Miniature UAV Wind LIDAR & Flight Extension System

Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation and Texas A&M University propose a Wind Measurement LIDAR System for extending the flight duration or decreasing fuel consumption on UAVs and light aircraft. The system uses a fiber optic based, eye-safe wind LIDAR from another NASA effort, combined with previous software studies on an Army program to yield a system capable of increasing fuel economy by up to 20% by optimally moving control surfaces in response to thermals and wind gusts, seen by the wind LIDAR. The system also plots the optimum course through thermals and wind gust for maximum dwell time or fuel economy. The sensor assembly is composed of a wind LIDAR using fiber optic transceiver operating at eye-safe1550nm. This LIDAR allows air current Doppler detection beyond 3km and fine range resolution by using pulse compression. The LIDAR was sized to detect energy sources, vertical uplifts, wind direction, wind gradients and transient gusts, for energy conservation in UAVs

The wind measurements LIDAR System can be used for optimal flight path for energy conservation, soaring and extended dwell time for UAVs. Itcan be used for measurement systems on a variety of unmanned aircraft. It can be used in programs like 3D-WINDS. The system is small enough so that with radiation hardening, it can be used in various planetary missions

Commercial applications include air turbulence sensing for commercial aircraft. Other applications, studied in past programs, are using the wind LIDAR to determine an optimal path for maximum fuel economy and/or station keeping for UAVs and aircraft.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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