Request for Proposal ASCI 530 7.4 Research Blog

UAS Over Wildfire (Folk, 2017)

When battling a wildfire, the firefighters need accurate, real time information where any hotspots are occurring and what direction the fire is moving.  “The conditions wildfires produce make it nearly impossible to obtain real-time situational awareness, especially at night when it’s too dangerous to fly manned aircraft over the flames” (Knight, 2015). This means that in the morning firefighters have little to no idea what occurred with the fire overnight. UAS can provide real time information on the fire, both day and night, allowing critical decisions to be correctly made by the firefighters on the ground. Developing a UAS that can observe hotspots is essential in aiding firefighters.

1.     
Transportability

a.      Entire system (all elements) shall be transportable (in a hardened case) and weight less than 50lbs (one-person lift)

b.     Transportation case shall be designed to fit in the back of a standard SUV (21 cubic feet)

c.      Transportation case shall have a foam interior for protection of sub components

d.     Transportation case shall have cut outs for all sub components of the system

e.      Transportation case shall have cut outs for any tools required for the assembly/disassembly of the UAS system

f.      Transportation case shall provide impact protection for all components inside the case

2.     Air Vehicle Element

a.      Shall be capable of resisting particles created by wildfire such as ash

b.     Shall be resistant to rainfall up to ¼ inch per hour for one hour

c.      Shall be able to “return to home” if data link with the ground control station is lost for more than fifteen seconds

d.     Shall be multi-rotor capable of autonomous stabilized hover

3.     Payload

a.      Shall have thermal infrared camera for detection of hotspots

b.     All video feed shall be receivable by ground control element

c.      Shall have a day video camera for detection of observable smoke

d.     Shall be gyro stabilized for flight

Testing

1.      Transportability

a.      Conduct weight roll up for all off the shelf components and customized parts to ensure total weight is below 50 lbs. Weight final prototype (all elements) to ensure weight is below lbs.

b.     Inspect transportation case to ensure total volume is less than 21 cubic feet

c.      Inspect transportation case to ensure foam interior is present

d.     Test fit all sub components into their respective cut outs in the foam

e.      Test fil all tools for assembly/disassembly into their respective cut outs in the foam

f.      Drop case, loaded with all sub components and tools, from height of five feet to ensure case and components are undamaged from fall

2.     Air Vehicle Element

a.      Perform ground tests to ensure all components are not affected by ash. Provide gaskets/barriers if issues arise and retest

b.     Perform ground run in a controlled environment subjecting UAS to ¼ inch of rain flow in one hour. Provide gaskets/barriers if issues arise and retest

c.      Utilize hardware in loop simulations to ensure UAS will return to home if communication is lost for more than fifteen seconds. Followed by test flights in a controlled environment once software is validated

d.     Utilize hardware in the loop simulations to ensure UAS is capable of stabilized autonomous hover. Conduct test flights in a controlled environment once software is validated

3.     Payload

a.      Conduct thermal infrared test on video equipment to ensure proper operation and resolution at 1000 feet AGL

b.     Conduct tests to ensure all video feed is received by ground control stations at altitude up to 1000 feet AGL

c.      Conduct test of visible light camera to ensure proper operation and resolution at 1000 feet AGL

d.     Utilize hardware in the loop simulations to ensure UAS is capable of stabilized flight. Conduct test flights in a controlled environment once software is validated

Schedule

·       Phase Description – Duration (months)

o   Concept Design - 3

o   Concept Research - 3

o   Preliminary Design - 3

o   Detail Design - 6

o   Specimen Test - 6

o   Prototype Build/Test - 6

o   Modification - 3

o   Certification - 6

o   Production – 24 (total production run, 1 week per UAS)

o   Support – 60

Conclusion

            The air vehicle needs to withstand both weather and smoke/ash generated by the fire. Therefore, I decided on the requirement to handle ¼ in of rainfall per hour. This UAS will be electric as opposed to an engine to combat ash particles. There is no air intake and no combustion chamber to be damaged by means of ash particles. Sealing the inside of the platform with close fitting panels and gaskets will keep most of the ash out. 21 cubic feet for the total volume of the transportation container was chosen since this is the volume of the cargo compartment on a Ford Explorer (2017 Explorer, n.d.).  This is a common sized SUV to be used, and would also ensure it would fit in the back of a pick-up.

            1000 ft AGL was determined to be the needed hover and flight height of the UAS. The initial design requirement was for 500 ft AGL but this UAS will work at higher altitudes. This will ensure there is room for growth within the UAS platform, if next year the customer requests 600 ft AGL it is already validated at that altitude. IR cameras are to be used to detect hotspots as well as allowing the operator to see through smoke for operations in degraded visual elements (Allison, Johnston & Jennings, 2016). Visible light cameras are the be used for flight during the daytime as well as visually detecting smoke which can be a cue for a potential hot spot (Allison, Johnston & Jennings, 2016).

            
           This project has a three-year timeline from concept design to certification. Concept design/research and preliminary design are high level, broad tasks. More time is allocated to detail design, specimen test and prototype build/test.  These are more time consuming and detail oriented, more time is needed to ensure everything is done correctly. Production is estimated to build one UAS per week for a period of two years. Support will run concurrently and for a period of five years total. 

References

Allison, R., Johnston, J., Craig, G., & Jennings, S. (2016, August 18). Airborne Optical and Thermal Remote Sensing for Wildfire Detection and Monitoring. Retrieved from http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/8/1310/htm

Folk, E. (2017, October 04). Drones Could Be the Answer to Containing Forest Fires. Retrieved from https://www.cleantechloops.com/drones-forest-fires/

Knight, R. (2015, December 09). UAS Fighting Wildfires. Retrieved from http://insideunmannedsystems.com/fighting-wildfires/

2017 Ford Explorer (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/2017/models/explorer/