Wireless Parachute Data Recorder with RFID Tracking Capability

For air drop operations, tracking of performance and usage data is necessary for routine maintenance as well as incident investigations. Currently, this data tracking is handled by manually recording usage information in logbooks. Automating this process, will results in more efficient, comprehensive, less error-prone, less labor intensive system. Intelligent Automation, Inc., along with Parks College Parachute Research Group and Airborne Systems, is developing an innovative Parachute Data Recorder System to record parachute usage and performance data based upon Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Common Access Card (CAC), MEMs sensors, GPS, wireless communications, low power processing, and state of the art data fusion, management, and visualization techniques. Each PDR collects and stores use and performance data (e.g. altitude, acceleration, orientation, location, etc). The data from individual or multiple PDRs can then be transferred to an electronic Parachute Data System (ePaDS). ePaDS is a ruggedized PDA/Netbook with preloaded software to interface with the PDR. It will have wireless interfaces, RFID reader, and CAC card reader. ePaDS will have the ability to collect, store, label, analyze, and visualize local use and performance data. ePaDS will also periodically upload the data to a database server for querying via web-based data analysis and visualization tools.