Hudson R&D Cadet research • Water resilience • Applied engineering
Primary: USAFA cadet & engineering research partnership Instrumented pilots & publishable results

Atmospheric water harvesting, built as a research platform.

Hudson R&D develops modular, instrumentable atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) test articles designed for structured experiments across climates. The objective is simple: produce defensible datasets, validate performance and limitations, and iterate designs based on measured outcomes.

Patent-pending architecture. Public-facing materials focus on testability and results; implementation details can be shared under appropriate terms.

Field-testable KPI-driven Modular test articles Passive / ultra-low power Resilience missions

USAFA Cadet / Engineering Research Program

We’re seeking an ongoing collaboration model where cadets and faculty can run structured experiments on modular AWH test articles. The work can span lab characterization, outdoor pilots, and iterative design improvements—targeting measurable outcomes suitable for posters, papers, and program reporting.

What we provide

  • Modular AWH test articles (swappable capture/drain/sorption modules)
  • Test plans, KPI definitions, and data collection templates
  • Instrumentation guidance (environment + yield + thermal + airflow)
  • Iteration loop: analyze → modify → re-test
  • Documentation for reproducibility and reporting

What we ask for

  • Access to lab or outdoor test locations + supervision framework
  • Agreed publication boundaries and IP handling expectations
  • Cadet team continuity (even small) for repeated measurements
  • Optionally: matching funds, materials support, or machining access

We can align as a technical partner, subcontractor, or collaborative research effort depending on the grant structure.

Cadet research tracks (pick one or run in parallel)

Materials & Surfaces

  • Hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterning and drainage behavior
  • Dust adhesion, cleanability, coatings
  • Surface durability vs UV, abrasion, thermal cycling

Thermal & Sorption

  • Diurnal sorption/desorption cycles at low RH
  • Passive condensation pathways and thermal optimization
  • Efficiency accounting: capture → release → condense

Fluids / Airflow / Geometry

  • Fog interception vs pressure drop / wind loading
  • Drainage rate vs re-entrainment
  • Modular geometry comparisons (A/B test panels)

Controls & Instrumentation

  • Sensor stack design and calibration
  • Data logging, QA/QC, environmental correlation
  • Modeling yield vs conditions

Field Ops & Serviceability

  • Maintenance intervals and fouling mitigation
  • Deployment constraints and quick-swap modules
  • Safety, handling, storage, transport

Resilience Use-Cases

  • Remote facilities and contingency water
  • Emergency logistics reduction
  • Base/community resilience planning

Pilot plan (simple, repeatable, publishable)

Phase 1 — Baseline characterization

  • Define test matrix (RH/temp/wind/fog density bands)
  • Run baseline modules, establish yield curves
  • Document setup, calibration, and uncertainty

Phase 2 — Iteration + optimization

  • Swap modules (geometry/surface/sorption variants)
  • Compare outcomes under matched conditions
  • Update design, re-test, produce final dataset

Key metrics

  • Liters/day and liters/m²/day vs conditions
  • Capture → drainage efficiency and re-entrainment losses
  • Vapor recovery efficiency (for sorption modes)
  • Maintenance time and fouling rate
  • Mode-switch behavior across humidity zones

Output: a clean dataset + methods section + charts suitable for program reporting and cadet presentation.

Contact

For USAFA/cadet research, include: target test environment, available lab/field resources, and desired timeline.

Email: Hudsonr3d@gmail.com

Social: @hudsonRnD

Note: Program one-pager is available on request (in progress).