University of AkronApril 26-28, 2005

NASA Vehicle Systems Program Overview

UAV Opportunities ConferenceTechnology Review

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Our success is measured by the extent to which our results are used by others to improve the quality of life and

enable exploration and scientific knowledge

To provide advanced aeronautical technologies to meet the challenges of next generation systems in aviation,

for civilian and scientific purposes, in our atmosphere and in those of other worlds.

Aeronautics ResearchMission

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Programs

Airspace SystemsAviation Safety & Security

Increase planetary aircraft

research

Assess possibilities for

supersonics

Enhance uninhabited

aerial vehicles

(UAV) research

Emphasize public good

research

Ensure NASA contribution to Joint Program & Development Office (JPDO)

Vehicle Systems

Programmatic Priorities

Determine if there is a

requirement to continue

hypersonics research

Aeronautics Research Priorities and Programs

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Vehicle Systems Program

• GOAL:– Provide breakthrough technology for

significantly advanced future air vehicles.• APPROACH:

– Develop technologies and demonstrate them in flight to provide evidence of barrier breakthroughs.

• BENEFITS:– Opens more communities to air transportation– Enables new air transportation models by doubling

vehicle speed capability– Eliminates aviation pollution– Enables new science platforms

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Demonstration Projects

ZERO EMISSIONS AIRCRAFT — Start by demonstrating an aircraft powered by hydrogen fuels cells.

SUBSONIC NOISE REDUCTION — Start by demonstrating a 50% noise reduction compared to 1997 state of the art.

SONIC BOOM REDUCTION — Start by demonstrating technology that could enable an acceptable sonic boom level.

HIGH ALTITUDE LONG ENDURANCE — Start by demonstrating a 14-day duration high-altitude, aircraft.

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Vehicle Systems Program Schedule

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4SUBSONIC NOISE REDUCTION DEMO

Integrated Noise Reduction DemonstrationNoise Reduction Integration

Low Boom DemonstratorPlanning and Studies

Demonstrations

Zero Emissions DemonstrationSurrogate Aircraft Flights

Demonstrations

HALE ROA DEMO14-day Duration Aircraft

Follow-on Demonstration

FY06 FY07 FY10FY09FY08

Validated 10 dB

Validated low boom vehicle

Flight of selected technologies

Zero Emissions Flights

14 days duration demo

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HALE - Barrier Breakthroughs

Barrier: On-station extreme duration for HALE vehicles • 1st barrier up to 14 days • 2nd barrier more than 30 daysDescription: Demonstrated endurance of HALE systems to date limited to less that

3 days (SOA Boeing Condor, 1989).• HALE systems require significant support personnel and ground station

infrastructure to operate, while not yet achieving levels of safety and reliability equivalent to piloted systems.

Objectives: • Project will develop specialized technologies that enable extreme duration flight:

– ultra-lightweight structural concepts, – highly-automated uncrewed flight systems capable of achieving required

levels of safety and reliability, – efficient fuel cell/solar based regenerative propulsion systems.

• Project will integrate technologies into a commercially viable flight system and verify the achievement of desired capability goals through flight demonstrations.

• HALE Demonstration Project will enable new capabilities for the NASA science and exploration missions.

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Platform CapabilityAltitude

EndurancePayloadRange

Navigation

Mission CapabilityCommunications

SensorsIntegration

Multi-aircraft

Airspace CapabilityRoutine Access

To NAS

Exploration CapabilitiesRobotic applications

Autonomous, multi-vehicle, robotic operationsIntelligent Mission Management Planetary Flight Risk Reduction

HALE Capabilities

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Commercialization• Telecomm platforms• HDTV broadcast• Resource monitoring• Traffic control• Precision agriculture• Digital GIS • Cargo UAV’s

Homeland Defense• First Responder• Border Patrol• Coastal Surveillance• Forest Fire Monitoring• NBC Detection & Tracking• Disaster information networks• Sensor development platforms

Earth Science• Hurricane Trackers • Severe Storm Penetrating Daughterships• Polar Ozone Monitoring• NOAA GUPS/Pac-Plus• EPA Mercury Compliance• Bi-Coastal transport flux models• Urban-to-Rural Pollution Transport• Urban Heat Island measurements• Central America Biological Corridor • Stratospheric Pseudo-satellite

Space Science• Mars Water Survey• Global magnetism survey• Radiation models• Astro-biology• Upper atmosphere measurements• High Altitude High Energy Astrophysics

platforms

Why HALE? Missions Enabled by

HALE Capabilities

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Altitude

Endurance

Payload

Range

ExampleTechnology

60k / 100k ft 60k ft + 60k ft + 75k ft 60k ft +

1 Day / 1 Hour 14 day 60+ day 2 Day 30-90 Day

50 kg 200 kg 150kg 20 X 200 X

Local RegionalAll Latitudes

Global+/- 45 deg Lat

GlobalAll Latitudes

Global+/- 35 deg Lat

Active shape control

Hydrogen fueled,Lightweight LH2 tank,

Low SFC @ 10kW

Turbulence resistant,Over Horizon Comm.

State of the ArtHelios FY03

SubOrbital LE Observer, FY08

Global ObserverFY10

Global RangerFY12

Heavy LifterFY16

Lightweight airframe

Regenerative fuel cell,Thin film solar cells,light weight energy

storage

Autonomous Ops

Superconductor motorsMulti-function LH2 tanks

Low SFC @ 500 kW

Inflatable/deployableaerostructures

High power electrical propulsion

Structures

Power

Flight Control / Autonomy

Continuous aero-trim optimization

Intelligent vehicle systems management

HALE Demonstrations

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Suborbital Long Endurance Concept

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are needed to see this picture.

Exploration Concept

The Wright brothers took humankind to our sky,

Let us fully utilize and protect our sky and take humankind to other skies.

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SUMMARY

VEHICLE SYSTEMS PROGRAM• A clear focus on barrier-breaking demonstrations• Completely support public good benefits for

environment and science• Management practices are solid and have been

favorably reviewed– Strategic National VS Plan guides future investments

…HALE is key breakthrough for Science Mission