IDENTIFICATION/FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF A NEW SYSTEM FOR SENSING AND CONTROLLING STATIC ELECTRICITY ACCUMULATIONS ON HOVERING HELICOPTERS

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO IDENTIFY AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM TO SENSE AND CONTROL THE ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE BUILDUP ON HOVERING HELICOPTERS AND PERFORM A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF THE SELECTED SYSTEM. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL PHENOMENA WHICH CONTROL AND AFFECT THE PROBLEM AND OF THE PAST AND CURRENT EFFORTS TO SOLVE IT, INCLUDING A RECENTLY PROPOSED INNOVATIVE SENSING AND ACTIVE DISCHARGER SYSTEM. A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE VARIOUS SENSING AND DISCHARGING SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN PROPOSED OR ARE AVAILABLE WILL THEN BE PERFORMED. THESE SYSTEMS WILL BE TECHNICALLY EVALUATED AND CLASSIFIED IN ORDER TO SELECT THE MOST EFFECTIVE OVERALL SOLUTION. THE SELECTED SYSTEM WILL BE ANALYZED FOR TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS, AND A DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING PROGRAM WILL BE PROPOSED FOR PHASE II.