ULTRASENSITIVE ATMOSPHERIC ANALYZER FOR MINIATURE UAVS IN THIS SBIR PHASE I EFFORT, LOS GATOS RESEARCH (LGR…

Public award description

ULTRASENSITIVE ATMOSPHERIC ANALYZER FOR MINIATURE UAVS IN THIS SBIR PHASE I EFFORT, LOS GATOS RESEARCH (LGR) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A HIGHLY-ACCURATE, LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW-POWER GAS ANALYZER FOR QUANTIFICATION OF WATER VAPOR (H2O), CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2), AND METHANE (CH4) ABOARD MINIATURE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (MINI-UAVS). THIS ANALYZER, WHICH WILL EXPLOIT LGR'S PATENTED OFF-AXIS ICOS TECHNOLOGY, WILL BE THE FIRST SENSOR CAPABLE OF MEETING THE STRINGENT WEIGHT, POWER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIATURE UAV DEPLOYMENTS. SUCH DEPLOYMENTS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO NASA'S EARTH SCIENCE DIVISION, BECAUSE THEY ENABLE MORE EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE EARTH OBSERVATION MEASUREMENTS. THESE MEASUREMENTS COMPLEMENT CURRENT SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS BY PROVIDING HIGHER HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION AND VERTICAL PROFILING, ENABLING BETTER QUANTIFICATION OF CARBON SOURCES AND SINKS.