Parachute Folding

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Introduction

In UAS, there are many different models of UAVs that are available to the commercial market: multirotor, fixed-wing, single rotor, and VTOL, to name a few. Within the UAS department at Purdue, we have a C-Astral Bramor ppX at our disposal. This is a fixed-wing model UAV that is used for surveying and search and rescue. For deployment, the Bramor features a catapult that is used to launch it and also features a parachute for recovery. It is important that this parachute is packed and folded correctly to ensure that it will deploy properly, minimize damages, and ensure a complete recovery.

Methods

For Lab 1, it was expected to read and watch materials relating to folding and packing the Bramor parachute correctly. The parachute has multiple important components to it. Figure 1 shows a diagram of these components.

Figure 1 displays the diagram that lists all 13 of the major components of the parachute.



From those materials, it was expected to recreate training materials that would be accessed and viewed by others. Using the videos and materials provided, a few of the steps will be shown below to display knowledge of folding the parachute.


Figure 2: This is the parachute neatly folded before the steps before packing the parachute

Figure 2 shows the parachute after being folded neatly with the lines and gores not crossed or tangled. This is critical to ensure that the parachute deploys properly. The neat folds allows for the parachute to unfold and expand during deployment. If the gores and lines are crossed and tangled, it makes the parachute utterly useless, since it will tangle as it unravels. Figure 3 shows the gores and lines better.


Figure 3 shows the parachute folded correctly with the lines placed neatly at the end.

As you can see, the lines are placed neatly and do not interfere with other lines from the parachute. After this step, it would be time to begin folding the parachute to condense it into the deployment bag. Figure 4 shows the parachute being folded towards the deployment bag and once it is placed inside of it.


Figure 4 shows the parachute condensed and ready to be placed within the deployment bag on the left; the right shows the parachute within the deployment bag with the flaps being looped around the parachute.

As mentioned before, the lines not being crossed or tangled is important and shows at the end of closing the deployment bag completely. The lines are threaded through the black loops pictured in Figure 4 on the left and right flaps. Continuing to not have the lines crossed during this looping phase also ensures that the lines deploy at the same time and do so correctly. Figure 5 shows this process being done.


Figure 5 shows the beginning of the looping process going through the black loops of the deployment bag.

Once the lines are completely looped through the parachute is finished packing and just needs to be placed within the storage bag. Figure 6 shows the step before placing it within the deployment bag.


Figure 6 shows the completed looping of the lines and shows what the bag looks like before it is placed within the deployment bag.

Once it is placed within the deployment bag, the parachute is completed and ready to be placed within the Bramor. It is important to include a label with the person that packed the parachute, date, and time for accountability purposes and to ensure that the parachute was packed the same day as the flight. 

Discussion

The purpose of this lab was to educate students the importance of packing the parachute correctly and making sure it is understood across the board. To view the manual that was referenced throughout the post, it is hyperlinked here. This lab was helpful in explaining the steps on how to properly pack the parachute. As mentioned before, an incorrectly packed parachute can cause in damage to the UAV and potentially to people or property. The manual that was created demonstrates knowledge achieved through this lab and the ability to correctly pack the parachute.

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