Flight patterns for clouds exploration with a fleet of UAVs

Abstract : Modeling the cloud microphysics processes is essential to improve our understanding in climate changes and reduce the uncertainties in weather predictions. Aircrafts, remote sensing and ground-based infrastructures provide either sparse or coarse spatial measurements that are not sufficient to develop fine cloud models. UAVs have shown their ability to collect relevant cloud in-situ measures, and can be even more efficient when deployed in fleets. However, collecting relevant cloud data call for specific trajectories: this paper introduces a series of flight patterns dedicated to cloud exploration by a fleet of UAVs. The patterns definition comprise both a priori geometric information and real-time reactions to collected data. Results in simulated clouds assess their relevance for cloud in situ data collection.