SBIR-STTR Award

An innovative, operational, airborne, air-turbulence, advance warning system was studied. It is a light-weight, low-power, passive, scanning, infrared optical instrument with a state-of-the-art microprocessor. The basic instrument stems from NASA-sponsored, airborne research on clear air turbulence (CAT) and low-level wind shear (LLWS). The goal is to install the first pre-production system in an aircraft for initial in-service testing. Microbursts and gust fronts, the major causes of LLWS, have a distinctive temperature profile. This profile provides a basis for advance detection. Using multiple IR wave bands, temperature close to the aircraft and up to five to seven miles ahead of the aircraft can be ascertained.Phase I explored the feasibility of using remote, passive, IR volumetric measurements to provide advance warning of LLWS. The results obtained from testing of the instrument in a simulated atmosphere (computer simulation with NASA-provided microburst LLWS models) and ground testing of the prototype instrument demonstrated that the use of IR represents a feasible method to provide advance warning of LLWS.Potential Commercial Application:Applications are for commercial and corporate aircraft representing an existing market of more than 20,000 existing domestic units plus foreign aircraft. The technology could also be used to detect other atmospheric conditions, e.g. volcanic ash clouds and the jet stream, as a ground-based sensor either alone or in conjunction with other sensors.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II-

An innovative, operational, airborne, air-turbulence, advance warning system was studied. It is a light-weight,low-power, passive, scanning, infrared optical instrument with a state-of-the-art microprocessor. The basicinstrument stems from NASA-sponsored, airborne research on clear air turbulence (CAT) and low-level windshear (LLWS). The goal is to install the first pre-production system in an aircraft for initial in-service testing.Microbursts and gust fronts, the major causes of LLWS, have a distinctive temperature profile. This profileprovides a basis for advance detection. Using multiple IR wave bands, temperature close to the aircraft and up tofive to seven miles ahead of the aircraft can be ascertained.Phase I explored the feasibility of using remote, passive, IR volumetric measurements to provide advancewarning of LLWS. The results obtained from testing of the instrument in a simulated atmosphere (computersimulation with NASA-provided microburst LLWS models) and ground testing of the prototype instrumentdemonstrated that the use of IR represents a feasible method to provide advance warning of LLWS.Potential Commercial Application:Applications are for commercial and corporate aircraft representing an existing market of more than 20,000existing domestic units plus foreign aircraft. The technology could also be used to detect other atmosphericconditions, e.g. volcanic ash clouds and the jet stream, as a ground-based sensor either alone or in conjunctionwith other sensors.Note: no official Abstract listing exists of selected NASA Phase II SBIR projects for this year. Hence, this abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ.