Integrated Flight Validation of HALE UAP Avionics & Propulsion Systems for Science Missions

Electra, in conjunction with MIT and Harvard, has over the last two years been developing a stratospheric airborne climate observatory system (SACOS) based on solar-powered HALE UAPs for a variety of stratospheric climate science missions such as in situ measurements of atmospheric chemistry, radar surveys of ice sheets, and storm monitoring. In summer 2022, Electra built and successfully flew a 90-ft wingspan solar-electric HALE UAP tech demonstrator at the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia; going from concept to first flight in less than five months. This tech demo is designed for an ice sheet radar survey science mission supported by Harvard University.The NASA SBIR Phase I effort advanced the conceptual design and avionics and propulsion system concepts; it also provided substantial stakeholder engagement opportunities for such science missions across NASA and other government agencies. This Phase II proposal consists of further avionics and propulsion system maturation followed by flight validation on a surrogate subscale platform. Once this has been done, Electra will integrate the systems onto its full-scale HALE UAP (which achieved first flight last summer, with simpler hobby-grade avionics) to execute flight validation on the large vehicle at low altitudes and eventually to include a stratospheric validation. A future Phase III will then consist of the development and delivery of the full HALE UAP capability objective vehicle to NASA. The Stratospheric Airborne Climate Observing System (SACOS) is a solar powered, high altitude, long endurance (HALE) UAS that will be capable of remaining aloft up to a year at altitudes up to 85,000 feet to host active and passive payloads for climate science. The goal of the vehicle is to be a platform for instruments that have been under development at Harvard University for decades to collect in-situ and remotely sensed data that is crucial to strengthen the critical links between theory and global climate models. These small scale, yet highly sensitive instruments will help further our understanding of the physics that is so critical to ultimately developing science-based national and international economic policies to combat global climate change and address risks. Objective 1 – Objective Aircraft Development. Complete the evaluation of the science sensor payloads and define the mechanical, electrical, and software interface into the SACOS concept to minimize weight (similar to the modular experiment interface panel). Refine the Objective Aircraft sizing point and complete the conceptual design (airframe, avionics, propulsion, etc.) for that vehicle. Present a Concept Design Review (CoDR) on the results.   Objective 2 – Propulsion and Avionics Development. Procure and ground test an integrated battery pack (4 modules) including Avionics-BMS systems and interface to allow for integrated testing on the Dawn One demonstrator aircraft. Test charge/discharge/SOC management across packs in charge/discharge representing diurnal cycles. Procure and test the avionics architecture and integrate onto the copper bird for testing. Build and test objective aircraft HILSIM (including vehicle model) and test interface with copper bird.   Objective 3 – System Integration and Flight Testing. Integrate avionics package into subscale surrogate aircraft to test “up and away” avionics package and reduce test risk on the objective aircraft. Integrate new avionics package and propulsion into Dawn One aircraft and complete ground test. Conduct low-altitude flight test of the new technologies on the aircraft. Document lessons and findings during testing.

Numerous climate science related missions identified by stakeholder engagements with the NASA Airborne Science Program (Matt Fladeland), Cryospheric Science Program (Thorsten Markus), and NASA Goddard (Dave Harding). Science Missions: High Latitude Ice Observations (Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse Forecasting, Greenland Glacier Flow Prediction), Direct Stratospheric Sampling (Sampling of Stratospheric Aerosols, In-situ Measurement of Storm Driven Stratospheric Chemistry), Drought, Wildfire, and Flood Monitoring (Coastal Flood Monitoring, Drought and Wildfire Prediction), Oceanic Surface and Cyclone Monitoring.

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