One of the largest challenges in hurricane research is studying the inner dynamics of a storm. The regions within the hurricane that provide the most valuable data are often the most inaccessible and dangerous to reach, creating an opportunity for researchers to utilize emerging technology to enter the storm. Small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS), commonly known as drones, are giving scientists the opportunity to gather data from historically inaccessible regions of a storm. During Hurricane Ernesto, NOAA and Black Swift Technologies deployed four Black Swift S0 drones into the eye of the storm, breaking records and improving forecasts.
With support from NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, researchers at AOML collaborated with Black Swift Technologies, the University of Miami Cooperative Institute of Marine & Atmospheric Studies, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to develop an instrument capable of sustaining tropical cyclone conditions, the S0. These sUASs can operate in low- and medium-altitude maritime environments, conducting atmospheric profiles as low as 20 ft and up to 15,000 ft above sea level. At 2.6 lbs, this is the lightest sUAS platform ever used to successfully sample a tropical cyclone. It features onboard instruments that are capable of measuring atmospheric pressure, temperature, moisture, and 3-dimensional wind profiles.
Dr. Joe Cione and Dr. Jack Elston shown standing in front of the P-3 holding the Black Swift S0 inside the AOC hangar.
“Black Swift strives to solve some of the most difficult problems required to expand the use of UAS. It’s been amazing working with Dr. Cione, the P-3 team, and NOAA to build and deploy a platform that can gather data previously unavailable to forecasts from a critical part of the storm.” Jack Elston, CEO and Founder of Black Swift Technologies
Four Black Swift S0 drones were successfully launched from the NOAA P-3 hurricane hunter aircraft into Hurricane Ernesto, sampling the eye, eyewall, and the storm’s lowest layers just above the ocean surface. Across all four flights, the Black Swift gathered about 200 minutes of data, with the longest flight reaching a total time of 77 minutes.The flights into Hurricane Ernesto set a new record in hurricane research; the S0 now holds the record for maximum sustained communications range between a NOAA P-3 and a sUAS of 143 nautical miles. As the Black Swift orbited the eye, it measured gusts as strong as 121 kts at 200 ft, providing meteorologists with important data from the inaccessible regions of the hurricane.
Hurricane Wind Analysis Data Plot shows the track of the P-3 (red), the Saildrone (light blue) and the Black Swift (dark blue) and the associated wind speeds measured by each.
As the drone orbited the eye, data was transmitted back to researchers on the plane, and forecasters on the ground. The S0’s flights into Hurricane Ernesto were an opportunity for meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center to use the real-time data collected by the drone to improve their forecasts and warnings. By venturing into the most dangerous and previously inaccessible regions of a storm, the Black Swift S0 is opening the door for emerging technology to improve hurricane research, modeling, and forecasting. The success of these missions not only sets new records but also highlights the profound importance of collaboration and the potential of emerging technologies to revolutionize our understanding of hurricanes. As researchers continue to refine and expand the capabilities of these uncrewed aircraft systems, the future of hurricane prediction and preparedness looks more promising than ever.
“I am incredibly proud of our Team’s multi-institutional effort that has taken years to realize. Our focus now will be to make these unique observations routine and available in many more storms over the coming years.” Joe Cione, Lead Meteorologist for Emerging Technologies at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory.
Four researchers from NOAA and Black Swift Technologies smile for a selfie inside a NOAA P3 aircraft as it flies through Hurricane Ernesto to collect critical data. From left to right is Jack Elston (Black Swift Technologies) Josh Fromm (Black Swift Technologies), Jun Zhang (CIMAS), and Mikal Montgomery (NOAA).
These projects are a result of a successful NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program grant to Black Swift Technologies, as well as support from NOAA OMAO Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, OMAO Aircraft Operations Center, NWS National Hurricane Center, NWS Environmental Monitoring Center, OAR Weather Program Office, and OAR Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing, and the University of Miami Cooperative Institute of Marine & Atmospheric Studies and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.