Origin and Significance of Electrical Stratospheric Phenomena The Aerospace Engineering Group of IDEA, LLC Ellicott City, MD

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Origin and Significance of Electrical
Stratospheric PhenomenaThe Aerospace Engineering
Group of IDEA, LLCEllicott City, MD
Small Business Innovation Research
INNOVATION Demonstrated that an Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) can be used as a flight platform
for a suite of scientific instruments.

• ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• 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.

UAV Flight Payload Data System and Sensors

• GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
• Will provide payload changes and support as part
  of NASA's UAV-based science demonstration program
  that will gather data during thunderstorms in
  Florida. The mission is scheduled for the summer
  of 2002 to better understand the relationship
  between storms and lightning.
• Possible opportunity to fly as part of payload on
  test flights of the new NASA ERAST Predator B
  UAV.
• COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
• 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.

Points of Contact - NASA - Richard Goldberg
301.286.8603 - AEG IDEA - Harvey Rice
410.418.9799
Goddard Space Flight Center
1996 Phase II, SS5-056, 5/29/01