Helicopter Sling Load, where a payload is tethered beneath a helicopter, is the most accurate form of aerial delivery used by the military. The inherent payload instability limits the airspeed and maneuverability of the helicopters and increases delivery time and exposure to enemy fire in hostile areas. This project focuses on reducing sling load instability using passive methods to control the payload motion. The team conceived and constructed two stabilization concepts, which used elevated, angled fins and a finned fabric design. These concepts were tested on a scaled cargo container and a scaled Humvee in wind tunnel tests. A T-Rex 700E scale model helicopter was also adapted to test the two concepts by adding landing strut and video camera systems.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Morawiec, Wesley Logan
• Hitchen, James Iain
• Guarino, Peter Michael

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042915-115459

Advisor

• Olinger, David J.
• Cowlagi, Raghvendra V.

Year

• 2015

Sponsor

• NSRDEC

Date created

• 2015-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright