Las 19 Nov 2010 Briefing W

Carolina Unmanned Vehicles, Inc.

Glenda L. Rogers, President and CEO

[email protected]

Mike Rogers, Project Manager

[email protected]

4105 Graham-Newton Road

Raleigh, NC 27606, 919-851-9898

1

Lightweight Aerostat System 19 November 2010

mailto:[email protected]


CUV Inc. Raleigh, NC 919-851-9898 [email protected] 2

LAS Briefing Outline

LAS Background

LAS Missions

LAS System Description

System Development

Summary / Questions



Typical Aerostat Missions / Capabilities

Local Area Surveillance

Small / Remote Military Locations

Border Surveillance / Protection

Other Homeland Security (High Value Locations / VIP Events)

Communications

Relay Coverage To Convoys And Dispersed Units

Coverage To Low Altitude UAVs and to UGVs / USVs

Post Disaster Communications Coverage / Translation Node

Persistent Intelligence Coverage

SIGINT / COMINT

Small Aerostat

Large Tower

Tower Line Of Sight (LOS) Is Limited

Aerostats Provides LOS Comparable To Aircraft Or UAVS But Persistence Of Towers

Persistent Surveillance And Communications Relay Over Large Coverage Areas

Even A Large Tower Is Limited To About 10 Miles

An Aerostat At 500 Feet Has A LOS Of 24 Miles, And Can Operate At Much Higher Altitudes



Traditional Aerostat Limitations

17 Meter Long Aerostat

Traditional “Blimp” Aerostats Driven Into Ground by Winds, Must Be Large, With 200 -300 Lb Lift, To Withstand Wind

These Large “Tactical” Aerostats Are Clumsy To Operate and Require Large Crews

Big Ground Equipment, Not Very Mobile / Transportable

Not Suitable For Small Fixed Locations or Mobile Operations

Expensive, Limiting Number That Can Be Deployed

SOLUTION: A Lifting Aerostat

Uses Aerodynamic Lift to Remain Aloft in Wind

– Even For Small Systems / Payloads

Downsize the Ground System to the Payload

21 Meter Long Aerostat



Lifting Aerostat Versus Traditional Blimp

With No Lift Surfaces, Wind Pushes Traditional Tethered Blimps Back and DownBlimp Based Aerostat Systems Must Be Very Large To Cope With Wind Drag Requires Large Ground Handling Equipment and Vastly Increases Operating CostThey Cannot Capitalize On Modern Miniature Electronic Payloads

Lifting Aerostat Are Pushed Up By Wind, Counteracting Wind DragEven Small Units Can Operate In High WindsLAS With Lifting Aerostat Can Be Sized To Available Modern Lightweight Payloads

Wind

Blimp

Lifting Aerostat



Lightweight Aerostat System

HMMWV Compatible Carrier Trailer

Helikite Lifting Aerostat

Helirest Protective Mount

Gyro –Stabilized Camera Payloads

Networked Communications Payloads

Acoustic Gunfire Detectors / Other Payloads



LAS Surveillance Mission

Persistent Video / IR Surveillance to 10km (Sensor Limited)

Suitable For Small Dispersed Base Camps

Small Logistics Footprint

Rapidly Relocated

Operated by Only Two People

Towers Are Simple And Have Good LOS – Why Aerostats For Local Surveillance?

Altitude Minimizes “Shadow Effect” Of Obstacles Providing Hide Space For Enemy

Compare Shadow Effect Of A Two Story Building 500 Feet From A 100 Foot Tower And A LAS At 500 Feet

LAS Can Fly At 1000+ Feet To Reduce Hide Space Even Further

180 Foot “Hide Zone”

25 Foot “Hide Zone”



LAS Communication Coverage

Communications Relay to 100km

Few Units Give Large Area Coverage

Greater Range by Relaying From One LAS to Another.

No Convoys or Anti-IED Patrols Need Be “Off-The-Net”

Continuous Communications Even in Cluttered Urban Areas



Homeland Security Support

LAS Can Cover Large Disaster AreasOne-To-One Communication RelayNetwork In The Sky For Multiple UsersTranslation Bridge For Enhanced Multi-agency InteroperabilityMobile and Air Transportable To Get To Disaster QuicklyLAS To LAS Relay To Regional / State Command Center

LAS Coverage Example (North Carolina Hurricane Response)

1500 Altitude

1000 Altitude

750 Altitude



LAS Subsystems

Helikite

Performance

Safety / Survivability

Helirest

Protection / Storage For Helikite

Carrier

Military Off Road Trailer

Civilian Trailer

Typical Payloads

Electro-Optic / IR Sensors

Communications

Logistics

Two Person Operation

Minimum Helium and Fuel

Standard Spares



Helikite Lifting Aerostat

Patented Allsopp Helikite, Produced in England, is a “Lifting Aerostat” Combining Helium and Aerodynamic Lift

Flies On Buoyant Lift in Zero Wind, Aerodynamic Lift in Wind

Due to Aerodynamic Surfaces Helikites Will Fly At 45o Even In High Wind (Lift To Drag = 1)

Helikite Allows Lightweight Aerostat System to be Smaller and Still Operate in Real World Weather Conditions

System Can Be Sized to Available Modern Lightweight Electronic Payloads

Safe and Survivable: Difficult to see, No IR or Radar Signatures, Helium Will Not Burn, Due to Low Pressure Only Slowly Deflates Even if Hit By Multiple Bullets

LOS and Available Payload 35M3

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

1200

2400

3600

Altitude (Ft)

Pa

ylo

ad

(lb

)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Lin

e o

f S

igh

t (N

M)

Payload

LOS Nm

Sea Level - 120 F



Helikite Docking System (Helirest)

Air Inflated Helirest Protects The Helikite During Inflation / Deflation And Ground Storage

Prevents Helikite Movement In Wind During Inflation / Deflation

Helikite Shape And Short Tether Attachment Allows Bringing Helikite Down Close To Ground, For Safe Tiedown And Restrain

Other Aerostats With Multiple Attachment Lines Cannot Utilize Helirest, Must Remain Tens Of Feet Above Ground In Turbulent Wind Zone

Helirest Allows Eliminating Clumsy Pivoting Mooring System, Reducing System Size And Complexity

A Key To Operation With Only Two People, With All Work Done Safely Inside Helirest

1 Helikite Helium Fill Nozzle

2 Tiedown Lines

3 Deflation Electronics

4 Helirest

3

2

1

2

4

Helikite With Helirest



Military Off Road Carrier

HMMWV Compatible Trailer

Electric Winch

Diesel Generator (JP-8 Fuel)

Elevates Payloads to 4000 Feet

Quick Inflation Helium Manifold

Helium Tanks Standard NSN Item

Operable by 2 Persons

C-130 Roll On – Roll Off Capable

“Turn Key” System Carries All Equipment Aboard Trailer



Commercial Trailer Version

Supports DOE Nuclear Security Mission

Carries Camera and Communication Relay Payloads

Altitude to 1000 Feet in 20 Minutes From Stopping

Launches From Trailer Top

Launch Method Has Been Adapted To Military Versions

Delivered April 2006

Sandia National Lab Version

Photo By Sandia Lab



Typical LAS Payloads

Communications Payloads Are Mounted Directly Under The Helikite Horizontal Keel

Simple Strap Mounting Is Easily Adapted To New Payloads

Payloads Or Battery Packs Can Be Changed In Under Two Minutes

Camera (EO / IR) Payloads Are Mounted Below The Helikite Keel Cloth On A CUV Designed Support

Mounting Avoids View Blockage From Keel Cloth

Payloads Can Be Changed In Under Two Minutes



Minimum Logistics Burden

Single Trailer Carries Everything For Deployment

Two Person Operation

Cross-trained Mechanical / Electrical Techs Operate System Including Payloads

Minimum Helium Requirements

Standard NSN 216 Cu. Ft. Tanks, No Special Helium Trailer

Standard 35M3 Load Is 7 Tanks, For One Inflation And 4 Weeks “Top-off” Helium

Can Carry Two Inflations, Or Enough Helium For One Inflation And 6 Months “Top-off”

6 Tanks For Reinflation Is Less Than One HMMWV Trailer Or Pallet Load

Low Fuel Consumption

Less Than 15 Gallons Per Month For The System

Automotive Spares (Tires, Brakes, Lights) In Military Supply System35M3 Carrier Showing Tanks and Winch



System Design Options

Parameter Primary Effect Other Effects / CommentsPayload Weight Aerostat Size Tank Number, Carrier Size To Support

Helikite, Tether Strength, Winch Size

Operating Height Weight of Tether Affects Aerostat Size

Payload Power And Endurance

Standard Or Power Tether

Tether Weight, Winch Design (Slip Rings)

Payload Type Mounting Provisions

Operating Conditions Helikite Size Affected By Ground Elevation, Temperature

Mobility Of System Carrier Design

Safety / Regulatory Features

Weight of Devices Lights, Deflation Devices



Summary - LAS Attributes

Mobile “Lifting” Aerostat for Security, Communication Relay and Other Missions

Low Cost Solution to Persistent Wide Area Surveillance Coverage

Good Adverse Weather Capability

Remains Aloft For a Week or More

Highly Mobile, Air Transportable by C-130

Two Person Crew

All Consumables and Most Spares in Supply System

Adaptable To Varied Payloads

Adaptable To Homeland Security, Military and Naval Operations

Deliverable in 6 Months From Start

Typical Cost $350K to $500K Plus Payload



End Of Briefing

QUESTIONS



END OF DOCUMENT


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Las 19 Nov 2010 Briefing W