Intercomparison of Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Measurements for Atmospheric Science during the LAPSE-RATE Campaign

Lindsay Barbieri; Stephan T. Kral; Sean C. C. Bailey; Amy E. Frazier; Jamey D. Jacob; Joachim Reuder; David Brus; Phillip B. Chilson; Christopher Crick; Carrick Detweiler; Abhiram Doddi; Jack Elston; Hosein Foroutan; Javier González-Rocha; Brian R. Greene; Marcelo I. Guzman; Adam L. Houston; Ashraful Islam; Osku Kemppinen; Dale Lawrence; Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little; Shane D. Ross; Michael P. Sama; David G. Schmale; Travis J. Schuyler; Ajay Shankar; Suzanne W. Smith; Sean Waugh; Cory Dixon; Steve Borenstein; Gijs de Boer

doi:10.3390/s19092179

Sensors (May 2019)

Intercomparison of Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Measurements for Atmospheric Science during the LAPSE-RATE Campaign

Lindsay Barbieri,
Stephan T. Kral,
Sean C. C. Bailey,
Amy E. Frazier,
Jamey D. Jacob,
Joachim Reuder,
David Brus,
Phillip B. Chilson,
Christopher Crick,
Carrick Detweiler,
Abhiram Doddi,
Jack Elston,
Hosein Foroutan,
Javier González-Rocha,
Brian R. Greene,
Marcelo I. Guzman,
Adam L. Houston,
Ashraful Islam,
Osku Kemppinen,
Dale Lawrence,
Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little,
Shane D. Ross,
Michael P. Sama,
David G. Schmale,
Travis J. Schuyler,
Ajay Shankar,
Suzanne W. Smith,
Sean Waugh,
Cory Dixon,
Steve Borenstein,
Gijs de Boer

Affiliations

Lindsay Barbieri: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and Gund Insitute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Stephan T. Kral: Geophysical Institute and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway
Sean C. C. Bailey: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Amy E. Frazier: School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Jamey D. Jacob: Unmanned Systems Research Institute and School of Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Joachim Reuder: Geophysical Institute and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway
David Brus: Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palménin aukio 1, P.O. Box 503, FIN-00100 Helsinki, Finland
Phillip B. Chilson: School of Meteorology, Advanced Radar Research Center, and Center for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73071, USA
Christopher Crick: Department of Computer Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Carrick Detweiler: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Abhiram Doddi: Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Jack Elston: Black Swift Technologies, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
Hosein Foroutan: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Javier González-Rocha: Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Brian R. Greene: School of Meteorology, Advanced Radar Research Center, and Center for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73071, USA
Marcelo I. Guzman: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Adam L. Houston: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Bessey Hall 126, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Ashraful Islam: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Osku Kemppinen: Department of Physics, Kansas State University, 1228 N. 17th St., Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Dale Lawrence: Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little: School of Meteorology, Advanced Radar Research Center, and Center for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73071, USA
Shane D. Ross: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Michael P. Sama: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
David G. Schmale: School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Travis J. Schuyler: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Ajay Shankar: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Suzanne W. Smith: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Sean Waugh: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072, USA
Cory Dixon: Integrated Remote and In Situ Sensing Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Steve Borenstein: Integrated Remote and In Situ Sensing Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Gijs de Boer: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s19092179
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 9
p. 2179

Abstract

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Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are rapidly transforming atmospheric research. With the advancement of the development and application of these systems, improving knowledge of best practices for accurate measurement is critical for achieving scientific goals. We present results from an intercomparison of atmospheric measurement data from the Lower Atmospheric Process Studies at Elevation—a Remotely piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE) field campaign. We evaluate a total of 38 individual sUAS with 23 unique sensor and platform configurations using a meteorological tower for reference measurements. We assess precision, bias, and time response of sUAS measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction. Most sUAS measurements show broad agreement with the reference, particularly temperature and wind speed, with mean value differences of 1.6 ± 2.6 ∘ C and 0.22 ± 0.59 m/s for all sUAS, respectively. sUAS platform and sensor configurations were found to contribute significantly to measurement accuracy. Sensor configurations, which included proper aspiration and radiation shielding of sensors, were found to provide the most accurate thermodynamic measurements (temperature and relative humidity), whereas sonic anemometers on multirotor platforms provided the most accurate wind measurements (horizontal speed and direction). We contribute both a characterization and assessment of sUAS for measuring atmospheric parameters, and identify important challenges and opportunities for improving scientific measurements with sUAS.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

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