Statistical analysis of touchdown error for self-guided aerial payload delivery systems

摘要

The paper overviews the distributions of touchdown error for a variety of different-weight self- guided parafoil-based payload delivery systems as demonstrated at several Precision Airdrop Technology and Demonstration (PATCAD) events in Yuma, AZ within the period of 2001-2009. The paper aims at establishing the correct procedure to estimate an accuracy of an aerial payload delivery system and also looking at the effect that a guidance law might have on a touchdown error distribution. These approaches and estimates should help a tester community in preparation for the aerodynamic deceleration system (ADS) tests and analysis of their results.