Global Observer
Encyclopedia
The Global Observer™ is an AeroVironment
concept for a high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle
, designed by AeroVironment
(AV) to operate as a stratospheric geosynchronous satellite system with regional coverage.
Two Global Observer aircraft, each flying for up to a week at an altitude of 55000 to 65000 ft (16,764 to 19,812 m), could alternate coverage over any area on the earth, providing a platform for communications relays, remote sensing, or long-term surveillance.
In addition to flying above weather and above other conventional aircraft, operation in this altitude regime permits communications and sensor payloads on the aircraft to service an area on the surface of the earth up to 600 miles (965.6 km) in diameter, equivalent to more than 280000 square miles (725,196.7 km²) of coverage. Global Observer may offer greater flexibility than a satellite and longer duration than conventional manned and unmanned aircraft.
The Global Observer is currently in development; its first flight was in August 2010, and the first hydrogen-fueled flight was in January 2011.
The program provides for the system development, production of two aircraft, development flight testing, and JOUA with ISR and communications relay payload. The flight testing and JOUA will be conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The primary objectives of the Global Observer JCTD Program are:
Global Observer offers satellite-like capabilities to enable affordable, persistent and seamless communications relay where mission operators need it most. It also provides more bandwidth to interconnect and route data, enabling teams separated by topographical barriers to communicate with each other and to distant command center in real time.
Disaster Response
Global Observer provides hurricane/storm tracking, weather monitoring and sustained support such as: evacuation planning, relief operations and first response coordination. With an advanced payload, Global Observer can provide alternative communications relay in the event assets such as: cell towers, microwave relays and satellite downlinks are damaged.
Maritime Operations
Global Observer can provide long-term surveillance over coastlines plagued by transport of illegal goods. This enables analysts to observe suspicious activity, determine patterns of behavior and identify threats to enable rapid and effective countermeasures/actions.
1977 Gossamer Condor: First human-powered airplane. Maximum efficiency in aeronautical and propulsion system design.
1981 Solar Challenger: First solar-powered piloted airplane to cross the English Channel (5+ hour flight). High efficiency energy generation and storage. (Smithsonian)
1993 Pathfinder: Groundbreaking solar-powered, high altitude UAS. Reached 50000 feet (15,240 m) in 1995.
2001 Helios: Solar-powered, high altitude UAS sets world altitude record for non-rocket-powered aircraft - 96863 feet (29,523.8 m).
2002 Pathfinder Plus: First successful relay of high-quality television signals, third-generation cell phone transmissions and Internet linkage from the stratosphere. (Smithsonian)
2005 Global Observer “Odyssey Prototype”: First liquid hydrogen fueled UAS. 1/3 scale, powered by fuel cell system.
2007 Joint Capabilities Technologies Demonstration: AV awarded Global Observer Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program, opens development and production facility.
2009 Propulsion System: Global Observer propulsion system achieves multi-day operation in atmospheric chamber to simulate flight conditions.
2010 Ground & Taxi Testing: Global Observer aircraft successfully completes ground and taxi testing in preparation for first flight.
2010 Wing Load Testing: Global Observer successfully completes Wing Load Testing (WLT).
2010 First Flight: Global Observer successfully completes maiden flight.
AeroVironment
AeroVironment Inc. is a technology company in Monrovia, California, and Simi Valley, California, that is primarily involved in energy systems, electric vehicle systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles . Paul B. MacCready, Jr., a famous designer of human powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971...
concept for a high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
, designed by AeroVironment
AeroVironment
AeroVironment Inc. is a technology company in Monrovia, California, and Simi Valley, California, that is primarily involved in energy systems, electric vehicle systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles . Paul B. MacCready, Jr., a famous designer of human powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971...
(AV) to operate as a stratospheric geosynchronous satellite system with regional coverage.
Two Global Observer aircraft, each flying for up to a week at an altitude of 55000 to 65000 ft (16,764 to 19,812 m), could alternate coverage over any area on the earth, providing a platform for communications relays, remote sensing, or long-term surveillance.
In addition to flying above weather and above other conventional aircraft, operation in this altitude regime permits communications and sensor payloads on the aircraft to service an area on the surface of the earth up to 600 miles (965.6 km) in diameter, equivalent to more than 280000 square miles (725,196.7 km²) of coverage. Global Observer may offer greater flexibility than a satellite and longer duration than conventional manned and unmanned aircraft.
The Global Observer is currently in development; its first flight was in August 2010, and the first hydrogen-fueled flight was in January 2011.
Statistics
- Endurance: 5 – 7 days
- Payload: Up to 400 lbs (180 kg)
- Operating altitude: 55000 to 65000 ft (16,764 to 19,812 m)
- Propulsion system: Liquid hydrogen-powered internal combustion powerplant driving four high efficiency electric motors. The aircraft does not produce carbon emissions.
- Wing Span: 175 feet (53.3 m)
- Length: 70 feet (21.3 m)
- Launch/Recovery Method: Operate from conventional 150 ft (45.7 m) W X 6000 ft (1,828.8 m) long paved runways (<4,200 ft takeoff and landing distance)
JCTD Program
The Global Observer Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program has the goal of helping solve the capability gap in persistent ISR and communications relay for the US military and homeland security. The Global Observer JCTD is demonstrating a new stratospheric, extreme endurance UAV system that can be transition for post-JCTD development, extended user evaluation, and fielding. This program is a joint program with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and AeroVironment that started in September 2007 and will culminate in a Joint Operational Utility Assessment (JOUA) in 2011.The program provides for the system development, production of two aircraft, development flight testing, and JOUA with ISR and communications relay payload. The flight testing and JOUA will be conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The primary objectives of the Global Observer JCTD Program are:
- Develop enabling technologies for a liquid hydrogen powered Global Observer UAS system.
- Design, build, and demonstrate the Global Observer UAS system for a 5 - 7 day endurance for 55000 to 65000 ft (16,764 to 19,812 m) altitude missions with 380-pound, 2.8 kW payload capacity. The system must be capable of being transported by a C-130 aircraft.
- Integrate and assess military utility of modular Global Observer payloads to address user identified gaps in ISR and communications relay.
- Evaluate system life cycle costs.
JCTD Sponsors
- U.S. Department of Defense
- United States Special Operations Command
- United States Strategic Command
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Defense Threat Reductions Agency
Mission Possibilities
Communications RelayGlobal Observer offers satellite-like capabilities to enable affordable, persistent and seamless communications relay where mission operators need it most. It also provides more bandwidth to interconnect and route data, enabling teams separated by topographical barriers to communicate with each other and to distant command center in real time.
Disaster Response
Global Observer provides hurricane/storm tracking, weather monitoring and sustained support such as: evacuation planning, relief operations and first response coordination. With an advanced payload, Global Observer can provide alternative communications relay in the event assets such as: cell towers, microwave relays and satellite downlinks are damaged.
Maritime Operations
Global Observer can provide long-term surveillance over coastlines plagued by transport of illegal goods. This enables analysts to observe suspicious activity, determine patterns of behavior and identify threats to enable rapid and effective countermeasures/actions.
Milestones
The technologies behind Global Observer have been developed over decades of innovation at AV, tracing back to the first human powered airplane and through a series of revolutionary extreme altitude, solar-powered UAS. Today Global Observer is poised to open the stratosphere for practical use in the same way that airplanes and satellites opened the skies and space during last century.1977 Gossamer Condor: First human-powered airplane. Maximum efficiency in aeronautical and propulsion system design.
1981 Solar Challenger: First solar-powered piloted airplane to cross the English Channel (5+ hour flight). High efficiency energy generation and storage. (Smithsonian)
1993 Pathfinder: Groundbreaking solar-powered, high altitude UAS. Reached 50000 feet (15,240 m) in 1995.
2001 Helios: Solar-powered, high altitude UAS sets world altitude record for non-rocket-powered aircraft - 96863 feet (29,523.8 m).
2002 Pathfinder Plus: First successful relay of high-quality television signals, third-generation cell phone transmissions and Internet linkage from the stratosphere. (Smithsonian)
2005 Global Observer “Odyssey Prototype”: First liquid hydrogen fueled UAS. 1/3 scale, powered by fuel cell system.
2007 Joint Capabilities Technologies Demonstration: AV awarded Global Observer Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program, opens development and production facility.
2009 Propulsion System: Global Observer propulsion system achieves multi-day operation in atmospheric chamber to simulate flight conditions.
2010 Ground & Taxi Testing: Global Observer aircraft successfully completes ground and taxi testing in preparation for first flight.
2010 Wing Load Testing: Global Observer successfully completes Wing Load Testing (WLT).
2010 First Flight: Global Observer successfully completes maiden flight.