Surface-Borne Time-of-Reception Measurements (STORM)

Invocon proposes the Surface-borne Time-Of-Reception Measurements (STORM) system as a method to locate the position of lightning strikes on aerospace vehicles. Initially developed as a hypervelocity impact location system, the baseline technology lends itself to simple adaptation for lightning location. It uses Time-Of-Arrival (TOA) measurements of the charge wave front imparted on a structure to triangulate the location of lightning attachment. Additional capability can be added to the triggering circuitry that will characterize the lightning strike in order to increase situational awareness for flight crews and provide maintenance crews with information vital to determine the health of an aircraft. This is particularly important for new airframes manufactured from composite materials that have not be fully characterized over the full lifetime of the aircraft.

Many potential Commercial applications of the STORM system exist, particularly in the aerospace industry. As major airframe manufacturers begin to produce composite airframes, it is becoming more critical for them to fully understand lightning strikes on these new designs. The STORM system will benefit them in their internal test programs. Additionally, the STORM system will provide additional benefit as standard equipment on these aircraft due to the increased real-time situational awareness it can provide flight crews and the added information it can provide maintenance crews. In addition to aerospace applications, the petrochemical industry can use this technology to monitor storage tanks for lightning strikes that can potentially compromise the integrity of the tanks.

The primary NASA applications for the STROM system include monitoring aircraft and spacecraft for lightning strikes. Specifically, the Ares I and V launch vehicles can benefit from lightning detection and location in order to quickly assess potential damage prior to and during launch. Additional applications include test instrumentation for studying lightning strikes on aircraft. One of NASA's prime contractors, ATK, has expressed interest in Invocon's STORM system for monitoring its composite encapsulated rocket motors.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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