Hi Guys,I'm new here, but I've been working on a project, part of which will be a autonomously guided parachute. The idea is to drop a payload under a parachute, and have it home in on specified GPS ground based co-ordinate. Steering will be done by weight shifting under the canopy, or pulling in one of the sides. This will be the only control the autopilot will have. The payload's descent rate and the drift from the wind will be unknown variables. If the wind is in the wrong direction, or the descent rate too fast, the payload may not reach the waypoint before landing, but it should always be trying to get as close as it can.I'd like to explore one of the open source arduino based solutions as i'm familiar with the basic arduino platform, and I'd be quite happy to tinker with the code and contribute back anything useful. Can anyone suggest if Ardupilot or Blimpduino would make the best starting point?cheersJim
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
Hi. I've been wanting to do exactly the same thing. From an Arduino perspective, I'm guessing the blimp project might be a good starting point since it's working with two dominant propellors. Personally I'm less sure about what canopy design to use, something that's either easy to make or that can be bought off the shelf and modified. The main issue with developing a parachute system is testing it, you need to be able to lift it and drop it a lot.
Jim,
I am preparing my test platform for ArduPilot which is a SkySurfer clone. The SkySurfer is a radio controlled model powered paraglider (see www.kitepower.com/skysurfer.html) I picked it because there are no stability problems and it is nice and slow. If the glider loses radio contact it goes automatically into a descending circle mode so its already kind of half way there.
Replies
I am preparing my test platform for ArduPilot which is a SkySurfer clone. The SkySurfer is a radio controlled model powered paraglider (see www.kitepower.com/skysurfer.html) I picked it because there are no stability problems and it is nice and slow. If the glider loses radio contact it goes automatically into a descending circle mode so its already kind of half way there.
Mike