Recipient Organization
ELECTRA.AERO INC.
10520 WAKEMAN DR
MANASSAS,VA 20110
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The purpose of the proposed work is to develop a capability for a persistent, high spatial and temporal resolution L-band radar platform for wildfire and agricultural applications. This capability will be provided by the union of cutting-edge developments in high altitude, long endurance (HALE) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) combined with the development of L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that are optimized for airborne applications. This union supports the collection of sustained imagery capable of resolving spatial structures on the scale of 5 m. Such high resolution is not obtainable from the current state-of-the-art solution for repetitive imagery, geostationary imagers. This proposal directly addresses the need for improved spatial resolution of fuel moisture content and soil moisture to help predict forest fire danger ratings as well as potential rates and patterns of fire spread (Topic Area 8.1, Research Priority F). The HALE aircraft platform can provide persistent, high spatial resolution, low latency information, regarding fuel moisture content (FMC) from volumetric SAR backscatter in order to support fire risk forecasting and propagation modeling, as well as assisting in efficient fuel reduction efforts. These same high resolution measurements can also be used to understand how forests and grasslands are changing as a result of climate change (Topic Area 8.1, Research Priority E).
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
Solar HALE aircraft have the potential to revolutionize how forest fires are detected and managed. Electra through its private funding has developed and reduced the risk of the aircraft design, however there are open research gaps around the firefighting missions which need to be addressed.This project proposes to investigate the following:Objective 1: In exchange for the extreme persistence, solar HALE aircraft missions require particular consideration be given to the environmental conditions where the aircraft operates (winds, turbulence, day/night length, sun angle, mission trajectory, altitude, etc.). This is a new field which needs research to define "where, how, and with what sensor" the airplane should be operated for maximum effect.Objective 2: Solar HALE aircraft operate in difficult environments (low temperatures with large thermal cycles, low pressure, and long continuous operation with few opportunities for maintenance) and strongly favor low weight and low power consumption. However, the exact requirements, the suitable sensors, and the best approaches to integrate those sensors into the aircraft have not been robustly studied. This project seeks to define the aircraft and sensor requirements in detail, identify specific candidate sensors/sensor packages, evaluate the sensor suitability with a scientific basis, and evaluate integration concepts to merge the aircraft and sensors.Objective 3: Conventional airborne science platforms have a standard "Experiment Interface Panel" (EIP) which allows for interoperability between various instruments and aircraft platforms. However, the EIP was not optimized for weight and remote operation (such as would be required for an unmanned aircraft). This project will study the overlap in different instrument and mission needs to define a universal HALE and UAS targeted experiment interface panel.Objective 4: As a result of the high spatial and temporal resolution possible on solar HALE aircraft, there are typically very large datasets developed during missions. There is mission effectiveness, aircraft performance, and cost trade between what the appropriate balance is between down-linked data (type/quality/frequency) and stored or analyzed on-board. This project aims to study the trade space to propose an adaptable methodology for deciding how to balance these factors in the particular context of forest fire fighting and put particular emphasis on the opportunity to use new technologies and AI/ML to shift more processing on-board the aircraft.
Project Methods
The work plan has been designed to address each of the technical objectives described above through the following tasks:Task 1: Mission AnalysisElectra will conduct interviews with USDA and other stakeholders to define the mission concept of operation (CONOPS) including mission location, altitude. time of year, type (i.e. search/loiter), etc. and define key performance parameters.Electra will additionally investigate special considerations for operations near fires (i.e. turbulence/gusts and smoke).Electra will update its' aircraft models to evaluate the capabilities and performance in this CONOPS to determine the best trajectory for this mission.Electra will prepare an analysis of these results to determine future candidate missions which are most valuable to the USDA.Methodology: This work will build upon trajectory optimization and aircraft design tools which Electra has developed. Specific research (including virtual interviews with specialists in wildfire detection and management) will be conducted and documented to evaluate the special considerations for operating near fires. Additional research will be done to determine the intensity of gusts and turbulence in the upper atmosphere over the fire. The rising column of air over a fire may also result in additional opportunities. Electra has developed a suite of tools using the Multi-attribute Tradespace Exploration (MATE) methodology pioneered by the US Department of Defense for an evaluation of the mission suitability which will be applied to this use case.Task 2: Sensor/Instrument Evaluation & IntegrationHarvard and Electra will work to study and define the sensor integration requirements (i.e. size, weight, power, vibration, pressure, thermal, location/orientation, control, data logging, etc.) that best match the mission.Harvard will search for sensors (or sensor packages) which support the CONOPS defined in Task 1 and the requirements in this task. Harvard and Electra will evaluate the capabilities of these sensors and their suitability to the solar HALE aircraft and the firefighting mission.Electra and Harvard will research the best sensor-aircraft integration approach to meet these requirements and design that interface. This will include FEA, CFD, thermal design, etc. as needed to show the feasibility and impacts of the integration on the aircraft system.Methodology: Electra has developed a suite of capabilities on its' short takeoff and landing aircraft programs which support complex integrations of systems and sensors into aircraft. Harvard brings decades of instrument design experience (with special experience on aircraft specific sensors) to guide the requirements development.Task 3: Light-weight Experiment Interface Panel Development & TestElectra with input from Harvard will evaluate the needs of various missions and sensors to define the requirements for a universal experiment interface panel which is specifically designed for light-weight unmanned aircraft.Electra will design and build a prototype of this universal data and power interface.Electra will test and demonstrate this prototype experiment interface panel.Methodology: Electra has support from a NASA Phase 1 SBIR to evaluate various missions. This task would expand on that to identify overlap in those missions. Electra also has experience with light-weight composite interfaces and electronics developed on its' eSTOL aircraft.Task 4: Data ManagementHarvard will evaluate the data (volume and types) generated by the sensors defined in Task 2 when operating on the CONOPS defined in Task 1.Electra and Harvard will evaluate options for down-link, on-board processing, and on-board storage.Electra will work with the mission stakeholders to evaluate the tradeoffs between these factors against overall mission effectiveness.Methodology: Building on the previous tasks and Electra and Harvard's previous experience, this task will proposal several options for data management and an analysis of stakeholder feedback to determine the tradeoffs. Electra will use its' aircraft performance tool to evaluate the tradeoff between weight and improved data management capability.Task 5: Demonstration PlanElectra will integrate the results of Tasks 1-4 to define a recommended mission and program next-steps to demonstrate the utility and effectiveness.Methodology: The Electra team has deep experience with flight operations. This task will propose a demonstration plan for the next phase. Electra is also searching for other private funding to supplement the USDA funding.