THESEUS: A New Platform for High-Altitude Atmospheric Science

空气动力学、结构、电子、 和推进技术使新一代的 用于大气科学研究的低成本无人驾驶飞机。 第一个这样的平台，命名为珀尔修斯，已经在 作为奥罗拉飞行科学公司 和哈佛大学。 英仙座的锂电池推进 该系统将使其能够携带50公斤化学品取样 有效载荷上升到25公里的高度。 本SBIR的目的 计划是启动一个更大的，更通用的 一个叫忒修斯的平台 提修斯纲领的核心是一个坚实的 聚合物电解质燃料电池 螺旋桨 一种独特的氧化机制可以让忒修斯 携带450公斤的有效载荷， 海拔20-25公里，并达到海拔高达40公里 在短时间内。 该飞机旨在通过以下方式进行操作： 一个由三人组成的现场小组， C-130 由于机身和机身的完全可重复使用性， 有效载荷/s，Theseus将能够执行几乎所有 目前在大型气球上飞行的科学任务， 有人驾驶的ER-2，成本大大低于目前。 在 此外，它将使一些新的特派团成为可能， 其性能的提高，精确的空间和时间 可控性和更高的操作灵活性。

Recent advances in aerodynamic, structural, electronic, and propulsive technologies make possible a new generation of low-cost unmanned aircraft for atmospheric science research. The first such platform, designated Perseus, is already under development as a joint effort between Aurora Flight Sciences and Harvard University. Perseus' lithium battery propulsion system will enable it to carry a 50 kg chemical sampling payload to an altitude of 25km. The purpose of this SBIR program is to initiate development of a larger, more versatile follow-on platform called Theseus. The heart of the proposed Theseus platform is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell powering an electrically driven propeller. A unique oxidation scheme will allow Theseus to carry a 450 kg payload for thousands of kilometers at an altitude of 20-25 km, and to reach altitudes as high as 40 km for brief periods. The aircraft is intended to be operable by a field team of three people and to be transported in a single C-130. Due to the complete reusability of both the airframe and the payload/s, Theseus will be capable of performing almost all of the scientific missions currently flown on large balloons or the manned ER-2, at costs significantly lower than present. In addition, it will make possible a number of new missions due to its increased performance, precise spatial and temporal controllability, and increased operational flexibility.