Uncertainty in atmospheric winds represents one of the primary sources of landing error in airdrop systems. Significant landing errors can result if the winds near the ground differ from the wind estimates used to plan the system’s approach path. This work examines the use of a ground-based LIDAR system to measure the wind profile in the vicinity of the payload delivery target. The ground based LIDAR system samples the wind field at discrete points in the airspace around the target and transmits this real-time wind profile data to approaching autonomous airdrop systems. The onboard autonomous guidance algorithm is modified to incorporate the wind field information from the LIDAR to plan the approach trajectory. The performance of the autonomous airdrop system operating in conjunction with a ground-based LIDAR is evaluated in simulation. A 3-dimensional, time varying wind model is used to generate realistic wind conditions that constantly vary over the course of the vehicle’s trajectory and the parafoil and payload is simulated using a 6 degree of freedom non-linear model. Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate landing accuracy statistics to evaluate the improvement in landing accuracy when the information from the LIDAR unit is incorporated into an otherwise typical guided airdrop system. Simulation results demonstrate a factor of three improvement in landing accuracy in the presence of wind shear when incorporating the wind information from the LIDAR. Results also demonstrate that wind measurements covering the final approach phase of the flight are most critical and that it is possible to obtain large improvements in landing accuracy with even a small number of discrete measurements of the wind profile near the ground.

Conventional airdrop methods for humanitarian aid and emergency relief require dropping heavy payloads far away from the intended recipients. Currently, there are a number of issues with this method of delivery. Because supplies are distributed by just a few large crates dropped on or near the location of those requiring relief, there is not only risk of injury upon being struck by one of these large crates, but it is also common for the distribution of supplies to be inhibited by adversaries. Thus, in an effort to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of such difficulties, a safer, more effective means of dropping and distributing humanitarian aid is necessary. The development of small sized packages of supplies that can be dispersed directly above a populated area with minimal risk of human injury is essential to ensure safe, timely, and effective distribution of aid. The research reported here explores several proposed packaging designs of individual food and water rations to identify possible methods to deploy emergency relief in a manner consistent with the previously stated requirements. With a combination of flight dynamic simulation, wind tunnel testing, and flight testing, promising package designs that meet impact requirements are identified.