluate the GN&C system performance under real flight conditions. A number of GN&C system design refinements were formulated after review of initial flight test results that ultimately enabled a payload delivery accuracy of about 50 meters. This paper summarizes the motivation for precision guided airdrop systems, reviews the Draper GPS/INS based GN&C for ram-air parafoils, and presents both simulation and flight test results.read more
Citations
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Proceedings ArticleDOI
Optimal Control for Terminal Guidance of Autonomous Parafoils
Nathan Slegers,Oleg A. Yakimenko +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, an approach for generating reference trajectories based on the inverse dynamics in the virtual domain is presented. But the reference trajectory during terminal guidance, just prior to impact, is especially important to the final accuracy of the system.
Proceedings ArticleDOI
Aerodynamic Model Identification and GNC Design for the Parafoil-Load System ALEX
TL;DR: In this article, a simple and robust GNC algorithm is presented to enable the system to land autonomously at a predefined target, which is based on the acquired database, essential parameters of the vehicles are determined.
Proceedings ArticleDOI
Advanced Features for Autonomous Parafoil Guidance, Navigation and Control
TL;DR: The paper gives an overview about the working principles of the basic algorithm and the new extensions, discusses their advantages and possible drawbacks, and demonstrates the improvements by simulation and Monte-Carlo analysis.
Journal ArticleDOI
Adaptive Glide Slope Control for Parafoil and Payload Aircraft
TL;DR: The current work presents the development of a control law to implement glide slope control on an autonomous airdrop system and demonstrates an improvement in landing accuracy by a factor of two, though the improvement can be even greater in especially windy conditions.
References
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Further development and flight test of an autonomous precision landing system using a parafoil
James E. Murray,Alex G. Sim,David C. Neufeld,Patrick K. Rennich,Stephen R. Norris,Wesley S. Hughes +5 more
TL;DR: The feasibility of conducting the flare maneuver without servoactuators was investigated as a means of significantly reducing the servoACTuator rate and load requirements.
The development and flight test of a deployable precision landing system for spacecraft recovery
TL;DR: This vehicle completedanautonomousflight from analtitude of10,000ft andalateraloffset of 1.7miles which resulted in aprecisionflare and landing into thewindatapredeterminedlocation.
Demonstration of Precision Guided Ram-Air Parafoil Airdrop Using GPS/INS Navigation
Philip D. Hattis,Richard Benney +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a simulation of parafoils, the guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) system, sensors, and atmosphere variations to evaluate the expected performance of the Draper software.