Three Band Thermal Infrared Detector for CubeSats and UAS

The TBIRD V2E development and stratospheric balloon flight demonstration is designed to utilize the existing commercial service capability of (15-20 km) stratospheric balloons for maturing a payload that can obtain repetitive high-resolution wildfire imagery. The TBIRD imagery will be analyzed to determine the likely position and transport of high-altitude wildfire smoke. The forecast of this downwind location allows atmospheric measurements of smoke particles by miniaturized on-board instrumentation. Controlled sampling of the smoke as a function of its age will fill critical knowledge gaps about the potential of wildfire smoke for severe air quality and climate effects. The proposed flights will demonstrate the core functionality of a future multi-platform observing system that would include high-altitude balloons, solar-powered stratospheric uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and satellite instrumentation working together. In the envisioned system, the autonomous detection of fire events by the balloons will cue stratospheric UAVs to make measurements of ventilated smoke and acquire further imagery to forecast wildfire risk and assist in mitigation. The real-time high-bandwidth required for communications between platforms will be demonstrated in the proposed flight with an Iridium Certus satellite datalink, which facilitates communications to the ground for human-in-the-loop validation and control where necessary. The instrumentation includes a high-resolution multi-band infrared imager (the Xiomas TBIRD), which is capable of detecting wildfire initiation and quantifying key parameters such as firepower and rate of spread, together with compact aerosol instruments suitable for measurements on Earth and planetary targets including Saturn, Venus, Mars, and Titan. The two aerosol instruments– an optical particle counter or OPC and a nephelometer– operate with complementary measurement principles to reduce uncertainty and increase scientific understanding.

The infusion potential from this technology demonstration falls into three categories. 1) Infusion into the Earth Venture Suborbital (EVS) program. 2) Furthers the commercial utilization of space by de-risking a Cubesat-compatible multiband imager, the Xiomas TBIRD[13], a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)-funded development. 3) Demonstrate the core functions of a novel observing system that is of general interest for Earth Science.

This innovative concept uses the airship control system to rotate the entire payload gondola (a dedicated rotational stage for just the sensor is also a possibility). This concept results in a circular scan covering a 110 degree steradian with very high temporal resolution (< 5 minutes). We believe this will open significant new world wide commercial markets for the TBIRD.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.