In this section, you can access to the latest technical information related to the FUTURE project topic.

Design and testing of an ultra-low-power persistent parachute use logger

Abstract

After a sufficient amount of use under certain conditions, parachutes wear out and can no longer be safely employed. A simple and effective indicator of the remaining life of a parachute is the number of times it has been used, surviving opening shock, canopy inflation, transient parachute dynamics, and low velocity flight to the ground. This paper documents a small electronic device that automatically detects and logs each time a parachute has been used. Hardware and software that enables this device are described and data from bench and flight testing are detailed to highlight detection algorithm performance and long-term power consumption. Data shows that the proposed device accurately and reliably identifies individual parachute flights and that the ultra low power nature of the design permits the device to be continuously on for a period of time that is greater than the life span of the parachute. Thus, the device can be installed in the canopy during the fabrication process without the need for recharging or replacement of batteries.

» Author: Jacob Wachlin, Michael Ward, Jesus Pacheco, Mark Costello

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