You are here

Tube Launched UAV with Glide to Hover Transition

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W15QKN-12-C-0124
Agency Tracking Number: A121-009-0982
Amount: $149,830.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A12-009
Solicitation Number: 2012.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-07-19
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-07-20
Small Business Information
1410 Sachem Place Suite 202
Ch, VA -
United States
DUNS: 120839477
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 David Neal III
 Research Scientist
 (434) 973-1215
 barron@barronassociates.com
Business Contact
 Connie Hoover
Title: General Manager
Phone: (434) 973-1215
Email: barron@barronassociates.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Barron Associates has teamed with Professor Alfred Gates to develop a unique armament that launches from the barrel of a M320, deploys aerodynamic surfaces to become an efficient high-speed glider, and finally transitions to a hovering configuration capable of remote reconnaissance and surveillance. The SWITCHBLADE vehicle concept (Soaring WIng To CHopper with Barrel LAunched DElivery) has been developed to a high level of technical maturity for the glide and hover phases. The aerodynamic design yields a glide range exceeding 1 km, the propulsion system provides over 10 minutes of true hover capability, and a deployment mechanism allows the vehicle to unfold following a tube launch. The Phase I effort will focus on analyzing and refining the design to insure it is capable of withstanding the high accelerations experienced at launch. The team will combine the use of energy absorbing materials and mounting strategies for electronic and propulsion components of the air vehicle with a novel isolation shell to minimize peak launch loads experienced by the vehicle. To minimize technical risk, the team will draw on previous experience developing both tube launched and gun launched air vehicles, including a rifle launched UAV that employs an energy absorbing launch shell.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government