In June 2019, Drone Rescue Systems GmbH tested the parachute safety solution DRS-M600 on a RPAS test site in Rome, USA, in collaboration with Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR). The DRS-M600 tests were performed according to the specifications of the ASTM F3322-18 standard — which is the first standard for parachute systems designed specifically for small RPASs.

The autonomous parachute safety solution weighs about 430 g. Its deployment does not require pyrotechnics. This allows the system to be reused by simply attaching and detaching it via a bayonet mechanism.

The Austrian company developed the parachute to be integrated in both DJI M600 and DJI M600pro drones. The ASTM standard tests were conducted in collaboration with the company Flytrex specialized in drone deliveries. Compliance with this standard is necessary for the FAA to permit beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights and flights over crowds. The parachute safety solution was to be certified for a project of transportation and delivery of food to households in North Carolina, USA.

“Thanks to the successful certification, the DRS-M600 can also be used in other application areas in addition to parcel delivery. Especially BVLOS flights can now be executed with the parachute safety solution as the FAA now permits this. This can play an important role in surveying operations in particular,” continues Andreas Ploier, CEO of Drone Rescue Systems GmbH.

To meet ASTM standard, the parachute must successfully operate in 45 test flight scenarios. These include combinations of releasing when hovering and in full forward flight, with the minimum and maximum take-off weight, automatic and manual release as well as a shock load test. Here the drone is brought into free fall for 3 seconds and only then is the parachute released.

“Our system for UAVs up to 15.5 kg such as the DJI M600 has been approved. Previous tests were only conducted with UAS up to 4.2 kg”, says Markus Manninger, CTO of Drone Rescue Systems GmbH.