SKYLAB 2025

a Wind and Wireless design
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⚡ SteamPunk StormChaser — Mk-I UAS ⚡

“Every vision needs a Mk_I. A start, and that is usually a scale model.
Can we make a SteamPunk StormChaser? Can we build it with the community?
Open Source it from end to end? I choose to dream YES!”

📖 The Dream: “In 2025 I did a concept test for a steam conversion on a restored Hu-16 Albatross seaplane. The math was CLOSE. Heating elements built into the wing, water tanks at CG, pump water to small steam boilers, push steam to turbine, turbine spins shaft to planetary gears, gears spin prop. That was the vision.”

🌀 The Mission: “Design a UAS to handle a hurricane! Right now manned C-130 and Lockheed P-3 Orions do weather and storm chasing operations. We are designing the unmanned successor.”

Mk-I Scale Model: Sub-55 lbs • Part 107 compliant • Meshtastic node • Advanced avionics • Modular • Open Source

📋 ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS — MoSCoW MATRIX

Priority-weighted requirements for the SteamPunk StormChaser UAS

Priority Category Requirement Rationale / Weight
MUST Compliance Comply with FAA Part 107 (Sub 55lbs, Lights, Prop Guards, Chute, Remote-ID). Weight: 10 — Non-negotiable for legal flight.
MUST Payload Carry a Meshtastic client node. Weight: 9 — Decentralized comms for when cell towers fail.
SHOULD Avionics Advanced flight controller: Return-to-Home, Collision Avoidance, Route Follow, Mission Planning modes. Weight: 8 — Autonomous survival is key in dynamic storm winds.
SHOULD Performance Minimize takeoff and landing distance (STOL capabilities). Weight: 7 — Allows operation from improvised fields or ships.
SHOULD Performance Maximize flight time over top speed or acceleration. Spoiling to power is fine. Weight: 8 — Endurance is everything in storm chasing.
NICE Payload As many cameras and weather sensors as weight and regulation permit. Weight: 6 — The "science" part of the mission.
NICE Logistics Minimize storage space (breakdown options / modular wings). Weight: 5 — Easier to transport to chase sites.
NICE Aesthetics Painted in branded colors (SteamPunk aesthetic). Weight: 3 — Community engagement & vibe.
NICE Manufacturing Minimize build complexity. Build with readily available materials and methods. Weight: 7 — Crucial for "Open Source" community adoption.
Design Philosophy: Sacrifice speed for endurance. Modular, community-buildable, open-source hardware & software.

🔧 STEAMPUNK SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE — Mk-I

A small boiler in the airframe feeds high-pressure steam through short lines to the steam turbine.

🔥
The "Boiler"
Small-scale steam boiler embedded in the airframe. Heated by electric elements or fuel.
💨
Steam Lines
Short, high-pressure lines from boiler to turbine — minimal heat loss, rapid response.
⚡
Steam Turbine
Small-scale turbine converts steam pressure to mechanical rotation. Low-pressure operation.
⚙️
Planetary Gears
Belt or gear reduction to spin a large, slow-turning prop for endurance.
💧
Condenser / Return
Captures exhaust steam, returns condensate to boiler — closed-loop efficiency.
🌊
The "Hull"
Hu-16 Albatross scale flying boat — allows ditching in the ocean if chase goes wrong.
Open Source: CAD (Fusion 360), PCB Gerbers, ArduPilot / PX4 parameter files — all on GitHub.

💨 PRE CHARGED PNEUMATIC Option

Alternative propulsion: High-pressure compressed air — silent, cold, and mechanically simple.

Pros
  • ✅ Silent operation — no combustion noise
  • ✅ Cold propulsion — no heat signature (thermal stealth)
  • ✅ Mechanically simple — fewer moving parts than steam
  • ✅ Instant start/stop — no warm-up time
  • ✅ Refillable — ground-based compressors or SCUBA tanks
Cons
  • ❌ Energy density — lower than batteries or fuel
  • ❌ Pressure decay — performance drops as tank empties
  • ❌ Heavy tanks — carbon fiber tanks add weight
  • ❌ Limited endurance — shorter flights than steam or electric
  • ❌ Refill infrastructure — needs high-pressure compressor

Ideal for: Short-duration, high-altitude storm penetration where silence and thermal stealth are critical. Could be paired with a hybrid pneumatic-electric system for extended loiter.

Comparison: Steam offers higher energy density and longer flights; Pneumatic offers simplicity and stealth. Both are viable Mk-I options.