"Chris Nicholas" wrote in message
...
With NASA and military interest in thermals, and the resources they have
to throw at the issues, what are the chances of reviving ideas for a
remote thermal detector system?

Simulations showed it could turn a typical UK blue day into a
record-breaker if thermals could be successfully detected at a distance.

The UK person working on it was unable to complete the development, but
I heard from other people (mainly in the USA) that similar thoughts had
been in circulation over there.

For purists, it could always be turned off or banned for
comps./records - and we could always go back to the primary glider vs
hot ship for silver etc. argument, for those minded to object to
technology advancing. (Again.)

Chris N.

I see two problems with remote thermal detection. The first is that
thermals are fleeting phenomenon which, if detected at a large distance,
wouldn't be there when the glider arrived. The second is that the most
consistent distinguishing feature of thermals by far is simply rising air.

Rising air can be remotely detected with LIDAR as evidenced by several
research papers on thermal plumes in the planetary boundary layer. LIDAR,
however, isn't very stealthy and only works at fairly short ranges - at
least with the power available in a small UAV.

Even low-power LIDAR might be somewhat effective in enhancing performance.
A short-range, (100m)low-power on-board LIDAR air motion detection system
that could reliably indicate the correct direction to turn or, once
circling, the correct direction to move the circle might be possible.
Dolphin flying zooms reliably begun 2 - 3 seconds in advance of strong
thermals would dramatically increase inter-thermal cruising speeds.

Perhaps a much larger aircraft or satellite orbiting far above a military
theater of interest with a powerful down-looking LIDAR could locate thermals
and relay their position to a swarm of soaring UAV's below.

Bill Daniels