Minutes of a Meeting of the

AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems

Technical Committee

8 May 1996

Sheraton Minneapolis Metrodome

Minneapolis Minnesota

The meeting was called to order by committee chairman Dean Jorgensen at
7:30 a.m.  Dr. Jorgensen welcomed the following new members, Maurice
Gionfriddo, Vance Behr, Phil Delurgio and Bill Garrard.  This was the third
meeting collocated with the National Parachute Technology Council (NPTC)
and Dr. Jorgensen welcomed NPTC chairman Dr. Carl Peterson and the other
NPTC members to the ADS TC meeting.  Richard Benney was appointed secretary
pro tem. A list of those in attendance is appended (Appendix A). 

Minutes of the January 16th 1996 Meeting

The minutes of the 16 January meeting, held in Reno Nevada in conjunction
with the 34th AIAA Aerospace Sciences meeting, were accepted as presented.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer Chris Carlson presented the account transactions since the last
meeting.  A total of $22 was withdrawn during this time period. 

Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Award

Dr. Jorgensen delivered two packages for the two nominees for the 1996 AIAA
ADS Award.  These packages included a description and procedure for AIAA
ADS TC members to follow while voting.  Ballots were handed out and votes
by mail are due to Dr. Jorgensen by May 31st 1996.

"Old" Business

Members of the ADS TC were asked by the chairman to note the ongoing sale
of T-shirts ($9) and golf shirts ($22) with ADS logo.

The Ram-Air Design Guide concluded their business last TC meeting but noted
that one sale of Dr. Lingard's seminar notes had been made via the WWW
homepage publication page.

The P.E. Exam Problem was discussed by the TC.  Vance Behr agreed to
investigate a method of supplying a P.E. Exam Problem.  He will report back
to the group at the next TC meeting.

AIAA has completed its move to Reston, Virginia.  Dean Jorgensen reviewed
the economic reasons for the move and reported AIAA's projected savings in
overhead.

TEAM REPORTS

Heinrich Short Course

Bill Garrard agreed to write up a short description on the history of the
course which he summarized for the group.  He had once tried to get the
course sponsored by AIAA but was not satisfied with the response.  Another
attempt may be made due to the changes in AIAA over the years.  The group
expressed concern that the course was getting repetitious and that it may
"need a fresh approach".  All agreed that the course had served a "real
need" and that market research was needed.  An open discussion of the
course followed and comments/questions/concerns are listed below:
What parts were perceived as best parts in the past?
Now we have a more computer literate audience!
Problem, codes presented in the past were not always made available.
Don't tailor to lower than a B.S. degree.  However should offer parts that
they will benefit from.
Having students use computers during the course took a long time.
Need market survey and the group to look at content based on feedback.
Need to relate transition from academia to manufacturing, crossover
interest exists.
May want to include packing issues with hardware, antennas, etc.  The
interface from theoretical to practical is still missing.
Design through packing/installation into vehicle.  Note, hard to teach
experience but should have hardware present.
Maybe more of a systems engineering approach from requirements to modeling
to design to integration.  A complete look from a systems standpoint to
design standpoint.
Maybe less cases, do one case in more detail with hardware.
Need a summary of interests, need to be appraised of people and
expectations (hopefully focused).

Next: How do we do the Market Survey?  Comments from the group follow.
Team could lay out a strawman course for the survey and build survey from
this.
Survey should include what do you want, where would you travel, what do you
expect, etc.
Should prepare a historical white paper and survey to AIAA for heads up and
to get feedback.
Need to determine up front what the purpose of the course is?  Do we want
to modify the old, i.e. teach old dogs new tricks?
Note, course has been used as a refresher.
What will be the relationship to the seminar?
We should keep the survey separate but include questions and possibly
include with the conference?
Team should try to prepare a draft survey for next TC meeting.
Should survey/course be combined with European societies?
Should we have a beginner and advanced course?
What if market results are not attainable?  What is expected product?  What
software tools should TC make available?

Drawing/Specifications/Standards Discussion

A group discussion began. Comments are listed below:
AIAA has a standards council.  AIAA appears to be interested in taking over
responsibility and "doing standards".
Don Waye presented a two page (very preliminary) mil spec list of cloths,
webbings, etc.
Dean urged the group to help Don Waye "complete" cataloging and determine
as a community what we do and what we don't use.  Also, lets reach out and
develop a formal alliance with PIA and AIAA (Jim French and staff).
PIA is also tackling this issue through its "Government Systems Committee".
Note: International community uses mil specs.
Mr. Gionfriddo believes that ANSI approval is critical.  He pointed out
that ANSI certification is a long process that can take 1+ years to get
accreditation.  Also, AIAA does have ANSI accreditation.
DoD initiative seems to be geared to the electronics industry!
Liabilities is a big issue/concern.
Dean: Necessary action is two fold:  1.) Develop list of which we are going
to keep.  2.) Develop a process with Jim French so that AIAA ADS TC and PIA
can follow to maintain these.  Also, we are not interested in taking over
anything that the PIA has started.  PIA has more of a real need.  Let's
offer the PIA our (AIAA ADS TC) and AIAA headquarters assistance in this
effort.
Concerns were raised that we don't want AIAA headquarters to slow the
process for the PIA.  Contribution from AIAA headquarters needs to be
determined.
PIA members reiterated that the PIA wants input from all and would like to
include the AIAA ADS TC and others for help.
Members present agreed that one integrated team consisting of the PIA, AIAA
ADS TC, and Jim French etc. would be the best approach to pursue.

During the Break

Darby Cooper and John Bendle from Iowa State University discussed the High
Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology (HABET) Program, an activity of
the Iowa State Grant Consortium: Handouts were provided to the group. 
For more information Contact: 

Darby G. Cooper, Asst. Director
407 Town Engineering
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-3231
(515)-294-8487

 CHECK OUT THE HOMEPAGE

ADS Database

Mo Gionfriddo talked with AIAA Aerospace database office (Christine).  She
told Mo that they "will store all reports for us" with a few conditions: 
1.) The material must be printed data and must be organized and cataloged
with title, Authors, Keywords etc.  2.) Scanning is not available.  If they
are cataloged, AIAA told Mo that they will archive.  Catalogers can cost
from 20 to 100 dollars per hour.  However, a variety of schools (Kansas
University was identified) that give degrees in library science may be
willing to assist in cataloging this type of material. The group was very
enthusiastic about this approach.  Dean reminded the group of our
motivations here 1.) Not to loose the material, and 2.) To make the
material available.  There was some concern over what was worth keeping,
how long the service at AIAA would last, and the safety of the location the
material would be stored at.  The team agreed to get more information on
the process including how material would be stored, how it would be
cataloged, and a better understanding of the AIAA process of storage and
retrieval.

Home Page Report

The following text was handed out to the group by the homepage team:
Current homepage overview
Prof. Higuchi "Cover" page
Link to either NPTC or AIAA ADS TC
AIAA ADS TC
Scope
Chair and Email "link" to Chairman
How we are organized (JPEG Chart)
Listing of TC Members and Member Biographies (links to TC member Bio's). 
Status of Bio pages is presented below.
Recent conferences hosted: (Includes 13th, 12th, 11th, & 10th)
Links to Table of Contents with paper #, Paper Title, & Authors for 13th,
12th, & 11th
Information on the next ADS meeting (Links to meeting announcement page)
Recent ADS Meeting Minutes: (Lists last three meetings with links to
meeting minute pages)
Year in Review Article (Links to "text" only year in review from Dec. 95
issue)
ADS Shirts for Sale (Links to page with shirt descriptions and E-mail link
for ordering)
Publication page (Links to Dr. Lingard's "Ram-Air Parachute Design" and
"AIAA Standard for
Aerodynamic Decelerator and Parachute Drawings")
AIAA ADS Award Recipients with citations (Links to award recipients page
with citations)
NEAT LINKS: NPTC, PIA, AIAA National Homepage, Syracuse Univ. Virtual
Aerospace Visualization Laboratory, Skydiving Homepage, Mars Pathfinder,
Atlantic Flyer Aviation News.

Current Status of Bio Pages:
The current status of TC member Bio pages is summarized below:
Photo  (18 out of 30 are still missing)
FAX Number (2 out of 30 are still missing)
E-mail (10 out of 30 are still missing)
AIAA membership grade (17 out of 30 are still missing)
Qualifications (18 out of 30 are still missing)
Professional Activities (18 out of 30 are still missing)

Potential Additions/Expansions to Homepage:
"Back Buttons" To be added
Nomination Forms for TC membership and for Annual Awards (with permission
from Syracuse University)
E-Mail Distribution List/ ftp data exchange site
Complete listing of past conference table of contents

Needed from TC Members:
Completed Bio Information for Bio pages (Completed includes the following
sections: Address, Photo, Phone, Fax, Email, AIAA Grade, Qualifications,
Professional Activities)
Newsletter(s)
Call for papers and upcoming conference page
Short Course Info: (Could have a survey form? Need to get out www address
for this)
Up to Date Calendar Info: Next TC meetings, next conference & short course
Photos/Videos Section 
More neat links
A format for the page!! Currently a mix of formats (not professional!)

Team Capabilities Available:
Scanning
Text Conversion
Frame Grabbing
Video to JPEG

In general the group likes and uses the homepage.  A variety of additions
and modifications were discussed to include a full listing of all past
Conference table of contents and a more consistent appealing overall "view"
of the page.

ADS TC Newsletter

Ed Fallon discussed the progress that Dr. David Hailey (Utah State
University) and his students have made on the first issue of the
newsletter.  Ed stressed that the team needs more input from the TC
including articles, photos, etc.  He stressed that the goal is to reach the
managers and decision makers.  The group agreed to pursue a frequency of
two issues per year.  Ed will report back on costs and our long term
obligations to Dr. Hailey for these efforts.  Dean and the group agreed
that advertising in the newsletter was not desired.  The goal is to have
the first issue out shortly and between 4 to 8 pages in length.

14th ADS Conference and Seminar

The 14th AIAA ADS Conference and Seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn on
Union  Square, San Francisco between June 2-5, 1997.  The conference will
be collocated with the Lighter Than Air and Balloon Systems Conferences. 
Karl Doherr did a good job in getting the call for papers to AIAA
headquarters by the end of March but we were somewhat delayed by the AIAA
relocation and therefore the call will not be published until June.

Schedule

The schedule agreed with the AIAA is as follows:
Call for papers June edition of Aerospace America
Abstract deadline                                  September 13, 1996
Planning sheets submitted to AIAA                  November 15, 1996
Formal notification of acceptance to authors       November 29, 1996
Conference program to Bulletin editor              December 13, 1996
Author form corrections to Bulletin editor         January 17, 1997
Submission of papers                               April 1, 1997
All correction to conference program to AIAA       April 11, 1997

Conference Publicity

A flyer has been prepared by Jean Potvin which will be distributed this
month by Jean and Ed Fallon (North America) and Dani Levin (international
mailing).  The AIAA have also offered a general mailing to past attendees
of the call for all three conferences.

Seminar

The underlying theme of the one-day seminar for June 2, 1997 is Parachute
Flight Dynamics and Trajectory Modeling.  The seminar will be divided into
two sessions, the first will be presented by Karl Doherr and will provide
an Introduction to Parachute Flight Dynamics, Trajectory Modeling and
Simulation.  A diskette with software enabling simulation for up to 6
degrees of freedom on a PC will be distributed with the lecture notes.  The
second session will be devoted to demanding case studies covering the
simulation of ballistic and gliding parachute-payload systems and
addressing the use of modern object-oriented simulation tools.  As at the
last seminar it is planned to have a panel of experts to answer
participants' questions at the end of the sessions.  Unfortunately, due to
pressure of work George Barnard has not been able to make any progress with
speakers for the afternoon sessions. Steve Lingard will try to move this
aspect ahead for a couple of months and then hand the reins back to George.
Suggestions for lecturers for the afternoon session would be welcome.

Administrative and Social

The program will be as follows:

Monday, June 2, 1997
am      Seminar - session 1  (ADS)
pm      Seminar - session 2  (ADS)
evening Industry Reception  (ADS / LTA / Balloons)

Tuesday, June 3, 1997
am      Plenary session  (ADS)
pm      Parallel sessions  (ADS)
evening free

Wednesday, June 4, 1997
am      Parallel sessions  (ADS)
pm      Parallel sessions  (ADS)
evening Awards Banquet  (ADS / LTA / Balloons)

Thursday, June 5, 1997
am      Parallel sessions  (ADS)
pm      Parallel sessions  (ADS)
evening free

Friday, June 6, 1997
Post Conference Tours
ADS - Napa Valley Wineries
LTA - Hangar 1 Moffett Field
Balloons - TBD

Chris Carlson will welcome any ideas on the Industry Reception and Awards
Banquet.  Steve would like to see as much sponsorship as possible for the
Industry Reception. At the London Conference the reception was entirely
funded by donations - how about it US Industry!  Also during discussion at
the meeting, members discussed many options for speakers.  The most favored
by the group was to look into the Monterey Aquarium for a speaker.  The
team agreed to pursue this option and possibly attempt to reserve a back
up.

Outreach

NPTC

The NPTC was well represented at the AIAA ADS TC and extended an invitation
to all who were present.  The AIAA ADS TC and NPTC members agreed that the
two groups are distinct and complimentary.

PIA

PIA members present discussed the recently formed Government Systems
Committee and announced the February 1997 Biannual Symposium in Houston
(See the PIA Homepage for more information).  Also announced was the next
PIA meeting scheduled for September 13th-15th 1996.  A discussion of the
history of the PIA was presented along with the various interactions that
the PIA has had with the AIAA ADS TC over the years (some positive, some
not so positive).  The TC agreed that relationships between the groups
should be strengthened.  The possibility of adding additional sessions at
the 14th AIAA ADS Conference in hardware/ manufacturing or other areas that
may be of a higher interest to PIA members was received with positive
enthusiasm by the all members present.  TC members also recommended
supplying more information on the PIA within the AIAA ADS TC homepage. 
Bill Gerrow agreed to supply the 14th ADS Conference and Seminar call for
papers in the PIA newsletter and discussed an investigation of aging issues
being conducted by the PIA.  All in attendance agreed that we should try to
foster our relationship with the PIA through the common members of our
organizations.

NEW BUSINESS

ADS Awards Packages were discussed in detail (mentioned above).

Nominations for the 1997 ADS Award will be accepted.  Nominee packages are
needed by December 31st 1996.

The attempts being made to submit Theo Knacke for the Reed Award were
discussed.  Carl Peterson expressed a need for "high level" POCs (i.e.
CEOs, etc.) to give the package a fighting chance for this highly
competitive award.

Dean will supply more information regarding the AIAA awards available at
the next TC meeting.

Dean asked the Chairman Elect (Vance Behr) to think about and write a
"white paper" discussing 1.) Where have we been?, and 2.) Where are we
going?.  He asked Vance to also focus on the issue of "software" and
expressed his believe that software will be the next "big" issue for the
TC.

A discussion in regards to holding the 15th AIAA ADS Conference and Seminar
in France (1999) was discussed.  Jean-Francois Vergnolle provided a video
of a new conference center under construction in Toulouse which has a wide
range of Aerospace Industry.  The group was ready and willing to travel
immediately!!

The TC departed after the meeting for a tour of the Army High Performance
Computing Center (AHPCRC).  Dr. Tayfun Tezduyar (Director, AHPCRC) briefed
the TC on the missions and capabilities of the center with particular focus
given to ongoing collaborative parachute modeling research being conducted
with the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center in
Natick MA.

APPENDIX A

List of Attendees

Rakan Alamat
Vance Behr
John Bendle
Richard Benney
Chris Carlson
Darby Cooper
Phil Delurgio
Edward Fallon
Werner Gabriel
William Garrard
William Gerrow
Maurice Gionfriddo
Dean Jorgensen
Tony Kasher
Daniel Levin
Stephen Lingard
Greg Moore
Carl Peterson
Jean Potvin
Jean-Francois Vergnolle
Donald Waye