Dynamic Analysis of a Carousel Remotely Piloted Vehicle Recovery System.

摘要

A Carousel Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) Recovery System consists of a vertical mast which supports a horizontal member that is free to rotate. The approaching RPV is caught by vertical cables suspended from the horizontal member and the kinetic energy of the RPV is dissipated through the motion of the recovery system. This thesis presents a simplified dynamic analysis to describe the motion of an RPV after impact with a recovery system simulating the carousel system. The equations of motion for the RPV were obtained from Lagrange's equations and modeled using the Continuous System Modeling Program on the IBM 360-67 computer. The results showed that damping was required on motion of both the horizontal member and the suspended cables in order to prevent possible damage to the 150 pound RPV at an assumed 50 knot approach speed. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the system design parameters and the results are presented in the body of the thesis.