Nonlinear Decelerator for Payloads in Aerial Delivery Systems. I: Design and Testing

TL;DR

This paper presents a nonlinear elastic model and experimental validation for a shock deceleration system designed to protect payloads during impact in aerial delivery, with applications in various fields.

Contribution

It introduces a novel nonlinear elastic model and experimental analysis for optimizing shock deceleration in aerial payload delivery systems.

Findings

Model accurately predicts maximum deceleration

Energy transfer insights between container and payload

Deceleration predictions vary with ground type

Abstract

We study the dynamics and the optimization of the shock deceleration supported by a payload when its airborne carrier impacts the ground. We build a nonlinear elastic model for a container prototype and an elastic suspension system for the payload. We model the dynamics of this system and extract information on maximum deceleration, energy transfer between the container and payload, and energy resonant damping. We designed the system and perform lab experiments for various terminal velocities and types of grounds (cement, grass, sand water, etc.). The results are compared with the theoretical model and results are commented, including predictions for deceleration at different types of ground impact. The results can be used for aerial delivery systems, splash-down of capsules, recoveries, weather balloons, coastal surveying systems, or the new introduced goal-line technology in sport competitions.