Research charter
P0 through P2 cover requirements interpretation, computed feasibility, prescriptions, and tolerance evidence.
Phase-gated roadmap · 22 July 2026
Evidence opens each phase; the roadmap makes no calendar promise.
The sequence separates chartered feasibility research from optional hardware and field work. A phase moves only when its exit evidence exists and the named decision-maker has authorised the next boundary.
P0 to P4
Entry evidence, exit evidence, and authority are separate gates.
| Phase and state | Entry evidence | Exit evidence | Transition authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0 · Requirements baseline Complete for study |
The AAO feasibility-study charter and the open RFS-011 questions defined the working decision set. | RFS-054 recorded advisory defaults: 500 ha per fleet per hour, binding 120 m AGL baseline, COTS-first survey payload, custom reflective research, and a 2 kg-capable airframe class. Inspect the evidence ledger. | Inside research charter. A dated Dani/RFS answer may supersede a default and reopen affected evidence. |
| P1 · Retargeted prescriptions and preliminary traces Evidence complete; optical gates failed |
P0 selected the 25 mm F/3.2 survey target and 50 mm F/4 fallback. RFS-042 to RFS-044 made the optimizer target-aware, two-axis, and capable of tracing the survey field. | RFS-045 and RFS-046 produced labelled-preliminary 13-field traces. The 25 mm report failed multiple optical gates; the 50 mm fallback report passed plate scale and no-vignetting but failed clearance, detector-plane RMS, and flat-image gates. | Inside research charter. The failures support changing architecture; they do not authorise relaxed gates. |
| P2 · Three-design shortlist and tolerance budgets Current chartered phase |
The P1 failures and multi-mirror screen establish the obstruction and image-quality problem. RFS-019 and RFS-028 remain open; RFS-052 is the next implementation step. | Three viable candidates with import-ready prescriptions, per-field no-vignetting and detector-plane evidence, flat-image assessment, package and mass checks, and a preliminary tolerance budget for each. | Inside research charter. Moving from prescriptions to hardware requires a separate AAO decision. |
| P3 · Optional bench demonstration Not authorised |
AAO records that bench work is in scope, funds the hardware path, and unblocks RFS-056. Detector raw/radiometric export evidence and the selected compute/storage path are also recorded. | Bench frames carry NUC state, timestamps, checksums, calibration state, and replay metadata; capture and detector replay pass the stated bench gates. | AAO decision required. Completing a bench demonstration does not authorise flight work. |
| P4 · Optional field demonstration Not authorised |
RFS engagement records the trial purpose, target class, test area, operating altitude, aircraft and safety responsibilities, and acceptance metrics. P3 evidence or an explicitly accepted equivalent is available. | A controlled field dataset and review record report detection probability, false alarms per sortie, geolocation, calibration drift, environmental conditions, and failure cases against the validation plan. | RFS engagement required, together with the applicable aviation, site, and safety authorities. This transition is outside the research charter. |
Current position
P2 is open because P1 measured a negative result.
P0 and P1 produced their required evidence, but neither the 25 mm survey prescription nor its 50 mm fallback is prototype-ready. The next ordered engineering item is RFS-052: generalise the optimizer for the multi-mirror shortlist path.
A negative architecture result may close an investigation, but P2 exits only with the chartered three-design shortlist and its tolerance evidence.