The Aerosonde Team was the best! Starting on the left: Ellen Drake, Neil Muir, Dawn Burbach, Michael DiSpezio, Anthony Guillory, and Cameron King.

NASA Wallops Flight Center

 

Team Journal Two

 

Ellen Drake
Cameron King
Neil Muir
Dawn Burbach

 

 

 

 

The Big Question: How accurate is the weather forecast?

 

Hypothesis: We think the weather forecast is fairly accurate when several conditions are met:

 

1.      The closer one is to the predicted area, the more accurate the forecast.
2.      The more sophisticated the instruments used to gather the data, the more accurate the forecast.
3.      The removal of human error will help create a more accurate forecast.

 

After spending time with the researchers at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and studying the data, we believe that our hypothesis is correct. Information we learned which supports this idea is that an Aerosonde flies lower to the surface of the ocean during a Hurricane or tropical storm, therefore the data it collects are more accurate. The Aerosonde helps fill the gaps of data collected from other sources, like airplanes and weather balloons, that are missing.

 

We learned during our balloon launch that 120 different weather centers send up balloons twice daily. This is an incredible amount of data collected and used daily.

 

Questions we answered on our expedition:

 

1.      Does the Aerosonde forecast the weather or simply collect data?
The Aerosonde collects data that is later used by scientists to forecast the weather. It does not actually create a forecast.
2.      What weather tools are on the drone? We are guessing a computer, infrared cameras, GPS systems, radar, wave meter, hygrometer, anemometer, barometer, and thermometer.
It carries on-board instruments which measure wind speed, air pressure, and temperature. In our case the Aerosonde was only doing a small mission. For larger missions it can carry other instruments like cameras, KT11 infrared temperature sensor, spectrometers, and a little computer connected to the spectrometer.
3.      Does the Aerosonde measure precipitation? If so, how?
It does not measure precipitation, but with other collected data, like dew point and humidity readings, it can help scientists estimate the precipitation in an area.
4.      How close to the surface does the Aerosonde fly? What are the parameters?
The Aerosonde can fly from just above the surface, normally at about 1,000 feet, up to 7,000 feet. During our flight it flew, not counting take off and landing, between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above the ground.
5.      How does the drone measure dew point?
On the sonde, there is an absorbent polymer that moisture in the air adheres to. This provides information on the dew point to the sensors. The moisture then evaporates and the process repeats.
6.      How long is the average flight for the Aerosonde?
There really is no average flight length. The length of the flight is determined by the needs of the researchers. The average mission is eight to ten hours. When the crew and the Aerosonde were in Antarctica, however, the mission lasted 27 days. This meant the drone would come down and refuel as needed and then re-launch. When we had our JASON mission, the Aerosonde mission lasted just a little over an hour.
7.      How is the drone powered?
The Aerosonde runs on a gasoline-powered engine that is fuel injected. It holds about half a liter of gasoline. This allows the Aerosonde to fly for 10 hours or more.
8.      How long did it take to design and produce the working model?
In 1992 the plans and prototype for the drone were created. The design of the plane has evolved some over time. For example the wing shape and size has been altered to fly better in the wind.
9.      Who uses the data collected from the Aerosonde?
The data is collected for and used by researchers who request it from either NASA or NOAA.
10.      How many people are on staff to keep it up and running?
During our flight, there were at least 25 people involved in the flight. Some of the members were the Aerosonde staff, others were from NASA. These people coordinated the mission. Their concern was the safety of all participants, including Argonauts. There were people who were in the control tower directing what was happening on the ground.
11.      How often does the Aerosonde fly? Does it fly only during hurricane season?
The Aerosonde flies when it is requested by a researcher who needs data. It can fly not only during a hurricane, but any time it is needed. For example, we saw a movie where the Aerosonde was flying out of Barrow Alaska, carrying a camera and other instruments, and looking at the ice sheets.
12.      Why does NASA use the drone instead of NOAA?
We actually found out that the Aerosonde is used by both NASA and NOAA. The Aerosonde can be used by anyone who requests its use and needs to have access to the collected data.
13.      What happens if there is a crash?
The drone is constructed of very tough materials such as Kevlar, (which is used to make bullet proof vests for police and military personnel), but parts can be broken during a crash. If there is a problem, the drone has a built-in computer program that tries to abort and spiral itself to the ground for a safe landing.
14.      What education level do the members of the Aerosonde team have?
There is a vast range of skills the members of the Aerosonde team have. They ranged from an intern to several aeronautic engineers. Most of them told us they really learned by experience and on-the-job training.
15.      How does the drone affect our lives?
This technology affects our lives because of the important research it is doing. By learning more about hurricanes and other weather patterns, collecting more accurate data tells scientists  how hurricanes form, which direction they go, how strong they get. All this information can help save human lives.
16.      Will we be able to touch it?
Not only were we able to touch it, but we were able to assemble it with Ryan’s help!
17.      How did they decide a pickup truck should be used for a launch?
Actually, any vehicle can be used to launch the Aerosonde. They have used different trucks as well as vans. They just need a vehicle large enough to hold it and get up to speed.
18.      Would we be able to drive along on a launch?
We were part of the launch team. All of us were able to ride along in different vehicles in the caravan, but they didn’t let us actually drive the launch vehicle!
19.      How fast does the pickup truck need to go to launch the Aerosonde?
The truck typically goes about 55 miles per hour during the launch. We learned there are also other launch devices, like a spring loaded catapult.
20.      How much is the Aerosonde worth?
They could not share that information, because some of the parts are only for this device and don’t have a street value. We do know some parts, like the antennae, are common parts found in lots of different applications. Other parts, like the Kevlar nose cone, are only made for the Aerosonde.
21.      Will the drone ever be available for personal use?
We could buy an Aerosonde for our personal use, but we think it would be more fun to build our own model instead!

 

Tools we used to answer our big question:

 

1.      Weather data
2.      Cameras
3.      Senses
4.      Our brains

 

To answer our questions we:

 

1.      Met with our researcher, Anthony Guillory, along with many other people from NASA, NOAA, and the Aerosonde flight crew.
2.      Constructed the Aerosonde and launched it.
3.      Conducted online research.
4.      Asked questions.

Other interesting facts about the Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft:

 

Vital statistics:
Wingspan:            2.9 meters
Weight:            13-15 kg
Engine:            24 cc Fuel Injected
Performance:      Cruise 80-150 kph
                  Range >3,000 km >30h
                  Surface to 6 km
Payload:            Up to 5 kg (12hrs flight)
Navigation:                   GPS/DGPS
Communication:       UHF Radio, LEO Satellite
Power:            30 W (50 W peak)
Climb:            >2.5 m/s (9km/her)
Max speed:                   31 m/s (110 km/hr)
Payload area:      100 x 120 x 180 mm
Launch:            Car roof @ 80 km/hr
Recovery:            Skid landing <300 m
Flight staff:                   Controller, Engineer, and Pilot/Maintenance
Flight command:      1 Person ~ Several A/C

 

The Aerosonde Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was developed to allow exploration of affordable, expendable UAVs. These UAVs are cheaper, lighter, smaller, and carry higher payload fractions than their larger more traditional counterparts. These aircraft have evolved from technologies developed by Aerosonde and DSTO in support of tactical surveillance and Electronic Warfare (EW) missions such as EW decoy, jammers, Electro Optic/ Infra Red/ EW surveillance, and communications relay.