Thermal Design of High-Altitude Atmospheric Imaging UAV

Abstract: At higher altitudes is where we on occasion observe some of the most interesting atmospheric events in the sky. Examples of such are Aurora borealis, lightning sprites, jets and noctilucent clouds. In studying these processes one can learn much about them and our atmosphere in general but studying them is not always easy. Since atmospheric events of this scale cannot possibly be replicated in a laboratory environment they must be observed when they occur in our atmosphere. The ALPHA project's purpose is to (at a reasonable cost) design and build an UAV equipped with scientific instruments including a camera suitable for low-light imaging to be able to capture these fascinating phenomena. The aircraft will have a high cruising altitude of 15 km (lower part of the stratosphere). By making observations in flight above the troposphere, the limiting factor of weather is practically eliminated as compared to making ground-based observations.  In this 15 credits project, the thermal design aspects for the components of the UAV are explored. This mainly involves ensuring that the camera, batteries, and electronics are kept at a moderate temperature during flight. Another area that is explored is potential icing and its effects on the UAV.