Origin and Significance of Electrical Stratospheric Phenomena

The Aerospace Engineering Group of IDEA, LLC

Ellicott City, MD

Demonstrated that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can be used as a flight platform for a suite of scientific instruments.

• Designed, integrated and flight tested a UAV Flight Payload Data System and Ground System that supported a suite of scientific sensors developed by Penn State University, GSFC, and MSFC. The sensors provided detection of the parameters associated with thunderstorm and lightning phenomena.
• Established a turnkey operation that readily responds to customer requirements for scientific measurements.
• Demonstrated a Fast Track approach to the integration, testing, and installation of a payload into a UAV Platform.
• Selection of VXIbus system provided required capabilities and flexibility to support various scientific payloads.
• Received additional funding from DFRC for flight test. Integrated system and successfully performed flight operations aboard Altus UAV. Utilized shielding and grounding techniques to minimize noise problems associated with UAVs.
• Utilization of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) hardware contributed to lower development costs.

• Commercial applications include the UAV Payload Data System, appropriate sensors, and Ground System  that could be used to observe and study crops and forests for diseases.  Also, with the appropriate IR sensors and video cameras, the UAV could provide a tool to fight forest fires.

• In the year 2002 our payload supported the NASA Marshall and GSFC ACES program, that used a UAV to gather data during thunderstorms in southern Florida.
  • The payload was updated with additional sensors and improved software.
  • Integration and test activities were conducted at El Mirage, California.
  • The subsequent Flight Operations was a six week campaign based in Key West, FL at the US Naval airbase.
  • The payload performed as designed.

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings 

Instrumentation, Electronic Circuits, Sensors 

Curator: SBIR Support              04/20/07