Graduate researchers Andrew Mahon (left) and Joe Pointer (right) have developed the High-Altitude Calibration Tunnel (HiCaT) in order to simulate high-altitude atmospheric conditions for the calibration of scientific instruments. This small-scale wind tunnel, funded by the AFOSR's Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) grant, ” will be used by the Hypersonic Flight In the Turbulent Stratosphere (HYFLITS) team to design and calibrate fine-wire anemometers for in-situ sensing of turbulence fluctuations in the atmosphere over an altitude range of 20 to 40 km.

 Andrew Mahon (left) and Joe Pointer (right)

Development of the HiCaT:

The researchers began development of HiCaT, which is located in the Colorado Aerodynamics Laboratory, in October of 2017. Using HiCaT, anemometers will be calibrated prior to integration into high-altitude balloons that will be deployed at various sites across the nation throughout the year. Balloon deployment sites, such as those along the Western slope and Gulf coast, are selected in an effort to study the effect of Earth topology on conditions in the stratosphere.

The turbulence data collected from these balloon flights will assist in the development of high-fidelity atmospheric models, as well as provide valuable input for simulations of future hypersonic flight in the stratosphere.

photos by Xavier C.

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The 2018 International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft Conference (ISARRA) was held on the CU Boulder campus this week. Local and international colleagues met from July 9th - July 12th to present their atmospheric and earth science-based research.

Roger Laurence wrapped up the last conference session with his discussions of severe weather research, TTwister deployment, Mistral deployment, along with other IRISS related research.

Brian Argrow (left) and (podium), answering questions from the audience.

IRISS is heading to San Luis Valley! 

Anticipation is high for ISARRA’s 2018 Flight Week! Following conference week, researchers are teaming up in San Luis Valley to test their UAS platforms. The crew at IRISS will be on the road heading to San Luis Valley today, and running  field tests until July 20th.

There are some performance expectations of the newly finished MURC and and Mistral Charlie for next week. 

The flight crew testing out Mistral Charlie’s first launch.

Dan Hesselius (left) and Chris Choate (right) anticipating Mistral’s landing. 

Sending a special thanks to the ISARRA Conference Organizing Committee members from the University of Colorado, NCAR and NOAA: Dr. Gijs de Boer (CU/CIRES), Dr. Brian Argrow (CU), Dr. John Cassano (CU), Dr. Joseph Cione (NOAA), Dr. Eric Frew (CU), Dr. Dale Lawrence (CU), Dr. Gary Wick (NOAA), and Mr. Cory Wolff (NCAR)!

Also this week, IRISS partners with local engineering firm

IRISS is excited to have our long-time collaboration with Black Swift highlighted in Biz West today. We’re all looking forward to working with them next week at ISARRA Flight Week! 

The Black Swift Technology Partnership

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-  by Jensen Werley
 

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This summer, IRISS traveled through the mid-west area (Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and back to Colorado) to continue Project Storm research. This particular deployment was a cooperative effort between CU-Boulder, the UN-Lincoln, and Texas Tech in June 2018 to test the collection of in situ data in and around supercell thunderstorms using autonomous UAS. The team focused on sampling the forward flank downdraft region and testing new Lagrangian drifters (picture captured by Danny Liebert)

The Daily Camera staff writer, Cassa Niedringhaus connected with CU's faculty member Dr. Frew and graduate student Christopher Brown to help highlight the second team summer deployments... 

"As a supercell thunderstorm loomed, Eric Frew drove one of the vehicles in a three-vehicle convoy straight toward it.

When Frew, a University of Colorado associate professor, references "good" weather, he's talking about the roiling clouds that spit hail and spawn tornadoes, not sunny skies.

An unmanned aircraft, or drone, flew above the convoy and through dark skies to collect data from the storm..."

Finishing reading more on...

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IRISS Associate Director of Technology, Eric Frew, has stepped down to take on the role of Director of the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Autonomous Systems Interdisciplinary Research Theme (IRT).

The Autonomous Systems IRT has been created as a part of the CEAS strategic vision to build on our college and campus strengths, prepare for future research opportunites, and accelerate our positive impacts to our state and nation.

IRISS would like to congratulate Dr. Frew for his new position. We look forward to many fruitful collaborations with the ASIRT in the future.

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