Parachute recovery system ideas?

[DucktileMedia]

I was remembering the ballistic recovery chutes we had on our ultralights. I wonder if there isn't some way to make a light remote deployable parachute for our multi's. I realize packing a 2+ meter chute would be space consuming, but with enough money on board one would wonder why "we" havent tried this yet.

Any ideas?

 

[juz]

A few people have tried this. Would be pretty cool to save a quadcopter with a chute!

http://www.rcmovie.de/video/371784081ea9ad9b279d/Fallschirmtest-3

http://www.vimeo.com/1236813

 

[jes1111]

http://www.fruitychutes.com/

Google "rocket recovery parachutes".

Weight is an issue as well as size - and how to deploy the chute sufficiently rapidly at a relatively low height.

 

[juz]

true..also how it will deploy when the machine is at different attitudes.

 

[DucktileMedia]

There are obviously issues. Another reason bigger is better in my mind. This is just one major thing missing from multis. This could be our auto rotation equivalent! I dont think attitude would make much difference unless it was upside down and the chute got stuck on a prop. But the nice thing is the props have no mass so they wouldnt harm the chute if they were powered down. I bet if someone made it look pretty they would sell.

 

[Efliernz]

I think the important goal is treating the chute as a drag-chute / minor damage / no one gets squashed type device. Too big and "floaty" makes it a big device that may get blown a distance. A smaller chute slows the craft down while it still descends straight down. Perhaps 60" / 4lbs. I haven't done model rockets - just reading...

I have put some thought into this idea over the last 6 months - please comment / pick-to-pieces at will

A small high(ish) tension spring to assist launch. Two servos lock the chute loaded in place. If the servos were Y-leaded (or separate rx) off the throttle and another switch, it could not be fired without the throttle being down/closed and another switch hit. The chute needs a 3' nylon lead as minimum to clear any concern over tangling with a tumbling machine.

Pete

 

[jes1111]

This is the only off-the-shelf system I've found that would be easily adaptable to a multirotor: http://www.the-rocketman.com/model-recovery.html

I agree you'd want an interlink system to cut the engines before deployment. I've also thought about the idea for a long time and keep coming back to it. But in the end it just doesn't add up for me on weight (potentially about 500+g for my craft's weight), lack of control, etc. - I resolved to spend the equivalent effort and money on making sure the craft doesn't need rescuing in the first place

 

[Gunter]

I have spent ages also thinking about something like this as well! Ideally, one switch would cut the motors and deploy the chute a split second later.

I also thought about an air-bag system, one deploying underneath and one above, like 2 big donuts...also make them so that after deploying, the air stays inside and it acts as a float if it lands in water. (in a normal air-bag, the air escapes pretty quickly after deployment)

 

[Crash]

I've been thinking about this off and on for the last 18 months. I even bought a few small chutes to test with. Various methods have been attempted by others with varying degrees of success.

My idea is to use a spring loaded carbon shaft with a chute connected to the end. A servo would release the shaft which would pull the chute away from the quad. (Kind of like a pole vaulter.) A round ring would hold the chute somewhat open for a quick deployment. I think the shaft would help to only allow the chute to deploy at the correct attitude.

I was going to test this on a spare frame then I forgot why I was saving the frame and I sold it.

I took the pictures below a long time ago and they aren't very good but maybe they will help a little though.

The chute came from here: http://aeroconsystems.com/cart/products/36_inch_white_parachute-56-2.html
About 40 grams and $6+shipping.