Application of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) for tropical cyclone missions is an emerging area of research and recent advances include the concept of spinsonde for multi-cycle measurement of vertical wind profile wi...Application of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) for tropical cyclone missions is an emerging area of research and recent advances include the concept of spinsonde for multi-cycle measurement of vertical wind profile within the storm. This work proposes the design of a typhoon UAV as part of a cost-effective approach for acquiring atmospheric data to improve prediction and refine models. Land- and carrier-based flight schemes are proposed in this study and computer simulations are carried out to investigate the flight performance. Results suggest that the UAV achieves a maximum cruising speed in excess of 350 km·h<sup>-1</sup> with excellent spinsonde performance. Furthermore, the UAV is capable of performing high-alpha maneuvers as well as vertical landing, thus rendering it suitable for space-efficient operation whether on land or aircraft carrier.展开更多
Tropical cyclones and cyclogenesis are active areas of research. Chute-operated dropsondes are capable of acquiring high resolution vertical wind profile of tropical cyclones. This work proposes a chute-free vertical ...Tropical cyclones and cyclogenesis are active areas of research. Chute-operated dropsondes are capable of acquiring high resolution vertical wind profile of tropical cyclones. This work proposes a chute-free vertical retardation technique (termed as spinsonde) that can accurately measure vertical wind speed profile. Unlike the expendable dropsondes, the spinsonde allows multi-cycle measurement to be performed within a single flight. Proof of principle is demonstrated via simulation and results indicate that the ground speed correlates with the wind speeds to within ±5 km·h-1. This technique reduces flying weight and increases payload capacity by eliminating bulky chutes. Maximum cruising speed (VH) achieved by the spinsonde UAV is 368 km·h-1.展开更多
文摘Application of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) for tropical cyclone missions is an emerging area of research and recent advances include the concept of spinsonde for multi-cycle measurement of vertical wind profile within the storm. This work proposes the design of a typhoon UAV as part of a cost-effective approach for acquiring atmospheric data to improve prediction and refine models. Land- and carrier-based flight schemes are proposed in this study and computer simulations are carried out to investigate the flight performance. Results suggest that the UAV achieves a maximum cruising speed in excess of 350 km·h<sup>-1</sup> with excellent spinsonde performance. Furthermore, the UAV is capable of performing high-alpha maneuvers as well as vertical landing, thus rendering it suitable for space-efficient operation whether on land or aircraft carrier.
文摘Tropical cyclones and cyclogenesis are active areas of research. Chute-operated dropsondes are capable of acquiring high resolution vertical wind profile of tropical cyclones. This work proposes a chute-free vertical retardation technique (termed as spinsonde) that can accurately measure vertical wind speed profile. Unlike the expendable dropsondes, the spinsonde allows multi-cycle measurement to be performed within a single flight. Proof of principle is demonstrated via simulation and results indicate that the ground speed correlates with the wind speeds to within ±5 km·h-1. This technique reduces flying weight and increases payload capacity by eliminating bulky chutes. Maximum cruising speed (VH) achieved by the spinsonde UAV is 368 km·h-1.