Helicopter sling loads are widely used for cargo delivery by the military, but are inherently unstable in flight, which is hazardous. This project designed the SPARTA system to stabilize sling loads using active control methods by redirecting airflow over the sling load using a rudder and pipes with control vents, to create stabilizing forces and moments. This project involved mathematical modeling, simulation, and wind-tunnel testing of the SPARTA system for a 1/17 scale standard sling load cargo container. Stabilization of yaw motion and lateral sway motion of the sling load were investigated using the LQR control algorithm. An Arduino microcontroller was used to collect measurements and to actuate the control surfaces with servomotors.

• 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

• Cyr, Dusty
• Morar, Radu Constantin
• Sperry, Joseph Prothero

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042915-150040

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

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

License

• All rights reserved

Last modified

• 2023-01-20