Albatross

The Albatross program seeks to develop effective autonomous aircraft soaring capabilities as evaluated via real-world flight testing. Traditionally, making an aircraft fly farther and longer requires careful attention to the design of the aircraft to ensure its propulsion system is efficient, its profile has low drag, and it weighs just enough to achieve its mission reliably.

Those are all valuable areas of effort that can contribute to achieving extended flight, but Albatross approaches the problem from a new angle and seeks to develop weather forecast-informed mission planning and real-time onboard sensing of dynamic wind conditions across multiple environments to harness energy from winds to offset the total power of the system required for flight. This additional energy harvested from the wind reduces average power and allows the system to fly farther and longer.

Aircraft soaring capabilities can be summarized as the active harnessing of energy from the natural environment’s atmospheric flow field to reduce the onboard power demand to enable increased range and endurance. Albatross is NOT a dedicated airframe or aircraft design effort. The program is not focused on lowering the drag of the airframe or providing the highest energy density source.

Rather, the focus is on developing and integrating planning tools, additional aircraft sensors, and unique control solutions applied to existing or otherwise quickly assembled small uncrewed aircraft to autonomously plan for, identify and respond to soaring conditions. Success is defined as capitalizing on soaring conditions to extend range and endurance in an operationally relevant manner. This announcement solicits for the complete Albatross program.

Performers are encouraged to form teams to be able to achieve all program goals as different technological aspects will need to come together to meet program metrics. The OT for prototype allows for follow-on awards without competition, such as a potential for direct aircraft procurement for testing. The government envisions commercial applications for this technology. Program goals include understanding the performer’s commercial applications and development strategy. Cost share will be considered as part of that strategy.