Slung Load Stabilization Design
Reducing the yaw on a helicopter load.
This is a proposed design plan to add a vertical yaw stabilizer to a helicopter slung load called a Container Express, or CONEX. The design should minimize oscillations while the CONEX is in flight. When a helicopter carries a large load like this, the force of the wind on the CONEX causes it to spin. This makes for a dangerous situation for the pilot as well as the potentially precious cargo. A fin mounted on the rear of the CONEX could substantially reduce this spinning.
The Northern Arizona University (NAU) design team will develop a proof-of-concept design prototype under the guidance of NAU engineering faculty and Dr. Luigi Cicolani of NASA Ames Research Center.