Dynamical Model of a Controlled Parawing for Drop Tests Trajectory Reconstruction

Bettanini C,Bartolomei M,Aboudan A,Colombatti G

doi:10.35840/2631-5009/7534

Abstract

The work presents the first results of the research activity conducted at University of Padova to develop a remotely controlled parawing system designed to serve as emergency landing device for UAVs. A prototype of the designed system has successfully completed development and has undergone flight testing with airdrop campaigns from an octocopter drone.

Highlights

In the last decades, an unprecedented development in on-board computers and sensors miniaturization has driven to the design of new autopilot systems for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) with increased performance but lower total cost, Citation: Bettanini C, Bartolomei M, Aboudan A, Colombatti G (2020) Dynamical Model of a Controlled Parawing for Drop Tests Trajectory Reconstruction
These last will remain in the aviation domain under the certified category while commercial drone operations will be possible in open category if they do not take place over or near people (30 m), otherwise will fall into the “specific category”
Some of the test flight have anyhow resulted in smoother descent trajectories and have been used to provide angular velocity inputs to the dynamical model, allowing to reconstruct the descent trajectory, to conduct a preliminary tuning of aerodynamic coefficients and to achieve a better understanding of descent dynamics

Summary

Introduction

An unprecedented development in on-board computers and sensors miniaturization has driven to the design of new autopilot systems for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) with increased performance but lower total cost, . The new EASA regulations for drone utilization in EU that will be effective from June 2020 divide UAV operations, whether commercial or recreational, based on the associated risk introducing low risk category (“open category”), medium risk category (“specific category”) and high-risk operations. These last will remain in the (manned) aviation domain under the certified category while commercial drone operations will be possible in open category if they do not take place over or near people (30 m), otherwise will fall into the “specific category”. Future developments to be conducted later in the project will focus on the implementation of the flight termination system, investigating failure detection, parachute actuation and expulsion strategies

Design of the Prototype Parawing

Conclusion

Findings

Drones for commercial application