Fri, Jan 16, 2009
Modular Ram-Air Parachute Lowers Heavy Payload Under Autonomous
Control
Parachute manufacturer Airborne Systems announced this week it
successfully completed a test drop deploying an 18,000 lb payload
from 17,500 MSL under a modified modular ram-air parachute. This
testing was conducted as part of a US Army Natick Soldier Research
Development & Engineering Center development program to
investigate the use of a modular design for precision guided
airdrop of heavy payload systems.
Two of Airborne Systems' products -- MegaFly and GigaFly -- are
designed to carry heavy payloads between 15,000 to 42,000 lbs.
using GPS navigation to "steer" bulk supplies, equipment or
vehicles to an intended point of impact. Both systems are modular
and are assembled using five separate sections. When the sections
are connected together to form a single large parafoil wing, the
combined size is close to the wingspan of a Boeing 747
(211-ft).
"One of the unique features of this design is the
interchangeability of parafoil sections to function as a modular
system," said Brian Bagdonovich, Program Manager, for the US Army
Natick Soldier RD&E Center. "The MegaFly parafoil was designed
for 20-30K pound payloads. Using modular canopies to carry heavier
loads, the MegaFly system can easily be converted to a GigaFly
system by removing the 2,500 sq-ft center section of the MegaFly
and replacing it with a 3,900 sq-ft center section. The benefit of
this modular interchangeability is to allow the system to
accommodate a higher payload up to a 42K pounds."
"Conversely, the modular concept can also be applied to
accommodate smaller payloads," said Bagdonovich. "By removing the
center section of the MegaFly, making it a four section parafoil
instead of its typical five section configuration, the system will
accommodate accurate delivery of payloads from 15K to 20K
pounds."
The four section parafoil configuration was successfully
demonstrated with an 18K pound payload. "From an Army standpoint,
the concept of modularity is just as impressive as GigaFly's
ability to deliver high payload weights to a precise location,"
said Bagdonovich.
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