Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Advanced Technologies for Coordinated In-Situ Atmospheric Sensing
Project Description
There is a great need for better understanding of the continuity of atmospheric processes on multiple scales ranging from several kilometers to the order of a meter. Although the general features of this process are well-established, they are poorly quantified. This lack of understanding leads to significant uncertainties in the parameterizations used in numerical models of weather prediction, pollution transport and diffusion, etc. Improvement of the models is heavily dependent upon available data, increasing the need for improved remote satellite and terrestrial based measurements as well as affordable, capable, and easily operated in situ measurement systems. The complementary nature of these two measurement techniques ensure that recent work toward the revolutionary use of unmanned aircraft systems for in situ measurements has the potential to greatly enhance data gathered through remote sensing and significantly affect the study of the atmospheric boundary layer. Black Swift Technologies proposes the creation, testing, and validation of a new in situ atmospheric sensing instrument, the Coordinated Atmospheric Profiling System (CAPS). This will be realized as a coordinated multi-aircraft system with each unmanned aircraft consisting of tightly integrated airframe, avionics and sensors specifically designed to measure atmospheric parameters (i.e., temperature, pressure, humidity, and 3D winds). Each aircraft will be cost-effective, simple, rugged, and easy to operate while performing atmospheric experiments with the required level of accuracy for scientific missions. Furthermore, the system will be designed with the intention of extending multi-aircraft functionality to other Earth observing missions through the use of a removable nose cone with well documented power and data interfaces. This further enables simple connection to the autopilot and on-board computer to enable intelligently optimized data gathering and coordination.
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Anticipated Benefits
CAPS will enhance the performance and utility of NASA's Airborne Science fleet with its unique design and capabilities, and is specifically designed for missions in two focus areas of NASA's Earth Observing Directorate; (1) Weather and (2) Atmospheric Composition. CAPS can provide data to augment satellite based measurement through validation and increasing measurement resolution in areas of high variance. It is also capable of providing targeted, in situ measurements to complement ground based remote sensing. The proposed payload will be immediately applicable for use in the proposed 3D-Winds mission as articulated by National Research Council in the most recent NASA Earth Science Decadal Survey, and can be used to complement the Goddard Lidar Observatory for Wind and TWiLiTE. Support of additional programs is expected through the use of the CAPS modular payload system, which allows for simple transition to other sensor suites. An intended future sensor suite would enable measuring atmospheric composition, specifically airborne particulates and trace gases which could augment MPLNET and AERONET as well as provide local CO2 measurements to be merged with global measurements from OCO-2&3.
The CAPS system is immediately useful for many aspects of meteorology from Climatology studies, to numerical weather prediction, to atmospheric chemistry and plume detection, to fire weather monitoring and even replacing the non-reusable balloon soundings that are launched across the nation daily. Many groups work in this arena including universities, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the US armed services. Furthermore, the modular payload and open interface for creation of cooperative algorithms extends the use of the system to any application that would benefit from simultaneous observation by multiple aircraft. This includes but is not limited to mapping, radio-frequency emission localization and mapping, glacial ice surveys, and persistent surveillance. More »
The CAPS system is immediately useful for many aspects of meteorology from Climatology studies, to numerical weather prediction, to atmospheric chemistry and plume detection, to fire weather monitoring and even replacing the non-reusable balloon soundings that are launched across the nation daily. Many groups work in this arena including universities, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the US armed services. Furthermore, the modular payload and open interface for creation of cooperative algorithms extends the use of the system to any application that would benefit from simultaneous observation by multiple aircraft. This includes but is not limited to mapping, radio-frequency emission localization and mapping, glacial ice surveys, and persistent surveillance. More »
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Swift Technologies, LLC | Lead Organization | Industry | Boulder, Colorado |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) | Supporting Organization | FFRDC/UARC | Pasadena, California |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
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California
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Colorado
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