Effects of Deflection Mode on Flared-Maneuver Performance of Unpowered Heavy Airdrop System

For the landing process of a large-scale airdrop system, flared-maneuver is a common approach to decelerate to prevent huge impacts while touching down. A 6-DOF model of parafoil-load system is used to investigate the effects of different deflection modes on airdrop system’s landing performance. By numerical simulation, three main factors, distance of deflection, rate of deflection and the pattern of rate changing, are discussed according to the results. The conclusion derived is of some significance in assisting control and design of landing procedure of such unpowered heavy airdrop systems.