Briefings set on Albatross program to reduce energy consumption and extend range and endurance of small UAVs
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers will brief industry early next month on an upcoming project to develop soaring capabilities to reduce energy consumption aboard small uncrewed aircraft.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., will host a proposers day for the Albatross program (DARPA-SN-24-111) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 2 Oct. 2024 at the Executive Conference Center, 4075 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, in Arlington, Va.
The Albatross program seeks to develop autonomous aircraft soaring capabilities for small uncrewed aircraft to help reduce onboard energy consumption by as much as 75 percent. Soaring is the harnessing of winds aloft to reduce energy use and increase the range and endurance of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The program has two goals: develop a preflight planning tool that helps the operator predict the performance of small UAVs with soaring benefits; and develop an onboard, real-time soaring guidance and control subsystem for a small UAV that recognizes soaring conditions and responds appropriately.
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The preflight planning tool will give several options to help the aircraft fly through expected high-density soaring conditions. Types of soaring include static, such as thermal, ridge, and wave, and dynamic, such as across wind shear or through a boundary layer.
Program goals are to reduce onboard energy use by 75 percent across a range of missions; predict soaring energy consumption within 15 percent across a range of missions; and balance energy harvesting with mission objectives.
Companies interested in attending the Albatross briefings should register no later than Wednesday 25 Sept. 2024 online at https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/79455/. For those who cannot attend in person, a webinar will provide a livestream of the event.
Email questions or concerns to DARPA at DARPA-SN-24111@ darpa.mil. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/f681a55d4bff4377b011e37f0429eb58/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
