PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N171-082

Description

This program will develop and demonstrate a secondary payload for meteorological profiling of the marine atmospheric boundary layer from small and medium Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), such as ScanEagle. This new capability will provide increased data for assimilation into Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance sensor performance prediction models, as well as weather forecasting. Our payload concept builds on our experience gathered in developing an airborne laser hygrometer payload for the ScanEagle under a DoE project and features in situ measurement of water vapor using a tunable diode laser-based laser hygrometer that provides the required high measurement speed of water vapor and freedom from extractive sampling issues. High speed, highly compact pressure and temperature sensors are also integrated into the payload. The Phase I base program will focus on downsizing the size weight and power of our previous designs, including estimating size reduction in the system electronics to be had using high density interconnect architecture. The base program will create a CAD mechanical model subjected to thermal, structural, and computation flow dynamics modeling. The Phase I option program will validate the base program CFD modeling via testing the payload and spar in a local wind tunnel facility.