Robotic Airborne Sensors
 

It seems to me that technology has reached the point that hurricane
research could be supplemented by so called 'robotic airborne sensors',
you might say smart balloons. If you can track a bird flying across the
Atlantic that has a mini GPS receiver/transmitter then you should be
able to drop instruments into a hurricanes that will ride the storm
transmitting back vital data. Such devices may have already been built
and tried. Does anyone have any knowledge of such? What I am talking
about is something similar to a dropsonde that does not drop but instead
stays airborne. It would have to be a 'lighter than air instrument
package'.

Robotic Airborne Sensors
 

said:
It seems to me that technology has reached the point that hurricane
research could be supplemented by so called 'robotic airborne sensors',
you might say smart balloons. If you can track a bird flying across the
Atlantic that has a mini GPS receiver/transmitter then you should be
able to drop instruments into a hurricanes that will ride the storm
transmitting back vital data. Such devices may have already been built
and tried. Does anyone have any knowledge of such? What I am talking
about is something similar to a dropsonde that does not drop but instead
stays airborne. It would have to be a 'lighter than air instrument
package'.

Wonderful idea, but what could a floating sensor do that
a good satellite shot could not?

--
Sanford M. Manley
I am a Marxist, a Groucho Marxist
My Homepage: http://www.ansaman.com
Angry Fetus Comics!! http://www.comics.ansaman.com

Robotic Airborne Sensors
 

Sanford Manley wrote:

Wonderful idea, but what could a floating sensor do that
a good satellite shot could not?

Call me stupid but I should say: get more high-resolution data? Don't
drop 1 probe but develop a low-cost solution and drop 'em by the
thousands.. then again, this could just be a stupid - naive idea of me?

Richard

Robotic Airborne Sensors
 

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 21:42:54 -0400,
Sanford Manley , in
wrote:
+ said:

+ and tried. Does anyone have any knowledge of such? What I am talking
+ about is something similar to a dropsonde that does not drop but instead
+ stays airborne. It would have to be a 'lighter than air instrument
+ package'.

Intriguing idea. As I recall, there have been balloons the rise to
certain altituted, and then ride the currents at that level.

+ Wonderful idea, but what could a floating sensor do that
+ a good satellite shot could not?

Actually be *in* the hurricane? sure, satellites are great and all,
but they're still 40K kilometers away.

James
--
Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC
I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow
isn't looking good, either.
I am BOFH. Resistance is futile. Your network will be assimilated.

Robotic Airborne Sensors
 

I R A Darth Aggie wrote:

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 21:42:54 -0400,
Sanford Manley , in
wrote:
+ said:

+ and tried. Does anyone have any knowledge of such? What I am talking
+ about is something similar to a dropsonde that does not drop but instead
+ stays airborne. It would have to be a 'lighter than air instrument
+ package'.

Intriguing idea. As I recall, there have been balloons the rise to
certain altituted, and then ride the currents at that level.

TWERLE.

Cheers,
Russell
--
There are lies, damned lies, and quotes from literary icons.

The opinions expressed are mine personally and do not
reflect any position of the U.S. Government or NOAA.