High altitude UAV for monitoring meteorological parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10928549-B2
Application number	US-201816192205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments may provide an airborne system for measuring meteorological parameters, including a high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formed completely or partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam. In various embodiments, the UAV may include extendable wings configured to extend and retract as the UAV climbs and descends to different altitude levels. In various embodiments, the UAV may include one or more infrasonic sensors and wind screening configured to measure one or more meteorological parameters, such as wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting. The infrasonic sensors may be configured to determine wind shear at the local and regional level. In various embodiments, other meteorological sensors may also be included in/on the UAV in addition to the infrasonic sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a fuselage;
a wing formed at least partially of a fiber matrix filled with aerogel;
one or more infrasonic sensors disposed at least partially within the wing; and
a microprocessor connected to the one or more infrasonic sensors, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from the one or more infrasonic sensors to measure meteorological parameters.

2. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a fuselage;
an extendable wing configured to extend and retract relative to the fuselage at different altitude levels;
one or more infrasonic sensors; and
a microprocessor connected to the one or more infrasonic sensors, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from the one or more infrasonic sensors to measure meteorological parameters.

3. The UAV of claim 2 , wherein the UAV is formed at least partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam.

4. The UAV of claim 2 , wherein the one or more infrasonic sensors are wind-screened at least in part by closed-cell polyurethane foam.

5. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein the one or more infrasonic sensor is disposed in one or more back chambers connected to an equalization port.

6. The UAV of claim 2 , wherein the UAV is formed at least partially of a fiber matrix of one or more of nylon, carbon, and a para-aramid synthetic fiber and wherein the fiber matrix is filled with aerogel.

7. The UAV of claim 2 , further comprising one or more ultrasonic sensor encased with an elliptical dome formed of a fiber matrix or closed cell polyurethane foam.

8. The UAV of claim 7 , further comprising one or more of a barometric pressure sensor, an altitude sensor, a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor, a wind direction sensor, and a wind shear sensor.

9. The UAV of claim 2 , further comprising a flight computer connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor does not implement flight control algorithms.

10. The UAV of claim 9 , further comprising one or more servo motor connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microcontroller controls the one or more servo motor based at least in part on messages received from the flight computer.

11. The UAV of claim 9 , further comprising a transceiver connected to the microprocessor, wherein the transceiver is configured to establish a wireless data link with a base/control station to send data related to the measured meteorological parameters to the base/control station.

12. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to measure the meteorological parameters at least in part using Stüve diagrams.

13. The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the measured meteorological parameters are one or more of wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting.

14. A system, comprising:
a base/control station, comprising:
a first transceiver; and

a monitoring device, comprising:
one or more infrasonic sensors;
a microprocessor connected to the one or more infrasonic sensors, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from the one or more infrasonic sensors to measure meteorological parameters; and
a second transceiver connected to the microprocessor,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to establish a wireless data link with the first transceiver of the base/control station to send data related to the measured meteorological parameters to the base/control station.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the monitoring device is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a fuselage; and
an extendable wing configured to extend and retract relative to the fuselage at different altitude levels.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the UAV is formed at least partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the UAV is formed at least partially of a fiber matrix of one or more of nylon, carbon, and a para-aramid synthetic fiber and the fiber matrix is filled with aerogel.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the measured meteorological parameters are one or more of wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein a flight time of the UAV to measure meteorological parameters is one hour or less.

20. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second monitoring device; and
a third monitoring device,
wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from the second monitoring device and third monitoring device and use the data from the one or more infrasonic sensors with the data from the second monitoring device and third monitoring device to determine a direction and altitude of an infrasonic source.

Assignees

• Nasa

Inventors

• Shams Qamar A
• Coffey Neil C

Classifications

• B64U2101/35

  for science, e.g. meteorology · CPC title

• B64U20/60

  UAVs characterised by the material · CPC title

• B64U30/12

  Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep · CPC title

• B64U50/13

  using external fans or propellers · CPC title

• B64C2001/0072

  from composite materials · CPC title