GLIDR - Guided Landing Instrument for Descent and Recovery Capstone
Faculty Mentor Name
Joseph Smith, Matthew Haslam
Format Preference
Poster
Abstract
The Guided Landing Instrument for Descent and Recovery (G LIDR) system designed to address the challenges of recovering data from high-altitude Su per Pressure Balloons. The project has outlined the limitations of conventional data col lection methods-specifically, the uncontrol led descent and recovery of data payloads-and establishes the need for a more reliable, safe, and cost-effective solution. Three design concepts are investigated: the Ballistic Paraglider, the Folding Rogallo Wing, and the Lifting Body. Each concept was rigorously analyzed against stringent safety, structural, and performance requirements established by NASA, NIA, and academic standards. Aerodynamic simulations and structural analyses have been employed to evaluate critical para meters such as range, descent time, stability, and shock. Among the alternatives, the Ballistic Paraglider concept emerges as the optimal design due to its inherent stability, superior range performance, and increased manufacturability. By the end of the calendar yea r GLIDR plans to design, build, and test the full-scale system from the specified drop altitude.
GLIDR - Guided Landing Instrument for Descent and Recovery Capstone
The Guided Landing Instrument for Descent and Recovery (G LIDR) system designed to address the challenges of recovering data from high-altitude Su per Pressure Balloons. The project has outlined the limitations of conventional data col lection methods-specifically, the uncontrol led descent and recovery of data payloads-and establishes the need for a more reliable, safe, and cost-effective solution. Three design concepts are investigated: the Ballistic Paraglider, the Folding Rogallo Wing, and the Lifting Body. Each concept was rigorously analyzed against stringent safety, structural, and performance requirements established by NASA, NIA, and academic standards. Aerodynamic simulations and structural analyses have been employed to evaluate critical para meters such as range, descent time, stability, and shock. Among the alternatives, the Ballistic Paraglider concept emerges as the optimal design due to its inherent stability, superior range performance, and increased manufacturability. By the end of the calendar yea r GLIDR plans to design, build, and test the full-scale system from the specified drop altitude.