SBIR Phase I: WeatherHive: High Resolution Environmental Sensing Using Nanodrones

SBIR 第一阶段：WeatherHive：使用纳米无人机进行高分辨率环境传感

• 批准号: 2036232
• 负责人: James Peverill
• 金额: $ 25.6万
• 依托单位: GREENSIGHT AGRONOMICS, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-02-01 至 2022-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2036232&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; WeatherHive; Resolution; Environmental

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to advance an improved system to sense and map atmospheric conditions using nano-drones that are the size of small birds; these systems have benefited from recent innovations in miniature power electronics and flight control sensors. The proposed project leverages the safety, cost and portability advantages of these small form factor aircraft in a system of coordinated drones flying in formation to measure wind, temperature, humidity and gas concentrations. Each flight of the swarm can cover hundreds of square miles, creating a high resolution 3D map of atmospheric properties. This enables the study of wind currents and gas movement for applications including detection of urban gas leaks, smog movement, and forest fire detection. Satellite measurements can be validated and improved through aerial measurements. This research will benefit public health.This SBIR Phase I project will advance new software to analyze and optimize nano-drones. This project will expand the understanding of miniaturized (under 100 g) drone performance and enable the development of advanced nano-drones to carry out valuable sensing missions. This project will: (1) validate an optimization framework with laboratory test data; (2) develop a novel, portable drone docking station allowing for easy launching, landing and charging of hundreds or thousands of drones by a single operator, eventually enabling fully automated use for continuous monitoring applications; and (3) develop visualization and analysis tools to facilitate data analysis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是推进改进的系统，使用小鸟大小的纳米无人机来感知和绘制大气状况；这些系统受益于微型电力电子和飞行控制传感器的最新创新。 拟议的项目利用这些小型飞机在编队飞行的协调无人机系统中的安全性、成本和便携性优势来测量风、温度、湿度和气体浓度。蜂群的每次飞行可以覆盖数百平方英里，创建大气特性的高分辨率 3D 地图。这使得研究风流和气体运动的应用成为可能，包括检测城市燃气泄漏、烟雾运动和森林火灾检测。卫星测量可以通过空中测量来验证和改进。这项研究将有益于公众健康。SBIR 第一阶段项目将开发新软件来分析和优化纳米无人机。该项目将扩大对小型化（100克以下）无人机性能的了解，并促进先进纳米无人机的开发以执行有价值的传感任务。该项目将：（1）利用实验室测试数据验证优化框架； (2) 开发一种新颖的便携式无人机对接站，允许单个操作员轻松发射、着陆和充电数百或数千架无人机，最终实现连续监控应用的全自动使用； (3) 开发可视化和分析工具以促进数据分析。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。