A Simulation and Prediction Method for Unpowered Airdropped Buoys Based on Aircraft Dynamics Modeling

Unpowered airdrop is a widely used way to deploy buoys in marine research. This paper presents a method to predict the trajectory and the velocity of unpowered airdropped buoys through numerical simulation. A differential dynamic model of the airdropped buoy is established with reference to the aircraft dynamics, which contains the kinetics, kinematics, and geometric constraints of the buoy. The corresponding aerodynamic hyperparameters of the buoy are calculated and obtained by XFlow software. Although specific aerodynamic coefficient values need to be recalculated for buoys with different geometries and mass distributions, the proposed modeling paradigm is always applicable. The simulation results show the trajectory and velocity characteristics of the buoy, which provide guidance for grasping the timing of airdrop release and parachute opening.