Robust Autonomous Aerial Vehicle-Endurant Nimble
CU 麻豆影院 engineers were the first to deploy an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to collect data from supercell thunderstorms in 2010. Lessons learned from construction and field work with those early vehicles informed the design of the RAAVEN. These custom-built UAS were catapulted from vehicles or ground stations into storms in summer 2019.
The design and construction of RAAVEN was led by CU IRISS Managing Engineer Steve Borenstein with assistance from a team of staff engineers and undergraduate students.
鈥淭he way we launch these and their durability have made us much nimbler in responding and re-deploying than we have been in the past,鈥� Borenstein said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we could have designed these to work as well as they have during this project without the time in the field we have had 鈥� experiencing the conditions, making repairs and learning what was needed to get these up and get the data back.鈥�
The CU team used three of these aircraft simultaneously during the 2019 deployment across the Great Plains as part of the largest and most ambitious drone-based investigations of meteorological phenomena ever. In all, the CU team totaled over 40 hours of air time on 51 flights, including seven tornado-producing storms.
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- Redundant Sensor Technology听Including BlackSwift Technology multi-hole 3D wind probe with IMU, Vaisala RSS-421 and iMet EE03 Pressure, Temperature and Humidity, VectorNav VN-200 IMU & GPS
- Custom avionics system designed by听CU IRISS听+ Based on the听Ardupilot open source system
- Unique 鈥榖oom tail鈥� adds stability, an active elevator and improves performance to the flying wing 听
- Cruise Endurance 3 hrs at speed of 38 mph听Top airspeed ~80 mph
- Large ailerons and flaps provide rapid control and steep controlled landings. All controls use digital communication to reduce noise.Large ailerons and flaps provide rapid control and steep controlled landings. All controls use digital communication to reduce noise.
- The drones are modular in design, meaning parts from one can be used to repair another. That means fewer down days for large repairs and easier fixes in the field.
- 25 Hz data logging at 1ms timing precision
- Lithium Ion battery cells are longer lasting and safer than traditional LiPo
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- The drones are designed to rapidly launch from the top of vehicles, offering more mobility and faster response times.
- They do not need a runway to land, offering even more flexibility in the field.
- Wingspan 91鈥� Custom manufactured by听RiteWing RC
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- Three drones operate simultaneously and in听coordination during听deployments
- HD 1080p Video Camera
- EPP Foam airframe (Expanded Polypropylene)
Graphics by Rochelle Zamani, words by Josh Rhoten. Explore the unique features of the RAAVEN unmanned aerial vehicle through听this high resolution PDF.
Podcast: AES Professor Frew on drone based storm research, airborne scientists and the movie "Twister"
Meet the other teams involved in TORUS 2019
