Guidance and control of 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 further proceeds with the description of the control strategy based on Pontrjagin’s principle of optimality. The paper ends with the results of the final AGAS demonstration performed at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in September, 2001.