GlobalSense: A New Atmospheric Observing System Featuring Innovative Airborne Probes

The underlying framework for modern-day weather forecasting is numerical weather prediction (NWP). Even the current and planned weather observing platforms leave gaps that are insufficient to meet the requirements of NWP. Mano Nanotechnologies, Inc. proposes to commercialize a new environmental sensing system, known as “GlobalSense”, which will enable transformational forecast improvements by filling these critical data gaps and benefit a broad range of applications with sensitivity to atmospheric conditions. The GlobalSense system features an ensemble of completely disposable airborne probes, mechanisms to deploy probes, and receiver platforms to gather data from probes. The ultra-compact probes, called environmental Motes or eMotes, will function as passive drifters in the atmosphere using no active propulsion or flight. The novel eMote design exploits component miniaturization as well as integration of micro- and nanotechnology-based components in a bio-inspired form factor to minimize complexity, cost, size, mass, terminal velocity, and power consumption. The Phase II project objective is to develop, test, and demonstrate a complete prototype GlobalSense system in the atmosphere. This objective will be met using mainly commercial off-the-shelf components with parallel and overlapping fabrication efforts on each system component following the specifications, component lists, and other design documentation resulting from the Phase I effort.