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Infographic: Storm Chaser
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), often called drones, serve an expandingÌýnumber of recreational, commercial, military and scientific uses. ResearchersÌýat CU-Boulder developed a UAS called Tempest that’s meant for tough duty —Ìýflying into the heart of extreme storms called supercells to assess them in allÌýtheir fury. Battery-powered and auto-piloted, Tempest can measure temperature,Ìýrelative humidity, wind speed and atmospheric pressure — and may one dayÌýhelp identify emerging tornadoes.Ìý
- Top Speed:Ìý100 mph Maximum wind speed Tempest has encountered so far:Ìý60 mphÌý Weight:Ìý12-15 lbs, depending on payloadÌý Made of:ÌýCarbon fiber, wood, fiberglass Where Tempest rests:ÌýRECUV Fabrication Lab Systems Integration Lab or Indoor Flight Lab at CU-BoulderÌý Manufactured by:ÌýSkip Miller Models, BoulderÌý Battery type:ÌýLithium Maximum flight duration per charge: 60-90 minutes, depending on weather conditionsÌý Number of Tempests currently owned by CU-Boulder:ÌýThreeÌý Tempest experts at CU-Boulder:ÌýBrian Argrow and Eric FrewÌý
Supercells:ÌýSupercells are an extreme typeÌýof rotating thunderstorm that can generate tornadoesÌý
Why more information aboutsupercells is valuable:ÌýPredicting whether they’ll leadÌýto tornadoes could aid disasterÌýpreparations