Stratospheric Persistent Real-time C4ISR for Arctic Domain Awareness

Urban Sky is proposing a new high-altitude microballoon system for air domain awareness (ADA) in the Arctic. This system combines Urban Sky's existing tactically deployable, low-cost, persistent, long-duration, stratospheric microballoons with an advanced, real-time thermal imaging payload and innovative fleet coordination technologies, offering unparalleled surveillance over the vast and challenging Arctic. The effectiveness of stratospheric balloons in the Arctic is enhanced by the region's mild diurnal cycle. The project will unfold in two main phases: an initial mathematical feasibility study followed by the development and design of the hardware prototype. The first part of the project will expand Urban Sky's existing software tools to enable simulations of microballoon operations over the entire Arctic region, significantly surpassing the company's current simulation capabilities, which areĀlimited to targeting a 25km station-keeping radius. This enhancement will incorporate global historical weather data, physics models, and known balloon behavior profiles to predict coverage from a network of balloons. The core of the simulation utilizes a tree search method to model potential balloon trajectories by manipulating altitudes to access varying wind layers. A revised scoring function will optimize for maximum coverage while minimizing redundancy, marking a strategic shift from station-keeping to broad area surveillance. For hardware development, the first part of the project will evaluate the feasibility of adapting existing stratospheric thermal infrared hot-spot detection systems for Arctic conditions. This includes thermal studies to ensure system survival in extreme cold, power analysis for continuous operation during variable daylight conditions, and the identification of key components like special batteries and lightweight solar panels. CAD designs for an updated payload system incorporating these elements will be produced, laying the groundwork for prototype development. The successful development of this microballoon system promises to revolutionize Arctic monitoring, providing a cost-effective, scalable solution for ADA in one of the Earth's most remote and environmentally challenging regions. This project not only aims to enhance national security and environmental monitoring capabilities but also sets the stage for significant advancements in high-altitude surveillance technology.