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Low-cost, Long-range, Uncrewed Aircraft for Sensing Missions

The Technology

Long-range flights require high energy density. Payloads need plentiful power. Swarming aircraft require low cost. Dragoon Technology’s Low-cost, Long-range, Uncrewed Aircraft for Sensing Missions accomplish all of this through a hybrid powertrain and tightly integrated technology stack.

Scalable aircraft that enable new missions:
Aircraft that are smaller, fly longer, and cost less enable large scale, wide area missions.

Networked UAS:
Long-range and low-cost UAS enable large-scale unmanned networks. Such systems can serve ISR over long distances, blanket large areas with communications, or listen to RF emissions.

Worldwide weather:
Low-cost and long-range UAS allow scientists to reach across the globe to learn more about weather and high energy events. The entire North Atlantic can be reached from only a few shore bases. Aircraft can be launched from fixed sites and controlled remotely, greatly reducing the cost of operation. Dragoon’s work with NOAA is furthering this concept. 

Emergency communications:
Long-dwell and low-cost communications relay missions are enabled. Dragoon’s aircraft combines the ease of use and low-cost of battery powered aircraft with 24-hour endurance enabled by a hybrid powertrain.

Tube-launched aircraft:
Dragoon’s hybrid powertrain allows unconventional aircraft designs, including long-endurance, tube-launched aircraft.

Small drone aircraft over a desert with Dragoon Technology LLC

Benefits

  • Reducing cost while increasing endurance of the platform significantly reduces the cost of each sensing hour.
  • A very low-cost platform can be used in situations where recovery of the vehicle is uncertain.
  • High-endurance (greater than 12 hours) allows emplacement of sensors over large areas, with capability to reach all of the world’s oceans from land.
  • Dragoon’s open-system architecture allows integration of numerous sensors and modification of the aircraft system to suit mission needs.

Applications

  •  Long-distance meteorological data collection
  • Coastal monitoring before and after landfall of a severe weather system
  • Persistent coverage of a disaster area with surveillance or radio relay payloads

Resources

Company Contact

This technology is commercially available for purchase. For additional information please contact Sean Culbertson at seanculbertson@dragoon.tech. Note: Any reference obtained from this website to a specific company, product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by NOAA.

Federal Procurement – Sole Source Information

Through the SBIR/STTR Congressional Authority and Policy Directive, companies are eligible for Phase III sole-source contracts to support work that derives from, extends, or completes work funded with SBIR Phase I or Phase II awards. Technologies in the Marketplace that include this statement are eligible for Phase III awards from any federal agency. For more information about Phase III, see this website and reach out to noaa.sbir@noaa.gov with questions. Find a full list of available SBIR/STTR technologies, access the Award Database on SBIR.gov.