ATMOSLAB uses airborne platforms in the Romanian civil registry. ATMOSLAB developments in non-segregated civil airspace are authorized by RCAA according to EASA and FAA standards.

ATMOSLAB consists of Airborne Laboratories, Mobile Ground Laboratory and Collaborative Environment.

The Airborne Laboratories (AL) consist of:

The YR-INC aerial platform, which is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft C90 GTx, that includes the atmospheric research equipment, data acquisition equipment from external sensors and primary processing software, as well as equipment for tele-transmission of data to the ground;

The YR-BNR, YR-BNM, YR-BNN, YR-BNK aerial platforms, which are Britten-Norman BN2-A type piston twin-engine aircraft, that include the aerial surveillance equipment in RADAR AESA technology and hyperspectral surveillance cameras, data acquisition equipment from external sensors and primary processing software, as well as equipment for tele-transmission of data to the ground;

The onboard equipment (LIDAR, SeeSPEY, CAPS and SPEC) which constitute the active elements of the laboratory. They also include sensor equipment and those necessary to mount sensors/state transducers, which collect data on: the global positioning of the aircraft, local temperature, wind direction and speed, the total amount of water in the clouds, the number, density, type and size of solid particles in the clouds, the amount of ozone in the upper atmosphere, the degree of atmospheric pollution, especially above industrial sites with high carbon emissions;

Weather radar for air navigation, observation and recording of extreme weather phenomena (storms, lightning, etc.), for the analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of the atmospheric environment (both chemical composition, distributions of suspended particles, and also velocity gradients);

Acoustic matrix receiver for noise analysis using beamforming technology.

Primary data acquisition systems from sensors: dedicated data acquisition systems, information management software; power supply of sensors on board equipment,

Digital and analog communication equipment between the air and ground laboratories.

The Mobile Ground Laboratory (LMS) is a laboratory arranged in a standardized, appropriately compartmentalized, containerized vehicle space, arranged on a means of transport, in which the following equipment will be located:

a) Sensor calibration equipment on the airborne laboratory;
b) Computing systems for preliminary analysis of data received from the aircraft and generation of primary data maps;
c) Technical means of communication (radio data-link);
d) GPS monitoring system
e) Generator set for power supply of equipment;

The Collaborative Environment for Complex Data Processing is a high-performance computing platform interconnected to the INCAS information system. The platform benefits from a series of specific developments on the following categories of components:

a) Hardware – distributed computing system, in parallel architecture, using Linux as the operating system;
b) Middleware – implementation of Grid technology (gLite distribution) and interconnection to the virtual organization (VO) for complex simulation existing at INCAS;
c) Software – specific packages for numerical analysis, based on the LabView and MathLab/SimuLink environments, FORTRAN and C++ compilers.

Description of essential equipment

The airborne laboratory consists of aircraft equipped with the most sophisticated equipment specific to a CS-23 class aircraft (according to EASA in the EU, respectively JAR-23 in the USA), capable of providing outstanding performance in environmental analysis and dynamic aircraft behavior, including autonomous navigation.

In particular, we mention that the airborne laboratory consists of a new aircraft purchased in 2011, the Hawker Beechraft C90 GTx, twin-engine with turboprop engines, pressurized cabin that ensures a flight ceiling of 9000m at a cruising speed of 505 Km/h, equipped with state-of-the-art “Glass Cockpit” on-board equipment and equipped with high-performance environmental research equipment. In order to be transformed into an aerial laboratory, the aircraft underwent modifications designed by the manufacturer’s authorized representative, and additional type certifications were subsequently obtained for the modifications made, from EASA (European Aircraft Safety Agency). This allows the aircraft to be used for the most sophisticated surveillance/monitoring and Earth Observation missions.

Highlighting unique equipment in the country, essential for IOSIN:

• indication of similar equipment in the country and abroad / location
• comparative analysis with other similar equipment;
• substantiation of the uniqueness of the equipment

Equipping with meteorological sensors of the Droplet Measurements “Cloud, Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS and SPEC)” type allows the study of the distribution of particles between 0.51 and 50 microns in size, the distribution of rain particles with sizes between 25 and 1550 microns at a resolution of 15 microns, the optical properties of the particles, the analysis of the shape of the particles, the liquid water content between 0.01 and 3 g/m^3, air speed, temperature and atmospheric pressure. These sensors can be used in numerous applications, including those related to meteorological changes, ice formation, storm and hurricane research, applications specific to agriculture, etc.

This unique equipment/capability in Romania allows for the performance of measurements of maximum complexity and with maximum efficiency for the most complex environmental analysis problems.

On board the YR-INC a Rockwell-Collins WXR-270 meteorological radar is installed for air navigation, observation and recording of extreme weather phenomena (storms, lightning, etc.)

On an external pylon a specialized container is installed that includes a Lidar-Hyperspectral Camera complex (RIEGL), capable of lidar measurements with a precision of 2 cm, but also for the analysis of the physic-chemical characteristics of the atmospheric environment (both chemical composition, distributions of suspended particles, and velocity gradients);

Additionally, on board the YR-BNN a SeeSprey 5000 radar system (SELEX) is installed and an acoustic matrix receiver for noise analysis using beamforming technology capable of on-line communication with the ground station (mobile laboratory).

The facility has a very high degree of complexity, being in the category of facilities constantly monitored at international level for quality and safety reasons (EASA).

The facility was designed and is used for atmospheric environmental research, as well as the development of configurations for aircraft and air vehicles for civil and military purposes, respectively for research and development in the space field, at a TRL 4 – 9 level.

As a result of the constant modernizations carried out, the facility is the only one capable of ensuring specific experimental conditions for atmospheric physics, remote sensing and EO, as well as the analysis of laminar/turbulent flow in high-speed regime on real aircraft configurations. Through the design method and the existing level of instrumentation, the facility has the most advanced capabilities at regional level for investigating the flow field on air and space vehicles.

IOSIN ATMOSLAB is supported by public funds allocated through the state authority for research and development.

Responsabil:

Drd. Ing. Alexandru PANĂ
pana.alexandru@incas.ro