Product Developement

Customer High Level requirement is that they require a UAV System that weighs less than 80 pounds for a two person lift and set up (Avalanche rescue teams always work in teams of no less than two for safety) (Mount Washington Avalanche Center, 2014) and deployment from a transportation unit that is rigid, can sustain falls from a height of 4 feet (normal carry height), can sustain a shock from a height of 4 feet onto rigid terrain in temperatures of -30F.  User requires that transport case can fit all components such as UAV, controller, power modules, infrared cameras, night vision camera in a fashion that will not allow the components to be damaged by the case or by each other should fall occur. The user also requires UAV transport case to have incorporated tie down supports so that transport can be strapped to snowmobile skid and secured. It is not a requirement that the case must be able to be pulled behind a snowmobile on it’s own.  User requires case incorporate antiskid coating to prevent case from sliding down slippery slopes as well at an attachment point to anchor case when not attached to skid.

I would like to match a UAV system with the disaster response of avalanche victim retrieval. After an avalanche it is possible that search and rescue facilities have been damages, search vehicles cannot get out, unfavorable weather prohibiting rescue personnel and vehicles to be deployed. I’ve chosen to use a product similar to the Alliance single rotor, 2-stroke gas engine for this scenario because of its abilities. It has a long on station time perfect for FLIR and night vision that search and rescue requires. This platform is also tested in harsh conditions, high winds, and high altitudes (Homeland Surveillance and Electronics LLC, 2014).

This system is currently available as an all-inclusive package to include the carrying case, power supply, as well as ground station and hand help remote capabilities. This platform is already available and I am only looking at the aspects of transportability, support equipment, and cost. Time frame for design, testing, evaluation, etc. should be able to be completed within a 6-month timeframe, as there are no aerodynamic aspects to these three factors.

Because of the nature of the environment is cold, windy, and wet. The case is required to house all of the components, be transportable, be in a hardened case, and weigh less than 80 pounds. Cases such as those made by Pelican are designed to be waterproof, dustproof, able to withstand extreme heat and cold, as well as have options for custom cut high impact resistance foam. For this to be successful I would,

1.     Start with the weight of the craft and all of its components required for the     specific mission.

2.     Subtract that weight from 80 to get available case weight numbers.

3.     Design a case less than 80 pounds that can be carried by two people.

4.     Design a case that allows for the craft to be the most intact for quick deploy ability and less assembles time.

5.     Design a case that shall be secured quickly to a snowmobile skid if necessary

6.     Design a case that shall have secure and separated cutouts for each component that would in the event of a drop, keep contents secured and safe from damaging other components.

7.     Design a case with antiskid exterior that when placed on a moderate incline of 25 degrees on ice/snow will not slip away.

8.     Design case with incorporated tether point so emergency crews can attach an anchor should terrain be too much for exterior texture.

9.     Design a case that shall be durable incase of a fall from a height of 4 feet or

10.  Design a case that shall withstand drops in temps down to-30 degrees at 4 feet because of avalanche prone locations.

TESTING REQUIREMNTS

1.     Inspect the transportation case for suitable number of cutouts

2.     Test fit of UAV into the case

3.     Test fit of components (FLIR, Controls, power source, night vision, etc.) into case cutouts

4.     Test tie down locations (these locations would be no more than integrated low spots in the plastic of the case to ensure tie downs do not slip forward or backward when being transported by snowmobile).

5.     Verify case can withstand a drop from 4 feet onto a simulated surface such as rigid ice, in an environment of -30 degrees.

6.     Verify case is not damaged after a drop of 4 feet on rigid surface at -30F.

7.     Verify contents are not damaged after a drop from 4 feet onto rigid surface at -30F.

8.     Verify that case and contents weight less than 80 pounds

9.     Verify that on a grade covered in ice and snow of 25 degrees or less that the “non-skid” exterior holds case in place with and without UAV inside.

10.  Verify that incorporated anchor point is easily accessible.

The type of development would be to incorporate an already existing system such as a predetermined UAV and all of its accoutrements. The development would be of the transportation method to which an existing case with rough specifications to what is needed. The first action would be concept design, to identify a case that is rigid and is large enough to hold all of the required contents. Second would be to research different materials that are known to stand up to shock and extreme cold.  Examine materials that would be best for non-skid materials and that would remain intact with case materials as well as stand up to the cold. Design a case of rough specification from acceptable materials. Cut foam inserts to exacting specifications for UAV and it’s components. We would then build a prototype case from determined materials, covered with determined non-skid, and fitted with cut foam filled with ballast of the same form and weight of actual UAV and components outfitted with accelerometers to measure forces. Case would first be tested in controlled environment such as a deep freeze with capabilities of -30F. Case would be dropped on various (ice-like) surfaces from a height of no more than 4 feet from every conceivable angle to simulate side, front, corners, and etc. impacts. After no less than one thousand drops from every angle the case and its contents would be examined after each drop to check for damage. Two people to help simulate real life situations would perform each drop. After controlled testing was complete the product would be taken into the actual environment that it would be used. Search and rescue personnel would be issued the cases filled with ballast to assist with testing in simulated scenarios. After thorough testing, reevaluation, and further modification the case would go into final testing and development. After which time the case would be used by the customer for final modification and then put into production. Support of the case would be no more than replacement parts such as hinges, handles, foam, and seals and could be locally procured. Estimated development time following the initial concept would be one year. I chose this product because it contained many variables such as extreme cold, lasting rigidity, anchor system, tie down system, etc.

References

Homeland Surveillance and Electronics LLC. (2014). Alliance Twin Piston Gas Powered UAV Helicopter Key Specifications UAV.  http://www.hse-uav.com/alliancehd_uav_specs.htm

Mount Washington Avalanche Center. (2014). Search & Rescue » Mount Washington Avalanche Center. http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/search-rescue/