Naeem Tull-WalkerGrambling State University

Mentors: Dr. Demoz, Dr. SakaiHoward 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

RaspberryPIBattery

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) https://www.arm.gov/sites/aaf/workshop2008/1016/0845to0900Reuder.pdf

2) http://www.weatherwise.org/Archives/BackIssues/2012/March-April2012/UAVs-full.html

http://www.academia.edu/2199388/A_small_unmanned_aerial_system_UAS_for_coastal_atmospheric_research_preliminary_results_from_New_Zealand

ftp://ftp.rap.ucar.edu/pub/rgf/kite_profiling.pdf

http://uas.noaa.gov/http://uas.noaa.gov/director.html