Posts tagged fire
CU student’s project UAV to “shake the ground” of rocket research
Feb 23rd
jetting toward commercialization
Propulsion by a novel jet engine is the crux of the innovation behind a University of Colorado Boulder-developed aircraft that’s accelerating toward commercialization.
Jet engine technology can be small, fuel-efficient and cost-effective, at least with Assistant Professor Ryan Starkey’s design. The CU-Boulder aerospace engineer, with a team of students, has developed a first-of-its-kind supersonic unmanned aircraft vehicle, or UAV. The UAV, which is currently in a prototype state, is expected to fly farther and faster — using less fuel — than anything remotely similar to date.
The fuel efficiency of the engine that powers the 50-kilogram UAV is already double that of similar-scale engines, and Starkey says he hopes to double that efficiency again through further engineering.
Starkey says his UAV could be used for everything from penetrating and analyzing storms to military reconnaissance missions — both expeditions that can require the long-distance, high-speed travel his UAV will deliver — without placing human pilots in danger. The UAV also could be used for testing low-sonic-boom supersonic transport aircraft technology, which his team is working toward designing.
The UAV is intended to shape the next generation of flight experimentation after post-World War II rocket-powered research aircraft, like the legendary North American X-15, have long been retired.
“I believe that what we’re going to do is reinvigorate the testing world, and that’s what we’re pushing to do,” said Starkey. “The group of students who are working on this are very excited because we’re not just creeping into something with incremental change, we’re creeping in with monumental change and trying to shake up the ground.”
Its thrust capacity makes the aircraft capable of reaching Mach 1.4, which is slightly faster than the speed of sound. Starkey says that regardless of the speed reached by the UAV, the aircraft will break the world record for speed in its weight class.
Its compact airframe is about 5 feet wide and 6 feet long. The aircraft costs between $50,000 and $100,000 — a relatively small price tag in a field that can advance only through testing, which sometimes means equipment loss.
Starkey’s technology — three years in the making at CU-Boulder — is transitioning into a business venture through his weeks-old Starkey Aerospace Corp., called Starcor for short. The company was incubated by eSpace, which is a CU-affiliated nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurial space companies. Starkey’s UAV already has garnered interest from the U.S. Army, Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and NASA. The acclaimed Aviation Week publication also has highlighted Starkey’s UAV.
Starkey says technology transfer is important because it parlays university research into real-life applications that advance societies and contribute to local and global economies.
It also can provide job tracks for undergraduate and graduate students, says Starkey who’s bringing some of the roughly 50 students involved in UAV development into his budding Starcor.
“There are great students everywhere, but one of the reasons why I came to CU was because of how the students are trained. We definitely make sure they understand everything from circuit board wiring to going into the shop and building something,” said Starkey. “It makes them very effective and powerful even as fresh engineers with bachelor’s degrees. They’re very good students to hire. That’s a piece that I’m interested in embracing — finding the really good talent that we have right here in Colorado and pulling it into the company.”
Starkey and his students are currently creating a fully integrated and functioning engineering test unit of the UAV, which will be followed by a critical design review after resolving any problems. The building of the aircraft and process of applying for FAA approval to test it in the air will carry into next year.
Starkey’s continuing fascination with speed first began to burn inside of him when he visited Kennedy Space Center at the age of 5.
“When I teach I tell my class, ‘If it goes fast and gets hot, I’m in it.’ That’s what I want to do. There needs to be fire involved somewhere.”
-C
Boulder Office of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT latest it’s a real mess out there
Feb 22nd
It is anticipated that the the evacuations will remain in effect for several hours as crews assess any potential for additional fire activity in the Lyons Stone Canyon area. Evacuees are advised to remain at the evacuation center until further notice.
2/22 7:20 p.m. – Stone Canyon Fire contained
Fire crews are reporting that the Stone Canyon Fire has been contained. Firefighters are still on the scene to monitor and address hot spots. The fire scorched about 20 acres. Evacuation Center officials are reporting that approximately 15 families are on scene, awaiting word about when they can safely return to their homes. Updates will be posted here as soon as they are available.
2/22 6:40 p.m. – Hwy. 36 has been re-opened
The Colorado State Patrol has re-opened Hwy. 36, but motorists are advised to use caution because of high wind conditions.
2/22 6:35 p.m. – Additional evacuation information
Evacuations have been ordered for the Eagle Ridge subdivision, and officials are re-routing traffic to 5th Avenue because of a downed power line at 1125 Stone Canyon Road.
2/22 6:30 p.m. – Hwy. 36 closed at McCaslin Boulevard
Motorists are advised that Hwy. 36 is closed at McCaslin Boulevard in both directions. Alternate routes are suggested.
2/22 6:15 p.m. – Lyons High School opens as evacuation center
Emergency officials are opening an evacuation center at Lyons High School for individuals displaced by the Stone Canyon fire. The high school is located at 100 S. Second Ave. in Lyons. Individuals are encouraged to at least check in at the evacuation center to register in the event that officials need to contact them.
2/22 6:05 p.m. – New fire reported east of Lyons
Crews are responding to a grassfire that is threatening structures east of Lyons. The fire, approximately 2 acres, started behind 931 Stone Canyon Road. Emergency officials made 42 Everbridge notifications, advising people to evacuate immediately because of the high winds and fast-moving 10- to 15-foot flames. No evacuation centers have been established yet. Additional updates will be posted as soon as they are available.
2/22 6 p.m. – City, county crews contain Diagonal Fire
Contact:
EOC Media Line – 720-564-2935
City, county fire crews contain grass fire along Diagonal Highway
City and county firefighters have contained a grass fire that broke out at about 3:30 p.m. today at 63rd Street and Diagonal Highway. Firefighters battled high winds that made conditions particularly challenging. As of 5 p.m., crews were reporting that the blaze was 100 percent contained.
Read more…
2/22 5:45 p.m. – Weather Update
According to the National Weather Service, we are currently experiencing the strongest winds of the evening, with gusts out of the W/SW over 70 mph. Between 8 and 9 p.m., winds will shift to NW at 40-50 mph. Around midnight tonight, winds shift to the N decreasing to 25-30 mph gusts. The wind helps to move a cold front quickly in to Boulder County by 5 a.m. with winds at 10-15 mph. Snow accumulations expected to be .5 to 1 inch, and the storm will move out of the area by noon tomorrow.
2/22 5:22 p.m. – Diagonal Fire
2/22 5:22p.m. – Diagonal Fire The Diagonal Fire is now 100% contained. The Diagonal is open for Longmont bound traffic, still closed for Boulder bound traffic. 63rd St. is closed from the diagonal to Monarch Road. 71st St. is closed between State Highway 52 and Winchester Circle.
2/22 4:40 p.m. – Diagonal Fire
2/22 5:04p.m. – Diagonal Fire – 1300 reverse notifications were sent to the area from Lookout Road north to Niwot Rd, and from 79th Street west to the Diagonal, advising residents of the fire in the area. No evacuations were ordered.
2/22 4:40 p.m. – Diagonal Fire
2/22 4:40 p.m. – Diagonal Fire Update – There are no mandatory evacuations at this time. Voluntary evacuation should go Eastbound towards 75th Street.
2/22 4:30 p.m. – Diagonal Fire
Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near 63rd Street and Diagonal Highway. Initial reports indicated the fire was near Tom Watson Park, west of Diagonal Highway.
Please be aware that both lanes of the Diagonal Highway at 63rd Street have been shut down.
City, county fire crews contain grass fire along Diagonal Highway
Feb 22nd
City, county fire crews contain grass fire along Diagonal Highway
City and county firefighters have contained a grass fire that broke out at about 3:30 p.m. today at 63rd Street and Diagonal Highway. Firefighters battled high winds that made conditions particularly challenging. As of 5 p.m., crews were reporting that the blaze was 100 percent contained.
Emergency officials used the Everbridge notification system to inform 1,300 households of the fire. No evacuations were ordered.
The fire, which spread to about 45 acres, started on City of Boulder Open Space and property owned by IBM, near a transformer just outside of Tom Watson Park.
Several agencies responded to the fire: City of Boulder Fire, Longmont Fire, Lafayette Fire, Louisville Fire, Boulder Rural Fire Protection District, Lefthand Fire Protection District, Rocky Mountain Fire Protection District, Mountainview Fire Protection District, Fourmile Fire Protection District, Sunshine Fire Protection District, Lyons Fire Protection District, Sugarloaf Fire Protection District, Boulder Emergency Squad, American Medical Response ambulance service, Boulder Police, Boulder Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, City of Boulder Open Space and Boulder County Open Space.
Officials are anticipating that high winds could pick up ash and dust. Individuals with respiratory concerns are advised to stay indoors and limit their exposure to particulate matter. Firefighters are planning to remain on scene throughout the night to monitor and respond to any potential hot spots.
The city-county Emergency Operations Center has been activated and updates, including road closures information, are being posted atwww.boulderoem.com/emergency-status.