[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Flavio NOCA Guillaume CATRYProfessor of Aerodynamics CEO
Creating Test Environmentsfor Assessing UAS Performance
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Perfect flight conditions…(Lugano, Switzerland)
… not so perfect flight conditions,but that is when UAS are most needed!
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
-°C +°C
A
B
Flying through citiesExtremetemperatures
Day and nightoperations
High altitude Windy day Adverse weather Specific winds
We needTest Environments
in order to Assess UAS & UAM Performance
R&DTestingRating and Certification
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Classical Climatic FacilitiesLarge Fans, Simple Flows
25’000 ft altitudeWinds up to 100 ft/s
Temperatures from – 40oF to 140oF
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
In 2016, we developed* the concept ofa Wind & Weather Facility
in order to develop 21st century dronesin Controllable and Repeatable Atmospheric Conditions
ü No wallsü Small footprintü Wind Shearü Gustsü Weather
(rain, hail, dust, snow…)
ü Actual droneü Free-flyingü No support
ü EmulatedGPS
* Noca F. & Catry G. Wind Generation Means and Wind Test Facility Comprising the Same.Patent Pending PCT/EP2017/064451
© W
inds
hape
WindShape Technology
UAV & UAMare more like birds than aircrafts:
they are small, fly unsteadily,and are subject to
gusts and wind shears
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
WindShape Technology
Wind Pixels and Wind Blocks
Each wind pixel (fan) is individually controlled
© W
inds
hape
© W
inds
hape
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Wind Blocks can besetup in any arbitrary
geometry
WindShape Technology
Wind Blocks = Lego Blocks
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Veisman, Dougherty, Gharib 2016
WindShape Technology
Fine-Tuning and Reproducibility ofArbitrary Atmospheric Flows
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
WindShape TechnologyGusts & Shear
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
In 2017,WindShape delivered its first product to
Caltech and NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCenter for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (cast.caltech.edu)
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Testing & Rating
Drone stays in place for optimal visual inspection & testing
Descent Stability Flight in Windy Days Stability in Unpredictable Flows
Stability in Urban Canyon FlowsStability in Arbitrary Winds
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Collaboration withthe Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research WSL – SLF
(Davos, Switzerland)
Testing & Certification
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Next Steps
Characterize ActualUAS/UAM-Scale Meteorological Flows
«Teach» a WindShape Machineto Reproduce Meteorological Flows
of Relevance to UAS/UAM Safety
?
[email protected] / http://chachacha.ch [email protected] / http://www.windshape.ch
Many Thanks from the WindShape Team!
www.windshape.ch / [email protected]
http://www.windwhape.ch/