Design and Implementation of an Innovative Manufacturing Process for Aerial and Land Supply Needs

摘要

The objective of this project is to design and implement a fully automated innovative manufacturing process, based on patents co-authored by the principal investigator, for the development and production of flexible cushioning systems which have been tested in order for loads of supplies to be free-dropped from an aircraft at low altitude with aircraft flying at speeds higher than 70 knots. This is the first application and testing of free-drop of subpacks. Development of such innovative manufacturing process provides immediate capability for the Department of Defense to produce new sub-packs and low-cost reduced-volume delivery protection systems. The immediate use is the freedrop of supplies which was successfully tested in the field. This enables the freedrop without parachute in DZs (drop zone areas) which are unreachable by land supply lines. This technology may result in new structures that might redesign the entire concept of supply chain for DoD.