Design of a quick-release mechanism for a C-130 aircraft sensor platform

The development of a standardized sensor pallet system for a C-130 aircraft was conceived by the Center for Industrial Research Applications at West Virginia University to assist in counterdrug reconnaissance activities within the United States. The system has been completed and is now being optimized for various uses in addition to counterdrug reconnaissance. It is sought to have the sensor carriers/housings easily interchangeable so that they may be switched in the field by operators rather than in the hangar by technicians. The design parameters were established by the National Guard mission requirements and by the limitations of the C-130 aircraft. These limitations include using Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) and Government off the Shelf (GOTS) components when developing the system that must be universal on all C-130 aircrafts variants B thru H. The following work describes the design process and engineering analysis of this "quick-release" mechanism design.