Next-Gen Precipitation Intensity System for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

The proposed innovation enhances observations of precipitation intensity information to support safe and scalable advanced air mobility (AAM) operations. Current precipitation monitoring methods lack the spatial and temporal resolution required for AAM decision-making, particularly for rain rate and drop size distribution (DSD) observations at low altitudes. This effort will develop a novel, near real-time approach to precipitation monitoring by leveraging emerging ground-based radar systems, citizen science networks, and advanced data processing techniques to improve the accuracy and precision of rain rate and DSD measurements. Unlike traditional rain gauges that measure accumulated rainfall, this technology will provide instantaneous rain rate observations critical for optimizing battery efficiency, identifying safe flight routes, and ensuring passenger and cargo safety. Phase I will focus on cataloging existing rain rate and DSD observation techniques, identifying key gaps in current methods, and assessing emerging technologies suitable for AAM applications. This work will inform the design of a high-resolution precipitation monitoring system tailored to AAM corridors. The proposed approach aligns with NASA’s broader aeronautics and weather research initiatives by enhancing real-time atmospheric observations and improving aviation weather models. Beyond AAM, this innovation has broader applications in urban weather resilience, hydrology, and flood risk mitigation. Funding from this SBIR will support the technical feasibility assessment, system architecture development, and the identification of commercialization pathways for the proposed precipitation monitoring technology.