ORIGINAL: edge_pilot
The Naval Academy does this about every year with 3 parachutes. ...
Do you have a link to this? I'm not sure what you mean, do they release plans or kits?
I found this inspiring;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK3vbn85KwA&feature=plcp
But notice how his design is completely flat - so the arched shape of the canopy would come from setting the lines so that it arches, meaning more slack in the fabric of the lower part. I don't think that would help inflation/stability. I think I might do what he did but modify it to be arched. I have some experience making 3D models of parachutes (my first job was making 3D models for this;
http://www.parasim.com/ though that was 15 years ago).
if it doesn't go well I'll probably order a chute from Dave Naylor then.
FYI basically what I'm trying to do is make a scale model of this system;
http://www.atair.com/onyx/ml/