Steerable parachute control system and method

Abstract

An autonomous guided parachute system for cargo drops that divides the requirements of guidance and soft landing into separate parachutes. Said invention includes a high wing-loaded ram air parachute for guidance, a larger round parachute for soft landing, a harness/container system, flight computer, position sensors and actuation system. The system is dropped from an airplane. A predetermined period of drogue fall ensures a stable position prior to deploying the guidance parachute. The flight controller determines a heading to intersect with an area substantially above the desired target and controls the guidance parachute via pneumatic actuators connected to the parachutes steering lines to fly on that heading. At a minimum altitude prior to the system's impact with the ground the flight computer transitions the system from the fast high performance guidance parachute to a larger landing parachute by releasing the guidance parachute to static line extract and deploy the landing parachute. If the system reaches a position substantially above target area prior to the parachute transition altitude the flight computer controls the system into a spiral dive or other rapid altitude dropping maneuver until the transition altitude is reached. Once transitioned to the landing parachute the system descends for a brief period unguided under the landing parachute until touchdown.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A bomb delivery system comprising: 
 a guidance parachute attached to the bomb; and    a flight controller attached to the guidance parachute for steering the guidance parachute to a predetermined target location.    
   
   
       29 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 28 , wherein the flight controller includes: means for releasing the bomb when the system reaches the target location when below a preset altitude.  
   
   
       30 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 28 , wherein the guidance parachute is wing loaded over three pounds per square foot.  
   
   
       31 . A bomb delivery system comprising: 
 a steering ram air guidance parachute, connectable to said bomb for a first period of time following launch adapted to quickly move said bomb after drop to a first altitude substantially overhead a target location; and    a flight controller responsive to said target location and to said first altitude, for steering said steering ram air guidance parachute to the first altitude that is a predetermined first distance substantially overhead said target location.    
   
   
       32 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a drogue connectable to said bomb for a second period of time prior to the first period of time.  
   
   
       33 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 32 , further comprising a drogue delay timer determining said second period of time.  
   
   
       34 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the flight controller includes: 
 a GPS receiver providing information about a current location of the bomb;    a processor for determining the system's flight vector and desired flight path capable of controlling actuators to steer the guidance parachute.    
   
   
       35 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 34 , wherein the GPS receiver is loaded with an ephemeris of the target location.  
   
   
       36 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 34 , wherein the actuators are pneumatically powered.  
   
   
       37 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the guidance parachute is loaded over three pounds per square foot.  
   
   
       38 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the altitude dropping maneuver includes a spiral dive.  
   
   
       39 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the flight controller includes an altimeter for determining an altitude of said bomb.  
   
   
       40 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the flight controller includes a transmitter for sending data from the flight controller to a base station.  
   
   
       41 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the flight controller includes a transceiver for transmitting data between the flight controller to a base station.  
   
   
       42 . The bomb delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the flight controller stores data relating to operation of the flight controller during flight.  
   
   
       43 . A method for air dropping a bomb secured to a parachute system comprising the steps of: 
 launching said bomb from a delivery aircraft;    deploying a guidance parachute; and    controlling said guidance parachute to position said bomb to a first altitude substantially overhead of a target location.    
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the step of stabilizing said bomb under a drogue after launching said bomb and prior to deploying said guidance parachute.  
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 44 , further comprising the step of using a hydraulic timing mechanism to control the drogue fall time.  
   
   
       46 . The method as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the step of stabilizing the bomb occurs for a predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       47 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the step of releasing tie downs holding said parachute system to said bomb to suspend said bomb from the parachute system.  
   
   
       48 . The method as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein the step of releasing the tie downs includes releasing the tie downs with tension from a bridal on the drogue.  
   
   
       49 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the step of steering the guidance parachute includes the steps of: 
 determining a current location of said bomb;    determining a direction from the current location of said bomb to the target location; and    controlling the guidance parachute for flight in the determined direction.    
   
   
       50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the step of determining a current location of said bomb includes obtaining a position location from a GPS receiver.  
   
   
       51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50 , further comprising the step of loading an ephemeris for the target location in the GPS receiver prior to the launching step.  
   
   
       52 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining flight data relating to flight of said parachute system and said bomb; and    storing said flight data.    
   
   
       53 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining flight data relating to flight of said parachute system and said bomb; and    transmitting said flight data to a base station.    
   
   
       54 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the step of transmitting control information to the parachute system for controlling the guidance parachute.