BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes
Long-range, high-altitude Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS) operations now enable in-situ measurements of volcanic gas chemistry at globally-significant active volcanoes. However, the extreme environments encountered within volcanic plumes present significant challenges for both air frame development a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Robotics and AI |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2020.549716/full |
| _version_ | 1818558136510840832 |
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| author | Kieran Wood Emma J. Liu Tom Richardson Robert Clarke Jim Freer Jim Freer Alessandro Aiuppa Gaetano Giudice Marcello Bitetto Kila Mulina Ima Itikarai |
| author_facet | Kieran Wood Emma J. Liu Tom Richardson Robert Clarke Jim Freer Jim Freer Alessandro Aiuppa Gaetano Giudice Marcello Bitetto Kila Mulina Ima Itikarai |
| author_sort | Kieran Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-range, high-altitude Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS) operations now enable in-situ measurements of volcanic gas chemistry at globally-significant active volcanoes. However, the extreme environments encountered within volcanic plumes present significant challenges for both air frame development and in-flight control. As part of a multi-disciplinary field deployment in May 2019, we flew fixed wing UAS Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) over Manam volcano, Papua New Guinea, to measure real-time gas concentrations within the volcanic plume. By integrating aerial gas measurements with ground- and satellite-based sensors, our aim was to collect data that would constrain the emission rate of environmentally-important volcanic gases, such as carbon dioxide, whilst providing critical insight into the state of the subsurface volcanic system. Here, we present a detailed analysis of three BVLOS flights into the plume of Manam volcano and discuss the challenges involved in operating in highly turbulent volcanic plumes. Specifically, we report a detailed description of the system, including ground and air components, and flight plans. We present logged flight data for two successful flights to evaluate the aircraft performance under the atmospheric conditions experienced during plume traverses. Further, by reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the failure of the third flight, we identify a number of lessons learned and propose appropriate recommendations to reduce risk in future flight operations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:08:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d143ea8641b40dda8ea5ac5d8a93f70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:08:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Robotics and AI |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d143ea8641b40dda8ea5ac5d8a93f702022-12-21T23:25:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Robotics and AI2296-91442020-10-01710.3389/frobt.2020.549716549716BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic PlumesKieran Wood0Emma J. Liu1Tom Richardson2Robert Clarke3Jim Freer4Jim Freer5Alessandro Aiuppa6Gaetano Giudice7Marcello Bitetto8Kila Mulina9Ima Itikarai10Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomDepartment of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSchool of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomUniversity of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology, Canmore, AB, CanadaDipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Etneo, Sezione di Catania, Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyRabaul Volcanological Observatory, Rabaul, Papua New GuineaRabaul Volcanological Observatory, Rabaul, Papua New GuineaLong-range, high-altitude Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS) operations now enable in-situ measurements of volcanic gas chemistry at globally-significant active volcanoes. However, the extreme environments encountered within volcanic plumes present significant challenges for both air frame development and in-flight control. As part of a multi-disciplinary field deployment in May 2019, we flew fixed wing UAS Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) over Manam volcano, Papua New Guinea, to measure real-time gas concentrations within the volcanic plume. By integrating aerial gas measurements with ground- and satellite-based sensors, our aim was to collect data that would constrain the emission rate of environmentally-important volcanic gases, such as carbon dioxide, whilst providing critical insight into the state of the subsurface volcanic system. Here, we present a detailed analysis of three BVLOS flights into the plume of Manam volcano and discuss the challenges involved in operating in highly turbulent volcanic plumes. Specifically, we report a detailed description of the system, including ground and air components, and flight plans. We present logged flight data for two successful flights to evaluate the aircraft performance under the atmospheric conditions experienced during plume traverses. Further, by reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the failure of the third flight, we identify a number of lessons learned and propose appropriate recommendations to reduce risk in future flight operations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2020.549716/fullunmanned aircraft system (UAS)UAVaerial roboticvolcanoplumeBVLOS |
| spellingShingle | Kieran Wood Emma J. Liu Tom Richardson Robert Clarke Jim Freer Jim Freer Alessandro Aiuppa Gaetano Giudice Marcello Bitetto Kila Mulina Ima Itikarai BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes Frontiers in Robotics and AI unmanned aircraft system (UAS) UAV aerial robotic volcano plume BVLOS |
| title | BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes |
| title_full | BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes |
| title_fullStr | BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes |
| title_full_unstemmed | BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes |
| title_short | BVLOS UAS Operations in Highly-Turbulent Volcanic Plumes |
| title_sort | bvlos uas operations in highly turbulent volcanic plumes |
| topic | unmanned aircraft system (UAS) UAV aerial robotic volcano plume BVLOS |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2020.549716/full |
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