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Media
Source:
Air Force Research Lab Success Stories website |
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| About the Technology: |
 A rotary lightning protection system (RLPS) was developed for the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft. The technology is a significant advancement over the current state of the art due to its minimal wear and particulate generation, low electrical noise production, and ability to perform well in extreme environments.
Honeybee Robotics developed an RLPS for the ABL aircraft under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract. AFRL awarded Honeybee an SBIR Phase II contract to further develop the technology for integration with the turret interface of ABL aircraft. |
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| Applications: |
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Military and Commercial Significance: |
The RLPS combines the metal mesh/coating approach to lightning strike mitigation with the innovative rotary band contact technology to provide a ground path for rotating composite structures. The Phase I effort focused on designing and testing the conductive wheels, the flexible rolling elements of the RLPS. Specific attention was given to wheel material selection, providing a large contact surface area between the wheels and the inner and outer races of the ABL turret interface, flexure compliance as it relates to imperfect surfaces and geometries, corrosion resistance, weight reduction, and ease of manufacture and implementation.
The conductive wheels are designed to pass very large currents with negligible wear and particulate generation. The wheels can operate under compression for extended periods of time but will also perform well after long periods of inactivity, as are common during ABL operations. |
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The Phase II SBIR laboratory-sponsored effort will result in a mature RLPS design for the ABL aircraft. Aside from lightning protection, the RLPS can also be integrated into any system requiring power and/or data transfer across rotating interfaces. With further development during Phase III commercialization activity, the RLPS is expected to provide a more attractive alternative to existing lightning protection and rotary power systems. |
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| Industry Contact: |
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Government Contact: |
Honeybee Robotics
460 W. 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 966-0661
Country: USA
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Air Force Research Laboratory
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7226
Telephone: (937) 255-0785
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