OSU researchers take flight with study to advance weather-sensing UAS technology

OSU researchers take flight with study to advance weather-sensing UAS technology

Friday, November 14, 2025

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | [email protected]

Over the past decade, researchers from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, along with others, have explored the use of weather-sensing unmanned aerial systems (WxUAS) to supplement existing weather observation tools and improve forecasting in the atmospheric boundary layer - the region from the surface to roughly 5,000 feet.

The goal is to increase the quality and frequency of atmospheric measurements, ultimately strengthening the prediction of high-impact weather and improving public safety.

As WxUAS technology nears operational readiness, new research challenges have emerged.

Teaching Assistant Professor Dr. Alyssa Avery from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Dr. Gustavo B.H. de Azevedo, who serves as a research assistant professor for MAE and an adjunct professor for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, are leading Oklahoma State University's efforts in this research.

Backed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, CEAT students are now testing whether miniature WxUAS - smaller than a soda can and weighing less than a pound - can reliably collect atmospheric data while reducing risks associated with larger aerial platforms under the advisement of Avery and de Azevedo.

OSU is collaborating with Virginia Tech and meteorologists in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the project.

"We've worked with this team before, but the micro UAS concept is completely new," Avery said. "If we can show that these small WxUAS can collect accurate data while posing minimal risk to people or other aircraft, it could be a major step toward unattended autonomous weather observations and public safety."

Each micro UAS carries sensors to measure temperature, relative humidity and pressure. Because of the UAS's small size, the challenge is ensuring that sensor readings reflect true atmospheric conditions without interference from propellers or onboard electronics.

"To validate accuracy, the team will use a combination of chamber testing, wind tunnel trials, and controlled flight experiments to explore their potential in operational weather forecasting workflows," de Azevedo said.

Virginia Tech's FAA-associated drone park will provide a controlled testing environment to evaluate flight safety and system performance. While OSU's A²IRLab (Aircraft and Atmospheric Interactions Research Laboratory), which Drs. Avery and de Azevedo are the directors of, will lead the analysis of sensor placement, sample conditioning, and aerodynamic and structural behavior, including the resilience of rotor systems under icing conditions.

"This project is about trust - making sure that when a weather WxUAS reports a temperature or wind reading, we can believe it," Avery said. "Weather balloons have been used for over a century. If we're going to complement their data, we have to know these systems can deliver reliable, meaningful data."

The OSU A²IRLab team is partnering with GreenSight, a company specializing in small-scale UAV technologies. This collaboration allows Avery and de Azevedo to evaluate how the scalability of the industrial sector can be leveraged to meet the scientific needs of the National Weather Service and other entities in the weather forecasting sector.

Beyond advancing WxUAS research, the project contributes to OSU's growing leadership in weather-related UAS development and standardization. Avery and de Azevedo's A²IRLab continues to explore the intersection of aerospace engineering and atmospheric science, ensuring that the next generation of aerial systems can withstand and inform our understanding of hazardous weather.