This week was a big preparation for a CloudMap campaign which is next week. I will be going to Alamosa, Colorado to do research of the winds aloft coming from the nearby peak. We have been working on a fixed wing aircraft that we will hopefully be able to take to Alamosa and fly it to collect further data onto the winds. The Fourth of July also came around and there was fireworks here in Stillwater and they were amazing. This week I was also able to check out campus more in detail since a friend came from Austin, Texas and my Dad came this weekend as well.
We started this week by continuing to make our system which we could fly at CloudMap. It is a fixed-wing aircraft which has a RadioSonde in it which is used to take weather and pressure data. Typically they will be the devices in weather balloons. The other interns and I got another aircraft which will be better to use for carrying the payload of the RadioSonde, and it will fly faster. Since this UAV is a pre-built one by another company, we don’t need to worry about making getting the wings able to fly, they have already done it for us which was a big sigh of relief when they were able to give us this aircraft. Then we put all the electronics inside the aircraft and made sure that the programs were working correctly, the GPS was working, that the autopilot would engage when we told it to and that the main flight surfaces (ailerons, elevators and rudders) were functioning properly.
Also we have been trying to get the Ground Stations working which will be necessary for other aircraft and will be used to measure weather on the ground. Some of the fixed wing aircraft require it because the airplane itself will be able to determine how high it can go in a given weather condition and give accurate estimates of how long it can fly a certain route for and many other things. We have been working on debugging code in order to get the signal to work from the ground stations to the aircraft.
Finally I was able to take a test this week to get a Remote Pilot’s Certificate. This means that I am able to fly for commercial purposes now. This is necessary for going to Alamosa since I will technically be flying for Oklahoma State University in a commercial setting. I could fly for a company now if I wish to.
Overall, this week was very fun and I am excited for the next few to come (especially going to some cooler weather in Alamosa!!).
Wow! Looks like you’re doing some really fun and interesting stuff!! Keep it up!! XO 😎