Fall 2018 Update: We decided to stop pursuing a drop test after a discussion with Prof. Hansman. The effort of designing and organizing a drop test is not currently worth it for a test that will not sufficiently replicate in-flight dynamics. Fortunately, FAA laws do allow objects to be dropped if "reasonable precautions" are taken. Future potential drop tests would be more worthwhile if recovery wanted to test a fix made to the recovery system or wanted to determine what had gone wrong in a previous flight. 

Goal: drop test vehicle and deploy main parachute under flight conditions

  • Test vehicle: 2ft, 80 lbs Pathfinder tube with parachutes, piston (not active), and weight
  • Instrumentation: cameras, load cell, pitot-static tube, flight computer for data logging and deployment
  • Deployment: static line deployment for drogue, remotely activated release mechanism for main with tender descender or AAD
  • Measure: deployment forces (load cell or pressure-sensitive film), verify bulkhead strength, parachute drag (altimeter & accelerometer)
  • For skydiving plane:
    • Need requirements from FAA and skydiving place
    • Be confident that the drogue will not come loose before dropping
    • Determine how long of a tether is needed for static line deployment of drogue
    • Engineer how to mount weight to the test vehicle (bulkhead with diving weights?)

Ideas:

  • Tow behind or push out of small aircraft (preferably skydiving plane with no door)
  • Launch recovery system on an instrumented rocket
  • Vertical wind tunnel

Components:

  • Tubes 

  • Piston 

  • Bulkheads

  • Deployment Bags

  • Static line - design, sew

  • Lines - either flight or special - find length

  • Parachutes 

  • Flight computer with 6 DOF MPU - Does pyxida work? Contact avionics (ARC bps.space)

  • Pitot-static tube + ptap - RT has pitot tube

  • TD/AAD - Ask for permission to borrow and design mount for AAD

  • Camera mounts - design and manufacture

  • High speed cameras - check specs on GoPro and Mobius (Get from Charlie, Maddie G, or Sam)

  • DAC - talk to payload and avionics

  • Load cell - select, buy

  • Mass mount - design and manufacture

  • Mass - diving weights, bolt mass onto a steel bulkhead

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