Gordon bease, the Director of global Accounts at FT Technologies, has collaborated on a research paper titled “Creation of a Sensor Suite for Atmospheric Boundary layer Measurement Utilizing a Compact multirotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.” This work, co-authored with esteemed researchers from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, has been published in the International Journal of aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace.
Access the complete paper here
Small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAVs) are gaining traction in atmospheric research due to their capability to perform real-time, three-dimensional, high-resolution measurements of atmospheric conditions. Given the complex and variable nature of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), these instrumented sUAVs are exceptionally well-suited for such studies.
Among the prevalent methods for measuring wind are those that derive data from inertial measurement units (IMUs) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), as well as techniques that utilize multi-hole pressure probes. However, these methods have inherent drawbacks that can led to inaccuracies in the data collected.
The research outlines the creation of a refined instrumentation suite designed to measure both thermodynamic and kinematic atmospheric parameters,with the added capability of transmitting data while the vehicle is in a stationary hover. This suite incorporates two FT205 acoustic resonance wind sensors, supplied by FT Technologies.
For further insights into the application of multirotor UAVs in atmospheric boundary layer research, download the complete paper here.