Patent ID: 6758442
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
A guided payload delivery system for delivering a payload to a target on the ground, comprising:a parafoil for reducing a rate of fall of said payload, said parafoil including a first set of control cables for controlling drag on a right side of said parafoil and a second set of cables for controlling drag on a second side of said parafoil; a location sensor for determining a physical position of said delivery system; a horizontal bearing sensor for determining a horizontal bearing of said delivery system; a guidance control coupled to said location sensor and said horizontal bearing sensor for computing a deviation of a trajectory of said physical position from a cylinder extending axially above said target and having a predetermined diameter; and a motor coupled to said guidance control for shortening one of said first set of cables and said second set of cables and lengthening another one of said first set of cables and said second set of cables, in response to said guidance control computing that said trajectory deviates from said cylinder, wherein said shortened set of cables is selected in conformity with a sign of said deviation, whereby said system is guided to land near said target.