AVSS (Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions) has launched the PRS-M3E, a new drone parachute system specifically designed for the widely-used DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal models.
The lightweight and small form factor parachute recovery system uses a simple plug-and-play design that utilizes DJI’s onboard Payload SDK. The initial product launch of the PRS-M3E includes a Parachute Recovery System (PRS), a Flight Termination System (FTS), an Automatic Triggering System (ATS), a Manual Triggering Device (MTD), EASA 2512, ASTM F3322-22 documentation, and compliance with the FAA’s Category 2 and Category 3 requirements.
After launching the PRS-M3E, AVSS will then offer the PRS-M3EX, an EASA MOC 2511-compliant version with segregated FTS. Unlike other EASA MOC 2511-compliant systems on the market, the PRS-M3EX will not require the end user to send the drone away for extensive modification to internal wiring, ESCs or motors, and will not utilize a mechanical flight termination system that physically jams the propellers to stop them from spinning. The PRS-M3EX is a simple FTS slide-in module.
Mariah Murray, Vice President of Operations at AVSS, commented: “2024 has turned out to be a great year for AVSS and the company’s compliant parachute recovery system offerings on the various DJI commercial drones. With recent commercialization and compliance testing completed on a small commercial drone, offering an ASTM F3322-22 compliant solution for the Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal was a natural progression.
“Moreover, over the last three months, we have received numerous requests for us to build the PRS-M3E. At first, our team was hesitant to offer a parachute recovery system for the commercial Mavic 3 product line, as the available payload weight of 130 grams is a difficult target when incorporating a commercially viable, non-invasive flight termination system and an acceptable descent rate for kinetic energy targets below 15 joules (11 ft-lbs).
To commercialize the drone parachute for the PRS-M3E, our engineering team spent considerable time reducing the PRS-M3E product weight to be below the 130 grams of available payload weight. This engineering effort ensured the PRS-M3E baseline model does not exceed the listed Maximum Take Off Weight (MaxTOW) of the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and DJI Mavic 3 Thermal, while meeting kinetic energy and transfer of energy targets set by Civil Aviation Authorities.”
