CLOUDMAP: Collaboration Leading Operational UAS Development for Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics
Another major NSF-funded project involves working with a dozen other researchers to improve our understanding of atmospheric physics and severe weather phenomena through the use of robotic aircraft. Prof. Crick's focus is on autonomous collaboration among robots with different capabilities. Large fixed-wing robots may have excellent sensors, but they are too expensive to approach dangerous weather. Small quadrotor drones can get closer, but have very limited flying time. Ground systems have much more power and computation available, but limited mobility. The robots should be able to develop deployment schemes that take maximum advantage of the abilities of each, while incorporating human advice.
