Performance, Control, and Simulation of the Affordable Guided Airdrop System

Abstract

This paper addresses the development of an autonomous guidance, navigation and control system for a flat solid circular parachute. This effort is a part of the Affordable Guided Airdrop System (AGAS) that integrates a low-cost guidance and control system into fielded cargo air delivery systems. The paper describes the AGAS concept, its architecture and components. It then reviews the literature on circular parachute modeling and introduces a simplified model of a parachute. This model is used to develop and evaluate the performance of a modified bang-bang control system to steer the AGAS along a pre-specified trajectory towards a desired landing point. The synthesis of the optimal control strategy based on Pontryagin's principle of optimality is also presented. The paper is intended to be a summary of the current state of AGAS development. The paper ends with the summary of the future plans in this area.