GreatBlue: a 55-Pound Vertical-Takeoff-and-Landing Fixed-Wing sUAS for Science; Systems, Communication, Simulation, Data Processing, Payloads, Package Delivery, and Mission Flight Performance

Abstract

As small, uncrewed systems (sUAS) grow in popularity and in number, larger and larger drone aircraft will become more common–up to the FAA limit of 55 pound gross take-off weight (GTOW) and beyond. Due to their larger payload capabilities, longer flight time, and better safety systems, autonomous systems that maximize CFR 14 Part 107 flight drone operations regulations will become more common, especially for operations such as imagery or other data collection which scale well with longer flight times and larger flight areas. In this new paper, a unique all-electric 55-pound VTOL transition fixed-wing sUAS specifically engineered for scientific data collection named “GreatBlue” is presented, along with systems, communications, scientific payload, data collection and processing, package delivery payload, ground control station, and mission simulation system. Able to fly for up to 2.5 hours while collecting multispectral remotely-sensed imagery, the unique GreatBlue system is shown, along with a package delivery flight example, flight data from two scientific data collection flights over California almond fields and a Utah Reservoir are shown including flight plan vs. as-flown.