Posted By: Air Force Research Lab, Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
Category: Scientific/Engineering Skill: Scientific Interest: Climate Partnership With: Air Force Research Lab
Submission Dates: 12 a.m. ET, May 18, 2017 - 5 p.m. ET, Jul 18, 2017 Public Voting Dates: 12 a.m. ET, Jul 19, 2017 - 12 a.m. ET, Jul 22, 2017 Judging Dates: Jul 25, 2017 - Jul 29, 2017 Winners Announced: Aug 01, 2017
Weather data is vital to the U.S. military, impacting missions worldwide. The need to collect atmospheric data in numerous remote areas around the world is never going away. This challenge is to design a man-portable system that is capable of collecting atmospheric data from ground level to 10,000 ft. above ground level (AGL). This data needs to be downloaded to a portable computer that that operator will be carrying with them. This system cannot use an external gas source (gas not present in situ and/or naturally present in operating environment that needs to be carried in such as Helium tanks) to lift the sensor to altitude since these gases are not readily available and expensive.
Technical merit: Proposals will be evaluated based on the system’s ability to meet the most or all of the threshold requirements listed in the Rules section of this challenge.
The submitted proposal should include the following:
1) A detailed description of the proposed system, no more than 8 pages (NOTE: All pages count so avoid extra pages like title pages or blanks.) Description must include a section (with drawings) detailing each of the following components:
a) The measurement system and components
b) The mechanism to collect the data at altitude or from the ground with a projected error estimate
c) The file storage and transfer mechanism from the system to the RAOB program on a portable computer and/or a smart phone
d) The power system, with an estimate of overall power requirements
e) An estimate of the overall weight and size of the system when stored and deployed/during sample collection
2) The following drawings of the system should also be included in the proposal, but do not count against the 8 page requirement:
- a) A labeled electronic schematic of the entire system in both the stored and operational/sample collection mode, with a parts list
All submissions must be made at https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9934001?cc=Gov4001&utm_source=DotGov&utm_campaign=9934001&utm_medium=landing+page
10 Discussions for "Mobile Weather Station"
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Show Replies [+]ChrisJune 8, 2017 at 12:30 amThe weblink got dropped from the original comments. Trying again to provide it here. From the FedBizOps public requirements document: Update the firmware and modem to enable DoD Iridium short burst AES 256 GPS messaging capability to the contractor-hosted web portal for a group tracking capability. Tracking System Coverage = Global reception of GPS L1 C/A and P(Y) data. Operating Duration = No less than 12 hours when recording 1Hz GPS data and transmitting GPS data messages every 30 seconds. This support system could be a potential piece of a proposed design. Has only position, and the mobile weather also needs temperature and pressure data measured and transmitted. Best wishes.
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ReplyrleeJune 13, 2017 at 3:03 pmThanks Chris I have passed this information on to the other potential solvers. I looked up the device and it is advertised here https://www.iridium.com/products/details/nal-shout-nano-personnel-tracker it weighs only 6.5 ounces and is a small package (4"x2.2"x.8") so this is a great help.
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Show Replies [+]ChrisJune 6, 2017 at 11:43 pmConsider sharing to the public that the AITS system can support the wind issue. Just need its periodic location reports read by a software app to produce wind direction. The system already works for aircraft airdrop: from altitude down at parachute rate. This challenge asks for a similar system: (a) rocket launch then parachute down or (b) UAV mounted to fly to altitude and down. A temperature sensor into a transmitter needs added. This link has publicly available information: . Possibly additional details could be submitted for potential public release. VR/C.
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ReplyChrisJune 8, 2017 at 12:20 amLink disappeared from original post. Retry, delete the extra spaces to use it: https:// govtribe.com /project/ airdrop-item-tracking-system and https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id = 54f84ce57212ab71608692a723829e46
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ReplyChrisJune 8, 2017 at 12:22 amThe weblink got dropped from original comment. Retry to provide it. https:// govtribe.com /project /airdrop-item-tracking-system
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ReplyrleeJune 12, 2017 at 10:06 amChris can you provide a link to the AITS system that you claim can support the wind issue?
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rleeMay 30, 2017 at 10:18 amHere are some questions from a few solvers and the answers from the evaluation team 1. Regarding the following sentence from the challenge description: "System must be able to perform data collection for at least 3 days after a charge." Does that mean that the system must be able to continuously operate for 3 days, and does this include the method of elevating the props to the desired height. Answer: The system does not need to run continuously for 3 days. Typically the person will go to a site and take a reading (weather profile to 10K ft.) Then they would move to a different location and take another reading. For the purpose of this challenge we can say that the system should be able to take 5 readings per day for a total of 15 readings. Once is collected at the height the system can come back down and be reused again or if small and cheap enough can be disposable. 2. If the charging time is about 1 or 2 hours do we have to comply with the 3 days condition? Answer: if the charging system is included in the weight limit no but remember this is a remote site so there would not be access to electrical power unless it was generated. 3. In part 2 of the solution description it says: "Data collection: The system must provide the above data to the collection device within 10 minutes of the system being setup or launched" and then in part 4 it says: "(Time response/intervals would increase to every ≤1,000 ft. This system must provide atmospheric data within 30 minutes of the system being deployed)" could you please clarify because it is not clear for us how much time is required for data to be collected. Answer: Part 4 is a desired outcome of getting data to 40,000 ft. This would take longer to collect so the time frame is increased. If the system is only going to 10,000 ft data should be in the computer (not necessarily processed) within the 10 minutes. It your system can go to 40,000 ft you have 3 times (30 min) the 10 minute limit to get the data to the computer. Part 4 has the frequency of data extended to every 1,000 ft from the 100 ft intervals for the first 10,000 ft due to the importance of getting finer data at the lower altitudes. 4. Could you please specify what is the "collection device". Answer: The collection device is whatever is collecting the weather data specified in the first table. The second table is only for any system that is going to transmit the data to the ground. If the data is collected then the delivery system comes back to the weatherman and directly downloaded into the computer no data link is required.
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Show Replies [+]Gary GruenertMay 24, 2017 at 11:50 amWhat are "man portable" weight limitations? Is this system to be totally stand-alone or can it be integrated with communications and computers that are already with the teams? Can we assume that team members are trained to interpret and make decisions on weather data collected or will software need to be developed to present the collected data so that anyone can interpret it?
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ReplyrleeMay 25, 2017 at 10:57 amANSWER: The teams have portable computers and this system will download the data into that. The "man portable" weight limits for this challenge at for the weather data collection system and the system that can get the station up to the 10,000 ft Altitude. The teams are trained to interpret the data so that is not a part of this challenge. No other software is required other than to collect the data and transfer it to a computer.
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rleeMay 22, 2017 at 11:18 amA few Solvers have asked about the acceptability of drones as a solution. ANSWER: Drones are acceptable as long as they meet all the requirements. Most commercial drones cannot attain the 10,000 ft AGL requirement while meeting the weight requirements. But if you can design one that meets the stated requirements then it would be great.
Chris
rlee
Chris
Gary GruenertAdd to the Discussion
This is a theoretical challenge that requires only a written proposal to be submitted. This challenge has two parts:
- Design a man-portable system that is capable of collecting the atmospheric data of interest.
- Deliver that system from ground level to 10,000 ft. above ground level (AGL) without an external gas source.
Since there are 2 parts to the problem, the Seeker wants to encourage those with only 1 part solved, to still submit so there will be an extra award available if someone solves only 1 or 2 above better than anyone else.
The Seeker requires a solution that fulfills the following Technical Requirements:
- Atmospheric data: Must collect the following atmospheric conditions ground to 10K ft AGL. The system must accurately report these conditions in intervals of 100ft[i].
| Parameter | Operating Range | Resolution | Accuracy |
| Pressure | 1080 to 600 hPa | 0.05 hPa | 1.0 hPA |
| Temperature | -35C to +45C | 0.05°C | ±0.5°C |
| Humidity | 3 to 100% | 1.0% | ±3.0% |
| GPS Altitude | Surface to 10k ft | 1.0 m | 5 m |
| GPS Position[ii] | All Lat & Lon | .02 arc sec | 5 m |
| GPS Velocity[iii] | 0-80 knots | 0.5 m/sec | 1 m/sec |
| Wind speed[iv] | 0-80 knots | 0.5 m/sec | 1 m/sec |
| Wind direction | n/a | 0.1 degree | 1 degree |
- Data collection: The system must provide the above data to the collection device within 10 minutes of the system being setup or launched (an acceptable solution is if data was stored during collection and retrieved within the time limit) over the interval 0-10,000ft AGL. As stated above, the system must report atmospheric conditions in intervals of 100ft. The data must be downloadable into the RAwinsonde OBservation (RAOB) program.
| Sensor | Operating Range | Resolution | Accuracy | Time Response[v] |
| Data Downlink | 2400 bits/sec | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Transmit | No less than 8 NM Line of Sight[vi], omni-directional & downloadable to a device containing the RAOB program[vii] | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Sensor Transmit Freq. | 400-405.99 MHz | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Other parameters:
- Portability: The entire system including the transport method, must weigh < 10 lbs. (preferably < 5 lbs.) when carried and have no dimension wider than 2 ft. when stored during man transport.
- System must be able to perform data collection for at least 3 days after a charge. The system shall not take more than 8 hours to charge between collections.
- The system should cost no more than $50 per sample collection[viii] and no more than $10,000 over the entire life of the system.
- This system cannot use an external gas source (gas not present in situ[ix] and/or naturally present in operating environment that needs to be carried in such as Helium tanks) to lift the sensor to altitude since these gases are not readily available and expensive.
The Seeker considers the following objectives as desired, but not required:
- A system that could be scaled up to reach altitudes of 40,000 ft AGL. (Time response/intervals would increase to less than or equal to every 1,000 ft. This system must provide atmospheric data within 30 minutes of the system being deployed)
- A system that could autonomously collect the sample and download the data without operator input[x].
References:
[i] More information on radiosonde observations can be found at: http://www.ua.nws.noaa.gov/factsheet.htm
To ensure accuracy, the current system records data every 15ft and smooths that data to report atmospheric conditions at intervals of every 100ft. While averaging between multiple points to report data at 100ft intervals is not required, care should be taken to ensure all measurements at 100ft intervals are accurate. Explanation of how the system ensures this accuracy is encouraged.
[ii] If the system is free-floating during the ascent, wind speed and direction can be calculated from the GPS positions
[iii] If the system is free-floating during the ascent, wind speed and direction can be calculated from the GPS velocity. If wind speed and direction is acquired in a different way, GPS velocity is not required.
[iv] If the wind speed is calculated from the GPS velocity, separate wind speed data is not required.
[v] Time response is also the frequency of measurement, i.e. a time response of ≤1 sec means that measurement must be take less than or equal to every second.
[vi] Line of sight is the atmospheric sensor to ground receiver in Nautical Miles (NM)
[vii] More information can be found at http://raob.com/
[viii] The system can be disposable or reusable. If the system is reusable, the cost per use is calculated by the total cost of the system divided by the number of times that it can be deployed.
[ix] An example of a gas “in-situ” would be the ambient atmospheric air
[x] One example of an autonomous process: Operator sets up the system, turns it on, and inputs the collection parameters (i.e. go to 9K ft and come back down). System launches on demand, collects data, and returns to launch site autonomously. Data is downloaded to a device. The operator than runs the data into RAOB and defines characteristics of the atmosphere.
