Improving High Altitude Balloon Payload Recovery by Developing an Autonomous Parafoil Steering System

This thesis focuses on developing an autonomous parafoil steering system deployed from a near-space platform for improving recovery capabilities of attached payloads. The re search presented builds on previous work on the High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) bus built by the Space Systems Academic Group at the Naval Postgraduate School and includes the updated design features for increased reliability and software development and implementation for both the autonomous steering algorithm and the integration of this system with the bus. Bench testing and an actual flight test of the autonomous parafoil system validated the power and data requirements for this capability, but also highlighted the constraints that prevent this system from operational use, including high sensitivity to weather conditions and inconsistent parafoil deployment that cannot be corrected mid-flight. The results therefore predict that the parafoil in its current setup will not be a sufficient solution for recovering payloads from HABs. ; Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. ; German armed forces ; Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg, Fakultät für Maschinenbau Professur für Mechatronik Holstenhofweg 85 22043 Hamburg, Germany