In-Canopy Bleed Air Control to Enable a Steerable Subsonic Parachute System

This proposal focuses on the development of an innovative in-canopy bleed air control system for round parachutes, specifically targeting spacecraft entry, descent, and landing (EDL) applications. Currently, parachute systems used in EDL rely on unguided round parachutes, which are subject to significant landing location uncertainty due to the influence of atmospheric winds. This lack of active control limits the precision required for successful planetary landings, especially in future missions to Mars and other celestial bodies. The proposed technology aims to address this issue by integrating a bleed air control system within the parachute canopy. This system will utilize small, lightweight actuators and sensors to manipulate vents in the canopy, enabling active steering during descent. By reducing the impact of unpredictable atmospheric conditions, this system will enhance the accuracy and reliability of parachute-based landings, contributing to the success of planetary exploration missions. Funding will be used to design, build, and test the in-canopy bleed air control system, starting with the MC-6 parachute as a baseline. The Phase 1 effort will focus on creating and testing multiple in-canopy control configurations, with the goal of optimizing control authority and minimizing actuator force. Prototype systems will be fabricated and tested through flight experiments to validate performance, including control authority, power consumption, and reliability. The target markets for this technology include NASA, the U.S. military, and international allies, with potential applications in both personnel and cargo airdrop systems. The first product developed will be an in-canopy control system for the T-10 parachute, marketed as an autopilot kit for personnel use. Further development will include similar systems for cargo parachutes such as the G-11 and G-12. This technology has broad potential for improving landing precision in a variety of applications.

Parachutes are an excellent deceleration method due to their lightweight, compact design, and exceptional deceleration capabilities, making them ideal for use in spacecraft EDL systems. However, current parachute systems rely on unguided designs, leading to significant uncertainty in landing location due to unpredictable atmospheric conditions. The proposed in-canopy bleed air control system for round parachutes will significantly enhance landing accuracy by enabling active control over the descent trajectory, reducing the impact of atmospheric winds. By improving the accuracy of parachutes, this technology will make parachutes an even more effective deceleration tool, providing enhanced landing accuracy. This technology will be very useful for any NASA spacecraft missions that decelerate through an atmosphere and need to land accurately. The low size, weight, and power (SWAP) characteristics of the bleed air control system make it ideal for integration into spacecraft that possess strict mass and volume constraints. Beyond spacecraft, this technology has potential applications in future aircraft, where distributed control using bleed air can provide an efficient, lightweight, and low-power method of control. This capability is essential for next-generation light and flexible aircraft, which require distributed, redundant, high-performance control systems without excessive weight or power consumption. The in-canopy bleed air control technology proposed in this research has significant potential for non-NASA applications, particularly in military airdrop systems. The U.S. Army and other military organizations around the world rely heavily on parachutes for personnel and cargo airdrops, where accurate landing in a specific target area is crucial. Current military round parachutes, including the T-10, T-11, MC-6, and others, are widely used for these missions but face challenges related to landing accuracy. These parachutes are subject to varying wind conditions that can introduce significant uncertainty in landing locations, which can impact the success of mission objectives. By incorporating in-canopy bleed air control systems, these parachutes can be actively steered during descent, allowing for precise targeting and reducing the unpredictability of landing zones. This improvement in control will be especially valuable in tactical situations where accurate drops are necessary to ensure personnel and cargo are delivered to the correct location. In addition to improving landing accuracy, the in-canopy bleed air control system offers other advantages, such as its compact, lightweight design that does not add significant weight or bulk to the parachute system. This makes it a practical solution for military applications where size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints are essential. This technology will initially be marketed for the T-10 parachute as an autopilot, but the versatility of the bleed air control system allows for its potential application across a wide range of military parachutes, including those used for cargo airdrop, like the G-11 and G-12. The technology’s ability to enhance landing precision for both personnel and cargo airdrops will make it a valuable tool for military operations, improving mission success rates and operational efficiency.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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