This proof-of-concept project involves designing, building and testing a prototype autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (AUAV). This award (phase 1) is for building and testing the prototype AUAV. The prototype will have a 5 kg payload capacity and a maximum range of about 200 km. If this prototype is successful, funds will be sought for a phase II AUAV to be supported through a separate grant proposal. The phase II AUAV will have a range of 3-4 thousand km and a payload capacity of about 10 kg.
Should it succeed, the broader benefits that will result from this project include a new relatively inexpensive, robust observing platform and light weight miniaturized instruments for measuring radiation (albedo) and cloud and aerosol properties that will be available to the atmospheric/climate research communities. Regarding educational impacts, hands-on student/postdoctoral activities will provide excellent cross-training opportunities between engineering and atmospheric instrument scientists. In addition, the observing platform to be developed has potential for use by a broad array of researchers in the geosciences, including for ocean and land surface monitoring.
