Exploring the Future of Hurricane Reconnaissance Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Since 2009, NOAA has invested in developing an air-deployable unmanned aircraft system that can be used to sample the highly turbulent boundary layer environment of tropical cyclones (TCs). Since 2014, nine (9) small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) have been successfully deployed into three (3) Major Hurricanes including Edouard (2014), Maria (2017) and Michael (2018). Promising results from these early missions have been well-documented and have appeared in multiple peer-review articles. Since 2019, NOAA has continued to explore cutting edge sUAS technology with the goal of improving future forecasts of TC intensity by enhancing the Agency’s ability to more accurately and more efficiently sample this critically important, yet rarely observed high wind region of the storm. In recent months, NOAA has invested in three highly unique, and potentially ground-breaking sUAS platforms, each of which has the potential to significantly improve sampling capabilities in the harshest conditions of the Hurricane.

Looking forward, a longer-term goal for air-deployed sUAS operations will be to ensure that the next generation platform(s) are capable of conducting routine operations in direct support of NOAA’s hurricane surveillance and monitoring requirements. The vision for this potentially transformative observing system will be to heavily leverage NOAA’s existing capabilities, incorporate significant upgrades to the existing payload and employ an expert navigation and data communication system that utilizes artificial intelligence. A brief overview of three sUAS platforms currently being explored for possible future NOAA operations in TCs will be presented.