Invention: Aviation special

October 6, 2008

Man truly took to the air for the first time 105 years ago this December, setting off a chain of innovation that made human flight normal and even made space flight possible.

Robotic drone aircraft that loiter inside the eye of a hurricane for hours or days could improve forecasts (Image: Wipo)

This week New Scientist’s weekly patent column looks at the new ideas that could take the world of aviation and spacecraft to new heights.

Storm drones

Accurately predicting the path of a hurricane is a tricky task and finding a way to look inside the evolving storm is the main problem.

Radar sensors provide limited data about the internal features of a storm, and satellite photos are not taken regularly enough to make detailed predictions. Getting hold of low-altitude information, particularly from the eye of a hurricane is especially difficult.

Now defence company Raytheon in Waltham, Massachusetts, wants to send unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on patrol inside the calm eye of hurricanes to get the information needed to improve forecasts.

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Posted in Science and Technology, Space Exploration, Technology