SBIR-STTR Award

Significant improvements in remote sensing technologies for icing weather avoidance is required to increase the level of safety for UAVs flying in the atmospheric icing environment. New developments in Multi Frequency Radar (MFR) and low-frequency Polarimetry show promise to provide onboard icing hazard information, however solutions may be heavy for application to small unmanned aircraft. Recent icing tunnel and flight testing at IDI has demonstrated the capability to obtain important cloud properties information, including icing potential and SLD droplets, using light weight inexpensive optical sensors and laser Range Finder techniques. During the Phase1 program IDI proposes to evaluate a Nephelometric Cloud Assessment System that weighs less than 1 lbs, provides distance to cloud ranging, as well as providing in situ measurement of LWC and SLD droplet sizes. The overall Multi-Phase SBIR goal is the development of a complete Icing Avoidance System architecture for UAV icing avoidance using light weight IR sensors fused with information available from the aircraft flight control system. The probe will be tested in both the icing tunnel environment and on an aircraft flight test bed to determine its sensitivity to new Super-Cooled large Droplet (SLD) icing conditions as defined in FAA Part 25 Appendix C/O.

Benefit:
The proposed light weight Nephelometric Cloud Assessment System will be a low cost probe for widespread application to aircraft that do not currently have certified on-board ice protection equipment, such as police, air ambulance, and search and rescue helicopters. Additionally each day over 300 Radiosondes are launched nationwide. This gives the IDI package a defined and achievable path to market. The proposed icing sensor would have a unique and potentially lucrative market niche because of its affordability.

Keywords:
Infrared, Infrared, Aircraft, UAV, Icing Potential, Avoidance, Sensors, Nephelometer

Significant improvements in remote sensing technologies for icing weather avoidance is required to increase the level of safety for UAVs flying in the atmospheric icing environment. Recent icing tunnel and flight testing at IDI has demonstrated the capability to obtain important cloud properties information, including icing potential and SLD droplets, using light weight inexpensive optical sensors and Laser Range Finder techniques. Advances in hydrophobic coatings and their application to aircraft lifting surfaces have shown promise to enhance the mission capability of aircraft and rotorcraft in known icing conditions. During a Multi-Phase SBIR Program IDI proposes to evaluate an Atmospheric Icing Conditions Measurement System (AIMS) with a low SWAP that provides a distance to cloud ranging LIDAR, as well as providing in situ measurement of LWC and MVD droplet sizes. The proposed design provides early warning of Icing Hazard information that will enable real time icing avoidance using light weight IR sensors fused with information from the aircraft flight control system. The probe will be tested in both the icing tunnel environment and on an aircraft flight test bed to determine its range and sensitivity to super-cooled water droplets and ice crystal formation as defined in FAA Part 25 Appendix C/O.

Benefit:
The proposed light weight Atmospheric Icing Conditions Measurement System will feature a low cost probe for widespread application to aircraft that do not currently have certified on-board ice protection equipment, such as police, air ambulance, and search and rescue helicopters. Additionally, over 300 Radiosondes are launched nationwide each day that could be equipped with this sensor, with the potential to provide valuable icing hazard information to pilots and UAV operators. The proposed sensor would have a unique and potentially lucrative market niche because of its low weight and affordability.

Keywords:
LIDAR, Icing Potential, CONDITIONS, Infrared, UAV, Sensor, Avoidance