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Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)
We envision persistent exploration of the gas giants with robots powered by locally harvested energy, performing in-situ observational atmospheric science. Riding strong, turbulent windstorms of the troposphere, WindBots (WBs) tumble and are bumped around. Real-time control is used to adjust body shape/surface asymmetries for controlled aerodynamic forces, changing direction or lift. Autorotation and mechanisms similar to those used in kinetic/automatic watches are used to harvest wind energy. They obtain electric power via electromagnetic generators. They can also deploy retractable electrodynamic tethers to harvest the planetary magnetic field.
Cross-pollination: The concepts of energy harvesting studies in this proposal have similarities with efforts of harvesting wind and ocean energies on Earth, and will seek to engage and cross-pollinate with such efforts. Inspire: WB stimulates the thought of robotics researchers and student enthusiasts towards more harvesting of the wind, especially with the surge in new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Outreach: The NIAC presentations and final report will be made public and its summary published as NASA Technical Brief. We will disseminate the concept broadly, through a dedicated website and conference publications. A number of intern students will be engaged in this project. Atmospheric Research: WBs would be an excellent platform for the study of terrestrial hurricanes, to compensate the limitations of alternative solutions: planes can't fly below 3,000 feet because of extreme turbulence; dropsondes only provide a few minutes of data, and conventional UAVs, fragile designs, with little on-board power cannot survive long enough. In Sept 2014, NOAA has flown four Coyote UAVs into Hurricane Edouard, the first UAVs deployed inside a hurricane [NOA2014]; data was received, however the Coyotes were not recovered.
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