Request for Proposal

Summary:
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to design, develop, test, and implement an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that can assist in the Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts associated with avalanches.  Since the majority of avalanches involving victims occur on or around ski resorts, collaboration between the resort SAR staff and the UAS Company are crucial.  Design, development, and operations should all be discussed together in order for the SAR teams to consult their needs and real life experience that can make the UAS the most effective and efficient tool possible.  This UAS will be deployed as soon as possible after an avalanche to scan the disaster area for anyone buried and give visual aid to response crews to provide information before they arrive on scene.

Plan of Action:
The projected timeline is five years, with the Certificate of Authorization (COA) that has to be issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before testing can begin, being the most time consuming.  The company will utilize a Dual Vee Model methodology in order to better manage the subsystems within the UAS.  Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components will allow the timeline and costs to be greatly reduced.  A modular airframe will be designed to allow for easy integration of new technologies and payloads; extending the lifeline of the airframe and reduce the need of training users on new aircraft.

Requirements:
1.      Air Vehicle Element
1.1.    Shall be weatherproof
1.2.    Shall be easily deployed by hand
1.3.    Shall be able to maintain flight over a specific point (hover over victim)
1.4.    Shall be quick enough to beat crews to the disaster site to provide information before their arrival
1.5.    Shall be able to fly in high winds/gusts
1.6.    Shall be able to operate in below freezing temperatures
2.      Command & Control (C2)
2.1.    Shall be able to fly in a constellation of other UAVs
2.2.    Shall be able to operate from anywhere on the mountain
2.3.    Shall be able to run SAR pattern algorithms autonomously
2.4.    Shall be able to proceed back to searching once a victim is identified
2.5.    Shall continue with search algorithms, collecting data, if data link is lost
3.      Payload
3.1.    Shall be able to detect a victim under 10 feet of snow
3.2.    Shall be able to provide location of target within one foot
3.3.    Shall be able to relay data to multiple crews simultaneously
3.4.    Shall provide a live visual of disaster area

Testing Requirements:
1.      Air Vehicle Element
1.1.    Test weatherproofing with submersion test
1.2.    Test hand launching capabilities
1.3.    Verify the UAV can maintain visual of specific location
1.4.    Verify UAV flight time is quicker than SAR crews response time
1.5.    Test flight in high winds and freezing temperatures
2.      Command & Control (C2)
2.1.    Test flying multiple platforms in the same airspace
2.2.    Test range across mountainous terrain
2.3.    Test algorithms to ensure correct patterns are flown
2.4.    Verify UAV continues operation after identifying target
2.5.    Verify resumption of autonomous flight plan when lost link
3.      Payload
3.1.    Verify heat signatures can be detected through 10 feet of snow
3.2.    Verify accuracy of target location
3.3.    Verify data link between multiple ground crews is successful
3.4.    Verify camera displays sufficient visuals