SBIR-STTR Award

Phase I research will be conducted to prove the feasibility of developing a Micro-sized Air-launched Expendable Meteorological Sonde (MAXMS) for both military and research purposes. The proposed research will investigate unique meteorological measurement requirements and engineering solutions and quantify the accuracy that can be obtained using Micro-sized form factors. The work will include investigation of newly developed miniature GPS technology capable of providing DOD approved Precision Positioning Service (PPS) security. A preliminary design will be developed for an instrument that can be launched from standard aircraft countermeasures dispensers and that can achieve the required measurement accuracy. Optional work will validate conceptual designs to speed development of prototypes during Phase II. By deployments from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and optionally from manned aircraft, using existing Military dispenser technologies, MAXMS will enable four-dimensional (4-D) measurement and mapping of meteorological parameters in the atmosphere. This can be done spatially in three-dimensional (3-D) space through deployment of MAXMS that measure as they descend at different deployment locations and temporally (now 4-D) through deployment of MAXMS at different times. Atmospheric meteorological conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction) affect numerous types of military activities. These include: (1) operations with surface watercraft (near surface weather conditions), (2) low and high altitude fixed and rotary wing aircraft operations (4) aerial and satellite reconnaissance, (5) use of guided weapons and countermeasures systems deployed from high altitudes, (6) use of search and fire control radar by ships and aircraft and (7) precision air drop of personnel, equipment, supplies and unattended ground sensors. There are significant non-military research, scientific, and environmental monitoring applications for an MAXMS. Use of an MAXMS deployed from manned or unmanned aircraft can provide academia and agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an important means of measuring and modeling atmospheric conditions related to movement and dispersion of pollutants. Industry can use MAXMS's to predict dispersal and transport of accidental chemical releases into the atmosphere and aid in determining mitigation methods. These applications indicate a potentially large market for future variants of the MAXMS designed for civilian use . The measurements would also be employed scientifically for collection of research data and predictive model development and validations

Phase I research was conducted to prove the feasibility of developing a Micro-sized Air-launched Expendable Meteorological Sonde (MAXMS) for both military and research purposes. Conceptual designs were developed for an instrument that can be launched from standard aircraft countermeasures dispensers and that can achieve the required measurement accuracy. Two variants of the design, SAASM compatible and Standard C/A GPS, were provided. Using the conceptual designs resulting from Phase I research, NSI proposes to fabricate and test laboratory versions of the MAXMS, a ground test and programming fixture (GTPF) and a Flight Receiver Unit. Field prototypes of MAXMS units packaged in MJU-10 countermeasures form factors will be developed and ground tested. Initial flight testing will be conducted using a 6-round MJU-10 dispenser system installed on an appropriate aircraft along with an onboard dispenser control unit, the FRU and appropriate antennas. Final Verification and Validation (V&V) flight tests will use test aircraft equipped to launch larger commercial meteorological dropsondes such as those launched from the Vaisala AVAPS system. This will provide a standard against which data from the MAXMS units can be compared.

Keywords:
Expendable, Meteorological, Sensors, Air-Launched, Gps, Saasm, Uav