Expendable Air-Sea Profiling Observations in Hazardous Weather Conditions via Small Uncrewed Aircraft System

This proposal outlines the development of an innovative atmospheric profiling system using the Black Swift S0 unmanned aerial system (UAS) to address critical gaps in observing hazardous weather environments. Current methods, including radiosondes and dropsondes, face limitations in data resolution, cost-effectiveness, and deployment in hazardous conditions. Leveraging the S0's capabilities in high-resolution data collection, cost-effective design, and deployment flexibility, the project aims to enhance weather prediction accuracy and improve operational readiness for the Navy.Phase I focuses on adapting the S0 for Navy-specific use and demonstrating its operational feasibility in challenging environments. Key objectives include:Quantifying the S0's data quality and cost-effectiveness against traditional methods.Developing integration pipelines for incorporating S0 data into Navy forecasting systems.Improving data accuracy through calibration and validation activities.Addressing icing issues and developing robust wave measurement capabilities.Enhancing onboard data processing and stakeholder engagement for seamless integration.The project will contribute to enhanced weather prediction, improved operational readiness during severe weather, and a deeper understanding of air-sea interactions. The development of this scalable, cost-effective UAS platform will have applications beyond military use, extending to civilian weather monitoring, environmental research, and disaster response.