WIDE RANGE ALTITUDE

WRAID Project INSTRUMENTS DRONE

R. Bulgarelli, E. Virgili, R.Farinelli,
INAF-OAS L. Amati, F. Cusano, A, Rossi

Via Gobetti 101 Bologna, Italy 42100

Phone: +39 051 635 7301 E-Mail: ruben.farinelli@inaf.it
November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

Abstract
We present the design for an unmanned aerial vehicle able to accommodate
instruments such as X/Gamma ray detectors and other equipment that needs
to reach high altitude (middle stratosphere) in order to avoid the undesirable
absorption from the atmosphere.

This proposal is based on an international patent by Eng. R. Bulgarelli,

registered on 22 July 2022. This exclusive vehicle is a drone with two coaxial
rotors and rocket propulsion integrated in one complex, two-stage
compressor engine with a particular reaction chamber based on the
dissociation reaction of hydrogen peroxide at high concentration.

The rotor blades generate lift at 400N thanks to two brushless motors. The
downward-oriented, propulsion nozzle provide a rapid climb with a
consistent payload.

This drone is battery operated and takes advantage of the thermoelectric

effect derived from the heat produced by the H O propulsion, and the
2 2
temperature outside at about -223°K over 12000 m, which allowis for
continuous recharging of the batteries.

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

1. Introduction
The performance of terrestrial-based scientific instrumentation is inherently
constrained by atmospheric absorption, which, depending on the wavelength,
distorts, attenuates or fully absorbs signals from extraterrestrial sources and
phenomena. The primary goal of this device is to reduce the atmospheric
opacity that significantly hinders astrophysics observations, thus providing a
platform capable of reaching, for small payloads (< 10 kg), near-space
conditions.

This proposal, which is based on an international patent by Eng. R. Bulgarelli,

registered on 22 July 2022, describes the conceptualization and subsequent
realization of a high-altitude helical drone, designated to reach low
stratosphere, at altitudes surpassing 20 kilometers above sea level (a.s.l.).
The flight dynamics of WRAID is different from that of a standard drone or
other UAV, as it uses the rotor blades to control the jaw (rotation in the z-
axis) and part of the lift, whilest uses the thrust produced by exhaust gas
emitted from nozzles to control drift, roll and pitch.

A key element of this proposal is the adaptability of the payload to the drone,
with the possibility of having a different payload orientation. The drone will
allow the observation apparatus to be fixed on the zenith-facing platform for
astronomical investigation, such as observing transient high-energy events
like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), and/or with ground-facing instrumentation for
observing high-energy atmospheric events, including gamma-ray bursts and
terrestrial gamma-ray bursts (TGFs).

On the other hand, a notable feature of the WRAID is the possibility to carry a
calibrated light source, intended for use in ground-based adaptive optics
systems. This system is essential for correcting atmospheric distortion in
astronomical observations from terrestrial telescopes. The drone's light
source would act as a movable artificial star, aiding in the fine-tuning of
adaptive optics and substantially improving the image quality of celestial
objects observed from ground-based observatories. The inclusion of this
feature adds a valuable tool for astronomers and enhances the drone's utility
in atmospheric and space science research.

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

2. WRAID key technologies

2.1. Rotor blades thrust
In this work, a Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT) ,in relation to
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, will be developed to analyze
inflow distribution in the wingspan direction and to predict the aerodynamic
performance of the rotor system. Based on the developed model, a
suitable airfoil will be selected and the operational parameters are
investigated to design a suitable rotor configuration for the WRAID rotorcraft.
Hover experiments demonstrate that the modified model can effectively
predict the rotor hover performance. Using the suitable blade pitch angle
and rotational speed, the rotor can generate 30% of the total thrust needed
to support WRAID hovering at the high altitude environment with air density
ρ = 0.04008 kg/m3. ( See Table 1)

Altitude above Acceleration of Absolute Dynamic

Sea Level Temperature Gravity Pressure Density Viscosity
[h] [t] [g] [p] [ρ] [μ]
o 2 4 2 3 -5 2
(m) ( C) (m/s ) (10 N/m ) (kg/m ) (10 N s/m )
0 15.00 9.807 10.13 1.225 1.789
2000 2.00 9.801 7.950 1.007 1.726
4000 -10.98 9.794 6.166 0.8194 1.661
6000 -23.96 9.788 4.722 0.6601 1.595
8000 -36.94 9.782 3.565 0.5258 1.527
9000 -43.42 9.779 3.080 0.4671 1.493
10000 -49.90 9.776 2.650 0.4135 1.458
15000 -56.50 9.761 1.211 0.1948 1.422
20000 -56.50 9.745 0.5529 0.08891 1.422
25000 -51.60 9.730 0.2549 0.04008 1.448
30000 -46.64 9.715 0.1197 0.01841 1.475

Table 1: Relevant Terrestrial Atmosphere parameters as a function of the altitude

The remaining 70% necessary to reach the stratosphere and maintain altitude
is the responsibility of the thrust generated by the H2O2 propulsion nozzles.
The success of this theory lies in the results already achieved by the
Ingenuity Mars helicopter developed by NASA/JPL [1], which generated lift in
the presence of a density of the Mars atmosphere equal to 0.0185 Kg/m3
(about an half of our case). In particular, the range of Reynolds numbers
turns out to be subcritical, which makes the turbulent transition of the
boundary layer unlikely. In order to allow flight in the very thin atmosphere,
the optimization of aerodynamic performance is therefore carried out, with
particular reference to the wing profiles, specifically designed for low
Reynolds numbers and high Mach numbers. For this reason we will provide a

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

variable AoA (angle of attack) of the wing foil, which increases directly
proportional to the altitude of flight measured by a barometric sensor on
board.

Further growth
in boundary
layer size
10000
Flat plate more
efficient than
Reynolds an airfoil
Number
Laminar
50000 Separation
Bubble

Each rotor blade has its brushless motor ( See Fig. 1), indipendently driven by a
power circuit directly controlled by the Microcontroller of the system.

We chose Plettenberg Elektromotoren GmbH & Co. KG. that has designed a
custom version for this application.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A A

84
2
1

B
23,5 B
14,5
M5
27
12

65
8

32°

C C

M4

40

68

D D

Allgemein- Werkstück- Maßstab 1:1 Gewicht: ca. 800.00 g

toleranz kanten Werkstoff Rohm./Halbzeug

ISO 2768- m DIN 6784
- Datum Name Benennung
- - - - Erstellt 10.12.2019 Rösler
- - - - Gepr.
HP 430-50 V64
- - - - Norm. ohne Luftschraubenkupplung

F - - - -
Für diese Zeichnung halten wir uns alle Rechte vor, auch im Fall der Patenterteilung oder Gebrauchsmustereintragung. - - - - Hersteller: Blatt 1
Ohne unsere vorherige Zustimmung darf diese Zeichnung weder vervielfältigt noch Dritten zugänglich gemacht werden, und
sie darf durch den Empfänger oder Dritte auch nicht in anderer Weise missbräuchlich verwendet werden. Zuwiderhandlungen
verpflichten zu Schadenersatz und können Strafrechtliche Folgen haben. Firma Bergemann
- - - - 02-029.050.00-000-026-01 von 1
- - - - A3
1 2 3 4 Zust. Änderungstext Datum Name Urspr. - Ers. f. - Ers. d. -

Fig. 1: Overall dimension of the brushless motor.

The brushless motors assure a thrust of about 400N for the group airfoil
blades.

This design provides pignon/rotor reduction gear of 8.33 that permits a

variable rotational speed range from 800 to 2400rpm.

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

2.2 Hydrogen peroxide propulsion system

The design of the WRAID is formed by the engine group consisting of two
rotors, each of which is integral with a turbine which constitutes a
compression stage. The channeled external air undergoes a first compression
inside the engine chamber, and subsequently undergoes a second
compression towards the catalytic reaction chamber. Here, an aerosol of H2O2
decomposes itself, generating the output of high pressure gas conveyed at
occurrence to the downward nozzles , trim and displacement.
The specific impulse (ISP) of hydrogen peroxide is approximately 250s, which
is enough to generate 70% of the thrust needed to rise to stratospheric
altitude while hovering, whilst 30% is carried out by the lift of the rotor
blades.
The heat generated by the exothermic dissociation reaction of the hypergolic
propellant (H2O2) will be exploited to generate electrical energy via the
thermoelectric effect (Seebeck effect) due to an external temperature of
around -223°K in the stratosphere, which recharges the batteries.
Photovoltaic cells can be provided for daytime missions, when solar energy
can assist the thermoelectric charging system. An exploded view is provided
in Fig. 2 to exemplify the WRAID architecture, and better detailed in Fig.3.

Fig. 2: Exploded View of the WRAID propulsion architecture

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

The stabilization of the WRAID is fully automatic: three accelerometers and

gyro sensors inside the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) reveal any variation
of pitch, roll and jaw,. They act in real time to compensate through four
nozzles activated by electrovalves which produce a vector force of the
opposite sign, nullifying the variation. In case of critical mass, i.e. large
amount of propellant, the main nozzle will be provided with a Gimbal attitude
control.
Using hydrogen peroxide propellant results in significantly longer flight times
and the ability to exercise flight sensors and algorithms to a fuller extent.
Mono-propellant engines use either a straight gaseous system or employ a
catalyst to decompose the propellant in an exothermic reaction. An example
was the reaction control system on the Mercury capsule in which each small
thruster used hydrogen peroxide decomposed by a silver catalyst to provide
attitude control for the vehicle.

Mono-propellant thrusters are usually used only for low thrust systems such
as satellite propulsion systems, due to their low ISP. Green propellants used
for satellite-level propulsion systems have become attractive in recent years
because of the non-toxicity and lower requirements of safety protection.
According to M.C.Ventura [2], hydrogen peroxide becomes more stable with
higher peroxide content. For example, 98% hydrogen peroxide is more stable
than 70% hydrogen peroxide.
Water acts as a contaminant, and the higher the water concentration the less
stable the peroxide is. The storability of peroxide is dependent on the
surface-to-volume ratio of the materials the fluid is in contact with.
To increase storability, the ratio should be minimized. As specified by
E.J.Wernimont [3], hydrogen peroxide for propulsion applications has been
produced by an electrolytic process, anthraquinone process, or oxidation of
propane or its derivatives. A purification by rectified distillation provides
concentrations of 85-90% or by fractional distillation for higher purity levels.
Hydrogen peroxide with a high concentration (80 wt.%) was first used as a
working fluid for propulsion by Hellmuth Walter in 1935.

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

TO ELECTRONICS &
AVIONICS EQUIPMENTS

CYLINDRICAL ROLLER

AIR CONVEYOR
UPPER ROTOR

BLADE

SCHRADER VALVE

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE PROPELLANT TANK

3000 cc

AIR INLET TUNNEL

TANK PRESSURE INLET

CYLINDRICAL ROLLER

FIRST STAGE CENTRIFUGAL TURBINE

CLOCK-WISE TRANSMISSION GEAR

PROPELLANT OUTLET

PROPELLANT PIPELINE

ELECTROVALVE MCU SW CONTROLLED

MOTORS SUPPORT

PROPELLANT DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE

COUNTER-CLOCK TRANSMISSION GEAR

CYLINDRICAL ROLLER

BOTTOM ROTOR BEARING W/AIR SEAL

BEARING W/AIR SEAL

CYLINDRICAL ROLLER

SECOND STAGE CENTRIFUGAL TURBINE

CYLINDRICAL ROLLER

HIGH PRESSURE CHAMBER

PROPELLANT INJECTION DOUBLE NOZZLE

CONTROL JETTISONS SPHERE

COVERED WITH PLATINUM CATALYST
IN INTERNAL FACE, ONLY

TO BATTERIES COMPARTMENT &

ADD-ON EQUIPMENTS

Fig. 3: Cross-sectional view of the WRAID propulsion architecture

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

3. Expected performances

In Table 2 is reported different payload mass in relation with initial total

mass, final mass, displaying the maximum altitude reachable. Calculations
are made by applying a simplified version of formulas illustrated in this
document: Rocket Equation.pdf and by considering the following parameters:

Specific Weight of Hydrogen Peroxide of 1.4 Kg./m3.

Isp = 250 s (Specific Impulse in seconds, typical for Peroxide propellant)
Cd = 2 (drag coefficient estimated of WRAID)
A = 0.785 m² (area of the WRAID)
ρ = 1.25 kg/m³ (air density at sea level)

The results constitute a minimum value since the thrust of the rotor blades
was not considered as well as the possibility to ignite the peroxide
propulsion at a significant altitude (i.e. 10000 m). When the WRAID will reach
the altitude requested, the hover permanence time will be proportional to the
amount of remaining propellant and the duration of the batteries, indicatively
from 2700 s to 10800 s.

Table 2 : Altitude vs Payload mass

WRAID mass at WRAID Payload mass Altitude

launch [kg] final mass [kg] [kg] [m]

135 45 5 36000

125 50 10 33000

175 75 25 28000

250 125 35 25000

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

4. Payload Configuration
For the instruments payload is ammissible to choose from three different
configurations:

A - Attached under the WRAID

B - Attached above the WRAID
C - Attached both below and above the WRAID

In case of payload instrument attached at the bottom, the main thrust nozzle
is provided to be assembled under it, as depicted in Fig.4.

A B C

Fig.4 : Ammissible payload configurations

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

5. Conclusion

On the basis of what has been proposed, we would like to offer the research
sector an innovative tool, which allows on one hand the ability to contain
high investment costs, but also, imperatively, the operational costs which
would be significantly lowered mission after mission.
The recovery of the instruments and aircraft at the launch base would avoid
the enormous logistics cost and brings the risk of loss or damage to them to
zero. This allows us to perform more missions which today are currently
unable to be satisfied.

R.Bulgarelli, E.Virgili, R.Farinelli, L.Amati, F.Cusano, A.Rossi INAF-OAS

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November 30, 2023 INAF-OAS WRAID Project Proposal

Bibliography
[1] Golombek, M., “Ingenuity Mars Helicopter”, vol. 53, no. 7, 2021.
[2] Ventura, M. “Long Term Storability of Hydrogen Peroxide” 41st
AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 2005
[3] Ventura, M. C., Wernimont E., “Review of Hydrogen Peroxide Material
Safety Data Sheets,” AIAA-2002-3850. 38th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint
Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, Indianapolis, IN, July 2002.

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