Conceptual Design of a South Pole Carrier Pigeon UAV

Currently, the South Pole has a large data problem. It is estimated that 1.2 TB of data is being produced every day, but less than 500 GB of that data is being uploaded via aging satellites to researchers in other parts of the world. This requires those at the South Pole to analyze the data and care...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dlima, Kendrick M
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: DigitalCommons@CalPoly 2020
Subjects:
UAV
Carrier Pigeon
South Pole
Antarctica
Conceptual Design
Data Transfer
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Aeronautical Vehicles
Aerospace Engineering
Aviation and Space Education
Climate
Management and Operations
Meteorology
Navigation
Guidance
Control and Dynamics
Propulsion and Power
Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
Christchurch
New Zealand
Antarc*
South pole
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2145
https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2020.60
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/context/theses/article/3655/viewcontent/ThesisFinalEdits.pdf
Description
Summary:Currently, the South Pole has a large data problem. It is estimated that 1.2 TB of data is being produced every day, but less than 500 GB of that data is being uploaded via aging satellites to researchers in other parts of the world. This requires those at the South Pole to analyze the data and carefully select the parts to send, possibly missing out on vital scientific information. The South Pole Carrier Pigeon will look to bridge this data gap. The Carrier Pigeon will be a small unmanned aerial vehicle that will carry a 30 TB solid-state hard drive from the South Pole to various destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, but it has been designed to y to Christchurch, New Zealand. This 87 lb. UAV will be able to y 3,650 nmi. up to 25,000 ft., using a 5.7 hp. engine. It will feature an de-icing system on the leading edge of its 8 ft. span wing to allow it to y through cold, moist climates. It will have a 39 in. long fuselage with a tail boom of 33 in. The aircraft has been designed to be made out of composites, thus reducing both the weight of the aircraft as well as its drag. It has been designed to come apart in order to be shipped successfully to the South Pole. There, it will be assembled and launched via a custom pneumatic launcher. It will y autonomously to 15,000 ft. and cruise climb throughout the flight to 25,000 ft., before descending to its destination. There, it will be caught by a net restraint system, where the hard drive will be extracted. The Carrier Pigeon is truly a unique vehicle for its size, range, and robustness.

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