An Autorotating Air Cargo Delivery System

A precision air-drop capability is required to allow the re-supply of Special Operations Forces (SOF) behind enemy lines. The covert nature of these operations makes it important that the drop occur with low visibility. Furthermore, a wide range of dropparameters will give the drop-aircraft the freedom to avoid detection. Creare proposes a novel AutoRotating Air Delivery System (ARADS) that will meet SOF needs. The system is compact and can be deployed from a variety of aircraft over a wide-range ofdrop speeds and altitudes. The system may be fitted with guidance and control capabilities and is capable of delivering its payload with negligible impact velocity. In Phase 1 we will determine the feasibility of the ARADS concept through analysis,simulation and scale model testing. In Phase II we will build a prototype system and test it in representative field conditions. Creare's ARADS system will be designed to deliver payloads with increased accuracy, reduced visibility, and lower impactvelocities than existing parachute systems. The system will be valuable to search and rescue, and disaster and relief operations in addition to military re-supply operations. Furthermore, the soft landing provided by this system will allow the deliveryof fragile medicines and instruments to remote inaccessible locations.