Trajectory simulation of multi-body parachute system for airdrop-capable UAVs based on fluid-structure interaction

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Robotics
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly vital for logistics and disaster relief due to their efficiency and precision.
• Airdrop capabilities enhance UAV utility, but require precise deployment and parachute cut-off mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel airdrop-capable UAV with foldable wings.
• To develop and validate a comprehensive dynamic model for parachute-UAV systems.
• To investigate the parametric influence on airdrop trajectories and optimize separation point selection.

Main Methods:

• Established a 10-degree-of-freedom (10-DOF) multibody dynamics model using Kane's equations.
• Incorporated sixth-order vibration equations to analyze rigid-flexible coupling effects.
• Constructed a co-simulation framework coupling fluid-structure interaction (FSI) with LS-DYNA for dynamic simulations.

Main Results:

• Precisely captured motion trajectories under varying initial deployment parameters (velocity, parachute diameter).
• Acquired parachute jettison coordinates for diverse operating conditions.
• Elucidated the parametric dynamic coupling influencing airdrop trajectories and separation point selection.

Conclusions:

• The developed model accurately predicts parachute-UAV system dynamics.
• Parametric analysis provides insights for optimizing airdrop trajectory control.
• Established theoretical principles and technical frameworks for precision airdrop guidance.