Robotics
← Practice/Kalman / EKF / UKF

System design: tracking an object dropped from a drone under a parachute

hardsubjectivesystem design

Asked in interviews

A delivery drone releases a package that then descends under a parachute. Design a system to estimate and track the falling package's state (e.g. for the drone or ground station to monitor or guide it). What state, motion model, sensors, and estimator would you use, and what are the tricky parts?

drone releases payloadpayloadwind-buffeted descent
A payload is released from a hovering drone and drifts down under a parachute, buffeted by wind — you have to track its position and predict where it lands.

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