ARGUS III

Project Description

ARGUS III is a one-time-use, drone-deployable wildfire-sensing module developed for the U.S. Navy and NSIN to survive a 100 ft drop, gather environmental data and radio it back to firefighters. The 2.1 lb device combines a flexible-resin impact sleeve, carbon-fiber-reinforced nylon electronics housings, and a tail-fin for flight stability. Internal sensors (IR flame, internal/external temperature, humidity, thermocouple, GPS, accelerometer) are managed by an Arduino Nano and a custom power-distribution PCB. Extensive impact (up to 103 g) and ingress-protection tests showed the enclosure remains watertight (IPX7) and dust-tight while electronics stay operational. Additive manufacturing kept costs under $2 k (vs. a $5 k budget) and enabled rapid redesigns. Battery life met or beat requirements—≈45 h in high-power mode and an estimated 4.5 days in low-power mode—thanks to a 10 900 mAh Li-ion pack and duty-cycled sampling. 

Final Design Report