http://aces.msfc.nasa.gov/about.htmlThere are two primary demonstration goals in the ACES project.
First, by exploiting the unique capabilities of ALTUS, we will demonstrate the utility and promise of UAV platforms for investigating thunderstorm and other weather phenomena. Slow flight speed, coupled with long endurance and high-altitude flight give the ALTUS aircraft the ability to be maintained continuously near thunderstorms for long periods of time and enable investigations to be conducted over entire storm life cycles. This overcomes the limitations of conventional aircraft that, as a result of much faster flight speeds, provide only a few brief "snapshots" of storm activity sandwiched between long intervening periods with no observations. The ALTUS, with its lower flight speed, can remain within measurement range (i.e., ~5 km) even while making turns. Presently, only the ALTUS has this combination of capabilities, essential for conducting complete storm life cycle investigations (i.e., no gaps). This demonstration goal supports a principal objective
of the NRA.
A second goal, supportive of the NRA objectives, is to provide a demonstration of real-time monitoring and control of the UAV science payload and data. During flights, selected instrument output (e.g., electric field) will be sent to the ground via the ALTUS telemetry link enabling us to monitor target storms in real time. In fact, we have proposed to monitor the ambient electric field environment in real time to avoid high electric field (>25 kV/m) regions, and thus reduce to a low probability the threat of incurring a lightning strike to the aircraft. Output from the ALTUS video camera will also help monitor storm conditions in real time.I figured it wouln't be long until we'd find civilian uses for these drones.
Remember, thank the Big Dog for green-lighting the whole Peadator project.
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