A Miniature Powerplant for Very Small, Very Long-Range Autonomous Aircraft

40831 November 13, 1996 The Insitu Group Miniature autonomous aircraft have the potential to perform routine atmospheric sampling with unprecedented range and economy. To fulfill that potential, this project will develop a new super-charged powerplant for miniature autonomous aircraft which perform routine atmospheric sampling, enabling substantial improvements in both reliability and efficiency. Substantial improvements will be realized in both reliability and efficiency, sufficient to achieve about 7000 km range and 4 days endurance. Service ceiling will be raised to about 16 km. Phase I is a thorough design effort, leading to firm performance estimates and drawings. Phase II will involve hardware development, flight testing, and service trials. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program is likely to benefit very significantly from this effort. Small aircraft capable of both long range and high ceiling would be practically unique in their ability to provide economical wide-scale monitoring over Cloud and Radiation Testbed sites. These same capabilities also have applicability to meteorological reconnaissance over oceanic and remote areas. The market in these and similar applications may exceed 1000 aircraft per year.