Naeem Tull-Walker Grambling State University Mentors: Dr. Demoz, Dr. Sakai Howard University Unmanned Arial System (UAS) Development for Atmospheric Research
Goal: introduce new platform for sensing at Beltsville - unmanned aerial systems (UAS) humidity sensors, small aerosol samplers, for vertical profiling activities emerging technology development for NOAA. Other platforms for calibration: tethered balloons, tower various drones Kites
Flux tower Tethered balloon Balloon payload Tower payload Overall goal of the project The goal is to be able to operate instrumented copter in tandem with a tethered balloon and tower. Once calibration is satisfied, the copter will be operated solo at other places.
Operation of the copter : Current state of the instrument. Task: learn to fly and control the vertical sounding units. Flight Simulator loaded and ready for practice. play with the simulator and learn the controls REU research Objective
Payload design : Current state of the instrument (see photo). Task: Need to design a light weight packageing. Study and document the components help with designing this into a stairoform packaging unit that can get attached to a copter. REU research Objective RaspberryPI Battery
Data analysis This package is being is loaded in Dr. Sakai’s car and travel’s with from Beltsville- home and back. Data (T/RH, Pressure/GPS) is collected. Task: Use Google earth to visualize Help with data coding. REU research Objective
Data analysis This package is also operated side-by-side with other sensors in Beltsville. Task: Assess the quality of the Meteorological sensors. Help with data coding and statistics. REU research Objective
Summary of Tasks Instrumentation: Sonic set up T/RH Calibration INS RF communication Programming/Field Raspberry Pi set up Correlation of Thref data Balloon calibration design UAS-instrument mount “FUN” UAS simulator/control Test flight Science study design Q. What problem do you want to research? A. Focus on the Data Analaysis Aspects, learning the ins and outs of the Q-Copter, via test flights, categorization and calibrations of different instruments being used. Accurate data collection.
Please visit 1) 2) ftp://ftp.rap.ucar.edu/pub/rgf/kite_profiling.pdf